Abstract

The control of clinical mastitis on dairy farms is an essential part of animal health management. Knowledge of the causative microorganisms, the cure rates achievable in the field and essential associated factors are crucial for proper control. The objectives of the present study were to characterize clinical mastitis cases in Germany and to analyze factors influencing cure rates and the recurrence rate. Milk samples of every clinical mastitis case occurring on 12 participating farms were examined cytomicrobiologically. Post-treatment quarter samples were taken after 14 and 21 days. Treatments were performed according to existing farm protocols. Of 2883 clinical mastitis cases, the most prevalent pathogens were Streptococcus (S.) uberis (20.2%) and coliforms (11.6%). In 35% of the milk samples, no bacteriological growth was detected. The overall bacteriological cure rate was 73.3%, while the cytological cure rate was 22.3%, the full cure rate 21.4% and the recurrence rate 18.8%. Regarding the pathogen distribution of severe mastitis, coliform bacteria were detected in 30.5% of the cases, whereas S. uberis was detected in 26.5% thereof. The results show that severe mastitis is caused almost as frequently by Gram-positive as by Gram-negative microorganisms. The low cytological cure rates show that the therapy needs to be further developed with regard to calming the inflammation. The obtained data can be very helpful in assessing internal mastitis scenarios and the effect of measures and therapies.

Highlights

  • Clinical mastitis has been the focus of numerous research studies, there is a lack of basic up-to-date data on the clinical cases occurring in Germany

  • While most clinical mastitis cases were once caused by cow-associated pathogens like Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and Streptococcus (S.) agalactiae [4], current studies show that the pathogens with the highest prevalence on German dairy farms originate from the environment [5,6]

  • Animals with mastitis caused by coliform bacteria had the highest bacteriological cure rate of 87.1%

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Summary

Introduction

Clinical mastitis has been the focus of numerous research studies, there is a lack of basic up-to-date data on the clinical cases occurring in Germany. While most clinical mastitis cases were once caused by cow-associated pathogens like Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and Streptococcus (S.) agalactiae [4], current studies show that the pathogens with the highest prevalence on German dairy farms originate from the environment [5,6]. Of these pathogens, E. coli in particular is ascribed the cases with the most severe progression [7].

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