Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius in Sub-Clinical Abscess Cases of Sheep
Nasreen O. Musa *
Institute for Studies and Promotion of Animal Exports, University of Khartoum, Shambat 13314, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
Abdulkhalig Babiker
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Shambat 13314, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
Kamal Eltom
Institute for Studies and Promotion of Animal Exports, University of Khartoum, Shambat 13314, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
Khalid Rodwan
College of Veterinary Medicine, Sudan University for Science and Technology, Hilat-Kuku, Khartoum North, Sudan
Sulieman M. El Sanousi
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Shambat 13314, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius (Saan) in sub-clinical lymph node abscesses (SLNA) in sheep.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) and Unit Microbiology and Molecular Biology (Institute for Studies and Promotion of Animal Exports), between May 2003 and Dec. 2005.
Methodology: Enlarged superficial lymph nodes (n=137) were taken from sheep carcasses at meat inspection and were subjected for bacteriological examination.
Results: Pure cultures of Saan were obtained from 44% of the pus samples, Corynebacterium spp. from 33% and S. aureus subsp. anaerobius from 7%. The rest of the pus samples yielded mixed cultures of Saan with either Macrococcus caseolyticus (10%) or Corynebacterium spp. (6%).
Conclusion: Although these results show S. aureus subsp. anaerobius as the prime cause of SLNA, they also show the importance of inclusion of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in vaccine developments or vaccination protocols against abscess diseases of sheep, especially those intended for export.
Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius, Corynebacterium spp., Macrococcus caseolyticus, sheep abscess