Isolation and identification of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine and the detection of its coagulase gene (coa) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Two hundred and fifty different samples were collected from bovine and examined for the presence of staphylococcal bacteria. 189 isolates were able to grow on the mannitol salt agar (MSA), known as staphylococci. Coagulase test revealed that 165 isolates were able to produce this enzyme;  138 of these isolates were Staphylococcus aureus which appeared in 55.2% of the isolates. Deoxyribonuclase (DNAase), urase and beta haemolysis activities of the isolates were also investigated and it showed 90.69, 86.23, and 87.86% of the isolates respectively. An enzymatic examination of the isolates was combined in numerous tests like catalase test, coagulase test, non- producing oxidase, sugar fermentation, oxidative and fermentation test, liquefaction of gelatin and MR-VP test. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of coa gene products of S. aureus showed the following: gene product of 500 bp (22.5%); 650 bp (15%); 800 and 850 bp (25% for each); and 600 bp (12.5%).   Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, bovine, coagulase, coa gene, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).