Prevalence of Staphylococcus species in the Intestinal Tract of Man and Different Domestic Animals

Abstract

This study was done to determine prevalence of Staphylococcal species in the intestinal tract of man and different domestic animals viz: cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, equines and camels. A total of 422 samples were bacteriologically examined. They were 292 intestines and 130 faecal samples. A total of 95 staphylococci were isolated belonging to 11 species. They were grouped as coagulase-negative staphylococci, novobiocin sensitive (9 isolates) viz: Staph. caseolyticus, Staph. simians, Staph. capitis, Staph. captiti subspp. ureolyticus, Staph. hyicus, Staph. carnosus, Staph. simulans, Staph. hominis and Staph. epidermidis. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, novobiocin resistant (two isolates) viz: Staph. xylosus and Staph. sciuri. Frequency of isolation of staphylococci in intestine was higher in cattle (62%) followed by poultry (32%), equines (24%), sheep (21.3%), goats (20%), camels (6.3%) and human (1.3%). Among novobocin-sensitive species, Staph. caseolyticus was the major isolate present in cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and camels. It was the highest in cattle. Both Staph. simians and Staph. hyicus were isolated from sheep, goats and poultry, while Staph. carnosus was isolated only from sheep and camels. Staph. capitis and Staph. capitis subspp. ureolyticus were the only strains isolated from equines. Staph. hominis, Staph. sciuri, Staph. xylosus, Staph. simulans and Staph. epidermidis were isolated only once from cattle, poultry, equines and humans.