Studies on some biochemical characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus of buffalo mammary origin

A total of 49 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus of buffalo mammary origin were studied for biochemical characteristics. Coagulase production, clumping factor, haemolytic activity, pigment production and fermentation of maltose and mannitol were employed to differentiate S. aureus from S. hyicus and S. intermedius. Out of 49 isolates, 97.95, 93.87, 93.87, 89.79, 95.91, 100.0, 95.91, 59.18, 100.0, 100.0, 100.0, 89.79, 91.83 and 100.0% isolates were positive for coagulase production, protein-A production, haemolysin production, thermostable nuclease production, deoxyribonuclease production, tellurite reduction, nitrate reduction, lipase production, phosphatase production, mannitol fermentation, glucose fermentation, M.R. test, V.P. test and pigment production respectively. The only isolate from which coagulase production could not be detected, however, showed haemolytic activity, protein-A productivity, pigmentation and mannitol fermentation. One of the protein-A negative isolate was coagulase positive and showed mannitol fermentation, pigmentation and haemolytic activity. The study revealed that the biochemical characteristics of S. aureus of buffalo mammary origin did not differ from those of cattle origin. Coagulase, haemolysin, thermostable nuclease, deoxyribonuclease, phosphatase, lipase, tellurite and nitrate reduction closely related with protein-A. The presence of protein-A seems to be as reliable an indicator for S. aureus of buffalo origin as is coagulase production.