Activity of bacteriocins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis against Staphylococcus aureus isolates associated to bovine mastitis

Vet Microbiol. 2009 Jul 2;138(1-2):179-83. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.03.018. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Abstract

Antimicrobial therapy is a useful tool to control bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, as consequence an increase in staphylococci resistant cases has been registered. Alternative strategies are desirable and bacteriocins represent attractive control agents to prevent bovine mastitis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of five bacteriocins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis against S. aureus isolates associated to bovine mastitis. Fifty S. aureus isolates were recovered from milk composite samples of 26 Holstein lactating cows from one herd during September 2007 to February 2008 in México and susceptibility of those isolates to 12 antibiotics and 5 bacteriocins from B. thuringiensis was evaluated. S. aureus isolates were mainly resistant to penicillin (92%), dicloxacillin (86%), ampicillin (74%) and erythromycin (74%); whereas susceptibility to gentamicin, trimethoprim and tetracycline was detected at, respectively, 92%, 88%, and 72%. All S. aureus isolates showed susceptibility to the five bacteriocins synthesized by B. thuringiensis, mainly to morricin 269 and kurstacin 287 followed by kenyacin 404, entomocin 420 and tolworthcin 524. Our results showed that S. aureus isolates had differences in the antimicrobial resistance patterns and were susceptible to bacteriocins produced by B. thuringiensis, which could be useful as an alternative method to control bovine mastitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacillus thuringiensis / physiology*
  • Bacteriocins / biosynthesis
  • Bacteriocins / isolation & purification
  • Bacteriocins / pharmacology*
  • Cattle
  • Female
  • Mastitis, Bovine / microbiology*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacteriocins