Abstract :
There is no report on isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains
from mastitis infection in goats. This study reports two MRSA strains that were isolated from
caprine mastitis. A total of 42 Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains collected from caprine
mastitis cases between 2008 and 2009 were examined. Two (4.8%) out of 42 S. aureus strains
were identified as MRSA by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion and mecA polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) methods. Based on the coa gene polymorphism, the goat strains were grouped into 6
types. By using rapid amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay, 10 different patterns were
obtained from 42 S. aureus strains, and strains were located in 6 sub-groups. A total of 71%
(n = 30) of the strains were clustered in one main group and placed 4 sub-groups by RAPD
assay. The two MRSA strains produced identical patterns and distinguished from other S.
aureus strains by RAPD method. This paper is the first report of MRSA isolation from caprine
clinical mastitis cases.
