Evaluation of biofilm formation and associated slime encoding determinants in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinically diseased pets

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) is an important zoonotic pathogen implemented in various hospital, community as well as livestock infections. Pets as dogs and cats have increased their close social relation with human leading to significant elevation in transmission of zoonoticmultidrug resistant virulent pathogens.Diplex polymerase chain reaction was applied on ten clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from wound and nasal samples from dogs and cats for detection of twoslime formation encoding genes;icaA andicaD. The positive genes carrying isolates were encouraged to produce biofilm and evaluated phenotypically by cultivation onto Congo red medium. Quantitative assessment was done using a microtiter plate assay, also the formed biofilm examined by fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy. Four out of tested tenStaphylococcus aureus isolates were found to harbor the two genes separately.The four isolates displayed positive biofilm production onto Congo red medium while only three isolates produced biofilmin sterile polystyrene 96-well microtiter plate. One isolate associated dog infection developed strong biofilm formation which examined byboth fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy.Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from diseased dogs and cats can produce biofilm that increasing their virulence and pathogenicity as well as public health concern.