Biotyping and bacteriophage typing of coagulase positive staphylococci isolated from cases of staphylococcosis in poultry

Abstract

135 isolates from cases of staphylococcosis in poultry were obtained from the Veterinary Investigation Centre, Lasswade, Midlothian. These isolates were purified, and divided into 4 biotypes on the basis of:

1) coagulase activity 2) production of haemolysis on sheep blood agar 3) pigment production on milk agar 4) Voges Proskauer reaction 5) fermentation of galactose, lactose and mannitol

Materials and methods for these tests are described.

The 119 purified strains were classified into types 4, 5, 6 and 7. There was a distinct difference between the biotypes of the Lasswade isolates and those of strains typed previously by other workers in Japan.

When these types were related to the outbreaks of staphylococcosis on the farms of origin of the strains, there was no correlation between a particular biotype and a specific outbreak, or between a particular biotype and a specific farm.

8 bacteriophages were detected in the 119 staphylococcal strains. Materials and methods for their isolation, propagation, sterilisation and titration are described.

The 119 strains were phage typed, using the 8 isolated phages. 25 strains (21%) were typable at 100 x R.T.D., and these were divided into 5 phage groups. Due to the small number of strains typable, it was difficult to draw definite conclusions, but there appeared to be a relationship between the phage group of a strain and its farm of origin. The study indicated that phages derived from avian staphylococcal isolates could be of value in the typing of staphylococci from poultry.