Enzymatic activity of yeasts isolated from the inflamed mammary secretion in dairy cows

The aim of the study was to evaluate enzymatic activities of yeasts isolated from inflammatory mammary secretion. The yeasts isolated from cows with clinical and sub-clinical mastitis (134 strains) included: Candida krusei (62 strains), Candida kefyr (48 strains), Candida lusitaniae (17 strains) and Candida famata (7 strains). The API ZYM system was used containing substrates to assess 19 hydrolytic enzymes. Substantial differences in the number and activity of hydrolyses were demonstrated in individual species. In Candida krusei, acid phosphatase showed the highest activity (4.36 points), in Candida kefyr and Candida lusitaniae – leucine arylamidase (4.93 and 4.25 points, respectively), in Candida famata – α-glucosidase (4.75 points). No activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin, α-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase, α-mannosidase or α-fucosidase was observed in any of the yeasts examined.