Antimicrobial resistance and genotypes of staphylococci from bovine milk and the cowshed environment.

Investigation of antimicrobial resistance and genetic relatedness of staphylococci from milk of cows with mastitis and cowshed environment was the aim of this study. Antimicrobial resistance against 14 antimicrobials were determined by using a disc diffusion method. Genetic similarity between the most frequently isolated species was analysed by PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis). Haemolytic activity, DNase, protease and esterase production was also investigated. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species were isolated from 30.8% of milk samples from cows with mastitis. The most frequently isolated species was Staphylococcus xylosus and yield of these organisms was significantly associated with milk of mastitis cows. S. epidermidis was a predominant penicillin-resistant species. High frequency of resistance to lincomycin was observed among isolates of S. sciuri (54.2%) and S. xylosus (25.9%) from cows with mastitis. PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) analysis of 29 Staphylococcus aureus isolates showed the presence of 17 PFGE pulsotypes. Isolates of S. sciuri (n = 36) had unique PFGE patterns. Some S. xylosus isolates from milk and milker's hands had the same PFGE pulsotypes, and this observation could indicate that dairyman may be a potential source of the infection. The pulsotype of each of the remaining isolates of S. xylosus suggested that they might have come from common environmental sources; however, these isolates differed in antibiotic resistance pattern or virulence traits. Therefore, knowledge about antibiotic sensitivity pattern and virulence factors of a CNS isolate, besides its genotype, may be informative in tracking the source of the infection.

[Preliminary evaluation of biological-sanitary contamination of grass lawns and children's playgrounds in Warsaw in 1991]. / Wstepna ocena biologiczno-sanitarnego zanieczyszczenia trawników oraz dzieciecych placów zabaw w Warszawie w 1991 R.*

This paper presents results of microbiological investigations of grass lawns and sand playgrounds in selected parks, Jordan gardens, squares, large inhabited complexes, creches and kindergartens on the territory of four parts of Warsaw (Zoliborz, Saska Kepa, Sródmiescie and Mokotów). Following indexes were subjected to analysis: titer of bacteria from the coli group of general and fecal type, bacteria from the genus Clostridium and Salmonella and number of bacteria from Enterococcus species. In sanitary evaluation of tested material criteria proposed by National Institute of Hygiene (1970) and Institute of Rural Medicine (1990) were applied. Among tested materials, 50% of grass lawns and 40% of sand playgrounds were considered as unsanitary and dangerous (disqualified by all indexes). It was found that presence of Salmonella in all cases was connected with existence of large numbers of other members of Enterobacteriaceae family (10(3)-10(5) CFU/Ig.s soil) and of E. faecalis (10(2)-10(3) CFU/Ig. s. soil). Identified bacteria from genus Salmonella were most frequently represented by S. arizonae (90%) S. choleraesuis and other (10%). Comparison of own results with data obtained by Warsaw Sanitary-Epidemiological Station from previous years indicates worsening of sanitary status of green lawns and sand playgrounds in Warsaw City aglomeration. Continuously present high numbers of bacteria of sand playgrounds in kindergartens and creches is disturbing. In this situation there is an urgent need of systematic sanitary investigations of soil in natural conditions on territories a large agglomerations for determination of size of danger of contamination and preoparation of appropriate prevention.