Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Cryopreservation of Preimplantation Embryos of Cattle, Sheep, and Goats
11:10

Cryopreservation of Preimplantation Embryos of Cattle, Sheep, and Goats

Published on: August 5, 2011

31.4K

Slime-producing staphylococci as causal agents of subclinical mastitis in sheep

N G C Vasileiou1, D C Chatzopoulos1, D A Gougoulis1

  • 1Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.

Veterinary Microbiology
|October 2, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Slime-producing staphylococci cause subclinical mastitis in sheep. Hand-milking and semi-intensive flock management increase infection risk, highlighting the need for improved hygiene practices.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Animal Science

Background:

  • Research on slime production in staphylococcal mastitis has primarily focused on laboratory characteristics.
  • Subclinical mastitis in sheep, particularly from slime-producing staphylococci, requires further investigation into its prevalence and contributing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the frequency of subclinical mastitis caused by slime-producing staphylococci in sheep.
  • To identify factors associated with the prevalence of this specific type of mastitis in sheep flocks.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated slime production in 708 staphylococcal isolates from subclinical mastitis cases in 2198 ewes across Greece.
  • Utilized microbiological and molecular methods to characterize isolates and detect slime-related genes (eno, icaB).
  • Employed a multivariable mixed-effects model to analyze risk factors for mastitis prevalence.

Main Results:

  • Identified 262 slime-producing, 227 weak slime-producing, and 219 non-slime-producing staphylococcal strains.
  • Found eno and icaB genes to be most frequent; Staphylococcus aureus strains harbored more genes.
  • Determined a prevalence of 0.153 for subclinical mastitis caused by slime-producing staphylococci.
  • Milking mode (hand-milking) and flock management (semi-intensive) were significantly associated with increased mastitis prevalence.

Conclusions:

  • Slime-producing staphylococcal strains are significant etiological agents of subclinical mastitis in sheep.
  • Hand-milking practices and semi-intensive flock management systems are key risk factors predisposing sheep to this infection.
  • Findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and improved hygiene in controlling staphylococcal mastitis in sheep.
Keywords:
BiofilmMastitisSheepSlimeStaphylococcusSubclinical mastitis

More Related Videos

Clinical Examination Protocol to Detect Atypical and Classical Scrapie in Sheep13:42

Clinical Examination Protocol to Detect Atypical and Classical Scrapie in Sheep

Published on: January 19, 2014

14.0K
A Novel Surgical Technique in a Sheep Model for Suburethral Graft Implantation13:45

A Novel Surgical Technique in a Sheep Model for Suburethral Graft Implantation

Published on: June 20, 2025

1.0K

Related Concept Videos

Causality in Epidemiology01:21

Causality in Epidemiology

Causality or causation is a fundamental concept in epidemiology, vital for understanding the relationships between various factors and health outcomes. Despite its importance, there's no single, universally accepted definition of causality within the discipline. Drawing from a systematic review, causality in epidemiology encompasses several definitions, including production, necessary and sufficient, sufficient-component, counterfactual, and probabilistic models. Each has its strengths and...
1.6K
Cloning of Dolly the Sheep01:08

Cloning of Dolly the Sheep

The first successfully cloned mammal was Dolly, a sheep, born on 5th July 1996 at Roslin Institute, Scotland. The cloned sheep was named after the American singer Dolly Parton. Dolly lived for seven years and died of respiratory complications, which is speculated to be due to the actual age of her DNA. Because the DNA in cloned cells belongs to an older individual,  the cloned individual’s life expectancy may be affected. Indeed, analysis of Dolly’s DNA revealed shorter...
7.5K
Criteria for Causality: Bradford Hill Criteria - II01:28

Criteria for Causality: Bradford Hill Criteria - II

The Bradford Hill criteria serve as guidelines for establishing causative links in epidemiological research. Beyond Strength, Consistency, Specificity, and Temporality, key criteria also include Biological Gradient, Plausibility, Coherence, Experiment, and Analogy. These principles assist scientists in assessing the likelihood of causation in complex biological contexts. Below is a summary of these concepts:
1.2K
Criteria for Causality: Bradford Hill Criteria - I01:30

Criteria for Causality: Bradford Hill Criteria - I

The Bradford Hill criteria are a group of principles that provide a framework to determine a causal relationship between a specific factor and a disease. There are nine criteria that are pivotal in assessing causality in epidemiological studies. Here's a closer look at Strength, Consistency, Specificity, and Temporality criteria with definitions and examples:
1.1K
Subviral Agents01:29

Subviral Agents

Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...
567
Air-entraining Agents01:27

Air-entraining Agents

Air-entraining agents improve the durability and workability of concrete in climates with frequent freezing and thawing. These agents prevent cracks by introducing small air bubbles into the mix, creating spaces accommodating water expansion when temperatures drop. The air-entraining agents lower the surface tension of water, forming stable, small air bubbles. This method is more effective than having accidental large voids, as the intentional, smaller, and evenly distributed air voids improve...
273