Virulence factors involved in the pathogenesis of bovine intramammary infections due to Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major causative agent of intramammary infections in dairy cows. In this report, the pathogenesis of these infections is described. The potential role in virulence of S. aureus surface components (adhesins, protein A and capsular polysaccharides), toxins, extracellular enzymes and coagulase, and perspectives for the development of an efficient vaccine are discussed.