Antimicrobial Resistance and Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Raw Subclinical Mastitis Milk Samples at a Selected Private Dairy Farm, in Alor Gajah, Melaka

Abstract

The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) uprising has caused global public health issue concerns. Various study shows that S. aureus shows adaptability to new conditions and environments, which means it is crucial for surveillance of their virulence and antibiotic resistance mechanisms. One of the origins of the transmission of AMR is via indirect and direct pathways due to farming industry practices. However, one of the challenging factors that could jeopardize dairy production in dairy industries is the prevalence of Mastitis in dairy animals. Mastitis can affect the production and quality of milk, leading to economic losses to the industries. In addition, subclinical Mastitis can become a reservoir for AMR pathogens, which can threaten public health. Staphylococcus aureus is the most prevalent pathogen ubiquitous in subclinical raw milk. There are many studies claiming S. aureus has developed resistance against antimicrobial drugs due to misuse of antibiotics and poor management practices of herd dairy animals. This phenomenon will jeopardize current antibiotic treatment as milk heavily becomes a part of people’s diets. This study aims to study the prevalence of S. aureus in raw milk samples in Alor Gajah, Melaka and to characterize its AMR pattern characteristics based on antimicrobial resistance profiles and the capability of production biofilm formation.