Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) are the predominant pathogens causing intramammary infections (IMI) in dairy herds. A total of 804 milk samples were investigated to study the prevalence of staphylococci among dairy cows (n=632) and buffaloes (n=172) in Egypt. Phenotypic identification of the isolates was achieved by using conventional
identification methods, API staph ID test and PCR. S. aureus was isolated from the examined cow and buffaloes in pure culture with incidence of 49.5 and 33.1%, respectively. While CNS were isolated from the examined cow and buffaloes in pure cultures with incidence of 15.7 and 34.9 %, respectively. S. cohnii, S. lugdunensis, S. saprophyticus, S. xylosus, S. hominis, S. simulans and S. lentus, were isolated from the collected samples and associated with a slight to moderate increase in the number of somatic cells in milk. The significance of CNS, however, needs to be reconsidered as in many countries they have become the most common mastitis-causing agents.

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