Molecular characterization, biofilm production and sensitivity to the natural extract of Staphylococcus spp. from subclinical mastitis in goats

Mastitis is one of the most important diseases in dairy milk systems. Molecular studies of the principal agents that are involved, as well as tests of bacterial sensitivity to plant extracts, are currently the most common forms of research related to this disease. The aim of the present study was to molecularly characterize isolates from cases of subclinical mastitis and to investigate the production of biofilm associated with extracts from Hymenaea martiana. The phytochemical screening of the crude ethanolic extract (CEE) confirmed the presence of phenolic substances, flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates that were assessed exhibited variations, with a notably high sensitivity to gentamicin. After the addition of the extract, 77.3, 81.8 and 86.3% of the isolates exhibited a reduction in biofilm production in the ethyl acetate, chloroform and hexane fractions, respectively. An extensive production of biofilm can be observed in the isolates that were not in contact with the natural extract. However, when in contact with the plant extract, there was a reduction in biofilm production, thereby demonstrating the therapeutic potential of the natural extract of H. martiana in mastitis caused by Staphylococcus spp. Key words: Mastitis, pathogens, resistance genes, sensitivity tests.