AbstractsGeography &GIS

This research project consists of an investigation of genotypic variation and geographic distribution of Staphylococcus aureus in 134 dairy goats in several provinces in Thailand. S. aureus was detected in 28 goats (21%). The S. aureus isolates were analyzed for differences in genotypes using surface protein A typing (spa typing). A total of 9 spa types were found in dairy goat isolates. The isolates belonged to the spa types t032, t091, t304, t1534, t1858, t2678, t3577, t4103 and t7295. Spa typing determined spa type t7295 (n=13) to be the most frequent spa type in Thai goat isolates, which was found in 46% of S. aureus infected goats. Geographic distribution was established according to coordinates of each farm. In the regions of investigation there was a large diversity of S. aureus prevalence and spa types. Within the goat farms most spa types were related and, in general, between dairy goat farms and provinces in Thailand an association between S. aureus prevalence and spa type and geographical location was not observed.