Identification of staphylococci from bovine udders: evaluation of the API 20GP system

The API 20GP system (Analytab Products, Plainview, NY) correctly identified 56.1% of staphylococci isolated from the bovine mammary gland. The system identified 90.2% of Staphylococcus aureus strains, but failed to recognize strains of Staphylcoccus hyicus and others. Poor performance was attributed to the limited number of veterinary strains contained in the profile index data base. The API 20GP was determined to be an unacceptable method for identification of staphylococci isolated from the bovine mammary gland.