Antibodies Against Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Nucleases in Bovine Blood Serum and Milk

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Abstract
Antibodies against the nuclease of Staphylococcus aureus were demonstrated in 99 % and 60 % of samples of bovine serum and milk,, respectively. The titres of S. aureus antinucleases in milk and serum of cows with S. aureus mastitis were significantly higher than those in cows with no mastitis. The prevalence rate of S. aureus mastitis in the second lactation of cows which had not suffered mastitis during the first lactation period, was examined. Cows with high antinuclease titres in the milk during the first lactation had lower prevalence rate than those with low titres. Antibodies against the nuclease of 8 streptococcal species were demonstrated in the serum samples. However, the frequency of occurrence and the levels varied. Antinucleases against S. agalactiae were, with one exception, exclusively found in samples from cows or herds with a recorded mastitis caused by this particular organism.