Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Mammaliicoccus sciuri - A MDR Strain causing Clinical Mastitis in Cows of Odisha, India

Abstract

Background: Mammaliicoccus sciuri is a multidrug resistant human pathogen. Literature on its role causing bovine mastitis is scarce. Detection of M. sciuri from a cow with clinical mastitis in Malkangiri district of Odisha stimulated to ascertain its status in a larger population and to study its characteristics in genotypic and phenotypic levels. Methods: 520 lactating cows from various herds of Malkangiri district of Odisha, India were screened for presence of clinical mastitis. Milk samples were collected aseptically from 15 cows with clinical mastitis. 16S rRNA amplification was performed to know presence of bacterial pathogen (s). Conventional PCR was carried out to detect resistance genes against β-lactam (blaZ), aminoglycoside (aacA-aphD) and tetracycline (tetK, tetM). In vitro sensitivity test was studied against M. sciuri isolates using nine antibiotic discs. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to compare its origin. Result: M. sciuri was isolated in 6 (40.0%) mastitis positive milk samples. In vitro antibiotic sensitivity test against M. sciuri isolates showed highest degree of resistant to penicillin (100%) followed by, cefoperazone (33.3%), streptomycin (33.3%), tetracycline (16.0%). One isolate of M. sciuri had tetK, tetM resistance gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed (75-100%) similarity with other isolates obtained from GeneBank. Present study highlights tetK gene in M. sciuri.