Abstract
The present study evaluated the antimicrobial activities of acetic acid against bovine mastitis pathogens compared to lactic acid and lauric and caprylic saturated fatty acids. Eleven mastitis pathogens were isolated from sub-clinical and clinical bovine mastitis cases for the study. An initial screening of their antibacterial activities by agar well diffusion method was performed. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of each acid were obtained using a microdilution method; each acid was diluted from stock solution and then were diluted with culture broth to reach concentrations ranging from 4 to 0.004% w/v. The results showed acetic acid had the highest zone of inhibition against all pathogens except Escherichia coli compared with lauric and caprylic acids. The MIC and MBC were lowest for acetic acid against both Gram-positive (except Staphylococcus chromogenes from the coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) group) and Gram-negative pathogens, intermediate for lactic and caprylic acids and greatest for lauric acid. In conclusion, acetic acid had antimicrobial activities against most mastitis pathogens compared with other acids. Further studies are needed to optimize the formulation and concentration of acetic acid for teat-dipping agent in the future.
Highlights
Mastitis, the disease causing the most economical loss in the dairy industry worldwide [1], is mostly caused by bacterial intramammary infection (IMI)
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of acetic acid compared with lactic, lauric and caprylic acids against bovine mastitis pathogens, including the major pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, S. aureus, E. coli and Klebsiella spp. [9] and six minor pathogens in the coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) group
No differences were observed among acids in the inhibition zones for S. agalactiae and S. aureus
Summary
The disease causing the most economical loss in the dairy industry worldwide [1], is mostly caused by bacterial intramammary infection (IMI). Bacteria that cause mastitis are typically either contagious pathogens or environmental pathogens. Environmental pathogens on the teat may cause infection prior to cluster application, while the IMI from contagious pathogens occur during and after milking when the teat channel is open [2]. Minimizing bacteria on the teat ends pre- and post-milking by dipping with a germicide has been established as the most effective procedure for mastitis prevention [2,3]. The most commonly used germicide is iodine, which accounts for approximately 60 to 70% of the market in the USA and Europe [4]; iodine teat dips are classified as a medication according to FDA establishment registration and European regulations for veterinary products (EEC 2001/82).
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