With the objective to verify the role of the water in the transmission of Staphylococcus sp., the counting of coagulase negative staphylococci, and Staphylococcus aureus in the water samples of the sources, reservoirs, and stables of 30 dairy farms, located in the Northeast region of the State of São Paulo was carried out. The major occurrence of coagulase negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, 10.0%, and 16.6%, were found in the water used for milking, with the major average of counting of 4.3×10(4) and 2.5×10(4). The results show the risk of water as a vehicle for transmission of mastitis, and the possibility of milk contamination by strains responsible for foodborne diseases.
water; Staphylococcus sp.; Staphylococcus aureus; dairy farms
