Antimicrobial efficacy of <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> extract against some <i>Staphylococcus</i> species isolated from subclinical mastitis in cattle in Basrah province, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Thymus vulgaris extracts can play a significant role as alternatives for antimicrobial agents against bovine staphylococcus mastitis.

Aim: This research’s goal was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of an extract from T. vulgaris as an alternative to
antibiotics for bovine Staphylococcus mastitis. In addition, it is important to know the effect of the extraction methods
(hot alcoholic, cold alcoholic, and hot water extract) on their effectiveness.

Methods: Two hundred ten cow milk samples from different areas of Basrah province had been suffering subclinical
mastitis reported by using the California mastitis test (CMT). Staphylococcus species were identified by conventional
microbiological technique, GP24 Kit, and nuc gene. Antimicrobial activity of various concentrations of T. vulgaris extracted (75, 50, 25) mg/ml with different methods of extraction (hot alcoholic, cold alcoholic, and hot water extract).  

Results: Out of 210 samples, 99 (47.1%) were positive for the CMT, and the identification rate of Staphylococci spp.
by conventional microbiological technique and GP24 kit was 78 (78.8%). Out of 78 isolates of Staphylococcus spp. 48  (61.5%) were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, by using both molecular techniques using PCR and miniaturized Kit  GP24 and employing the miniature GP24, the remaining 30 (38.5%) were determined to be different species of   Staphylococcus. Antibacterial activity of various concentrations of T. vulgaris extracted (75, 50, 25) mg/ml with different  methods of extraction revealed that hot alcoholic extract (100%) was more effective than cold alcoholic extract (66.7%),  whereas there is no effect on the bacteria species with the hot water extract.

Conclusion: Thymus vulgaris extracts can  play a significant role as alternatives for antimicrobial agents against bovine staphylococcus mastitis.