Species diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling of staphylococci isolated from camel milk in Algeria

This study investigated the prevalence of staphylococcal contamination in camel milk collected from various farms in the M'sila region of Algeria and evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus sp. isolates. It constitutes the first study involving detailed testing of staphylococci from Algerian raw camel milk. Over a three-month period, 20 camel milk samples were collected and subjected to bacterial isolation using the spread plate technique. Staphylococcus species were identified through conventional methods and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) Biotyper. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion method with various antibiotics. The results revealed a 100% prevalence of Staphylococcus contamination in the analysed samples. Among the 30 Staphylococcus isolates, Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) (37%) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (17%) were the predominant species. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that only 6.66% of the isolates were sensitive to all tested antibiotics, while 93.3% exhibited resistance or intermediate susceptibility to at least one antibiotic. Notably, resistance to penicillin was highly prevalent (87%). Diverse antibiotic resistance profiles were observed, with single, double, triple, and quadruple resistance patterns. This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of Staphylococcus contamination and antibiotic resistance profiles in camel milk, highlighting the need for effective strategies and measures to control and prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria should be part of livestock management strategies to protect both animal and public health. The identification of S.epidermidis isolate identified as MR-MDRCNS highlights the rise of methicillin-resistant strains of CNS and the challenge they pose in maintaining the efficacy of therapeutic treatments.