In Vitro Iron-Metabolism, Qualitative and Quantitative Siderophore Production, and Whole Genome Sequencing to study iron acquisition by Staphylococcus chromogenes and Staphylococcus equorum Isolates Originating from Composite Cow Milk and Bulk Tank M

Bovine mastitis, an inflammation of the bovine mammary gland, typically results from intramammary infections (IMI) mainly caused by bacteria resulting in important economic losses in dairy production worldwide. Traditionally considered to be commensals and minor mastitis pathogens, the role of bovine associated non-aureus staphylococci and the closely related mammaliicocci (NASM) in bovine udder health is under increasing scrutiny because substantial variations among and within bovine-associated NASM on udder health and milk yield, including differences in virulence, potential protective properties, host-interaction, in vitro iron metabolism, and epidemiological behavior have been observed. Additionally, differences among bovine NASM species have been reported regarding ecology culminating in the ecological categorization of NASM on species level as host-adapted (e.g., Staphylococcus chromogenes) or environmental (e.g., Staphylococcus equorum); However, there is growing evidence of strain-level variation within NASM species with some strains showing a greater propensity to adapt to specific hosts or even particular body sites.