Influence of milk components in establishing biofilm mediated bacterial mastitis infections in cattle: a fractional factorial approach

Abstract

Biofilm formation is one of the factors responsible for antibiotic resistance. The involvement of biofilm formation in bacterial mastitis is well known. Milk composition varies during the lactation period and certain pathogens are producing more number of mastitis cases during particular periods of lactation. The present study elucidates the effects of different milk components on biofilm formation and the persistence of infection. The Plackett Burman screening design has been chosen for assessing the significance. Biofilm production of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were assessed by crystal violet assay. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate had a significant effect on biofilm formation by S. aureus (MTCC 1430) whereas it was pH in the case of biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa (NCIM 5029). Other independent factors were found to be insignificant.

Keywords: Biofilm; Crystal violet assay; Fractional factorial design; Mastitis; Plackett Burman.