Multilocus sequence typing of intercontinental bovine Staphylococcus aureus isolates

A total of 258 bovine-associated Staphylococcus aureus isolates from the United States, Chile, and the United Kingdom, plus the reference isolate S. aureus Newbould 305 (NCIMB 702892), were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). A collection of previously characterized United Kingdom isolates were also included in the analysis. The results demonstrated that MLST is suitable for the differentiation of bovine S. aureus isolates from various sites (milk, teat skin, milking machine unit liners, hands, and bedding) and countries. The theory of the host specificity of S. aureus is supported by the detection of a previously undescribed clonal complex that comprised 87.4% of the isolates studied, with representatives from all geographic locations investigated. This suggests that a single clonal group has achieved a widespread distribution and is responsible for the majority of infections. Some sequence types (STs; ST25, ST115, ST124, and ST126) demonstrated site specificity, as they were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with milk or teat skin.