Isolation and identification of Staphylococcus aureus associated with skin infection in ruminant in Thi-Qar province

Abstract

Acute skin infections are fairly common in ruminants and are important to the production and economy. The most important bacteria causing these infections are believed to be Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria from the infected animals in ruminants, in which 60 samples were taken. A total of 18 samples were obtained from cows, 28 from sheep, 13 from goats and one from buffalo in Dhi Qar Governorate in Iraq. The bacteria were isolated from inflammatory infections (abscesses) by the traditional method (culture plate) and the modern method (the Vitek 2 system). S. aureus accounted for 14.3% of the bacteria. S. aureus, however, had no resistance (0%) against any antibiotic, and was 100% sensitive to all antibiotics (moxifloxacin, linezolid, teicoplanin, tigecycline, fusidic acid and rifampicin). This is due to the lack of resistance genes (or the genes that give resistance) and to the low previous exposure to antibiotics, resulting in less selective pressure and the emergence of resistant strains. This research will help in better control and treatment and in minimising economic losses due to this infection.