Associations of Ambient Environmental Conditions with Growth and Dissemination of Staphylococcus epidermidis on the Surface of Teatcups from Sheep Milking Parlours

Abstract

The growth of two isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis (one that was forming biofilm and one that was not) on new or used teatcups made of silicone for use in milking parlours for sheep, was assessed for 24 h after the application by smearing on the surface of the teatcup. Staphylococci were applied by smearing on an area of 0.0003142 (3.142 × 10−4) m2 on material obtained from the teatcups and their growth and expansion further on were monitored for 24 h at varying ambient conditions: temperature 21 °C or 31 °C and humidity 60% or 80%. No differences were evident between the two isolates in the frequency of recoveries in any of the conditions tested (p > 0.75 for all comparisons). Recovery rates were higher in humidity 80% compared to humidity 60%: 1678/2016 (83.2%) versus 1282/2016 (63.6%) (p < 0.0001), and in temperature 31 °C compared to temperature 21 °C: 1525/2016 (75.6%) versus 1435/2016 (71.2%) (p = 0.001). Recovery rates were also higher from new teatcups compared to used ones only in humidity 60%: 744/1008 (73.8%) versus 538/1008 (53.4%) (p < 0.0001). Humidity 80% was associated with higher speed of linear dissemination of the isolates on teatcup surface compared to humidity 60%: 0.000000640 (6.40 × 10−7) m s−1 versus 0.000000322 (3.22 × 10−7) m s−1 (+98.8%) (p < 0.0001); no such association was seen with higher temperature: 0.000000509 (5.09 × 10−7) m s−1 versus 0.000000453 (4.53 × 10−7) m s−1 for temperature 31 °C and 21 °C (+12.4%) (p = 0.29). As part of precision livestock farming, differing approaches can be instituted in accord with varying climatic conditions in different farms, as well as within the same farm with the change of seasons.