Abstract
Problem statement: The seeds of Nigella sativa Linn. (Ranunculaceae) known as black seed or black cumin, are used in herbal medicine all over the world for the treatment and prevention of a number of diseases and conditions that include asthma, diarrhea and dyslipidaemia. Approach: In this study the effect of intramammary injection of Nigella Sativa Extract (NSE) in paraffin on quarter milk, quality and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and the shedding pattern of Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. Thirty Holstein cows, naturally infected with S. aureus subclinical mastitis, were subjected to treatment with the NSE at a dose of 10 mL in paraffin (200 mg mL−1) per day for 3 days, or with 10 mL paraffin as control. The injection areas were checked for adverse reactions. The daily milk production was measured before and after treatment. Intramammary injection of NSE caused a remarkable healing. Quarter milk samples were collected for bacteriological analysis and Somatic Cell Counts (SCC). The bacterial count moderately decreased in the treatment group. After the end of the treatment, the numbers of S. aureus-infected quarters and milk SCC tended to decrease in the NSEtreated cows. These clarifications were significantly higher one week post-treatment than pretreatment. Similar changes were not observed in the control group. Results: The results of the present study showed that the NSE has potential as a therapeutic agent for S. aureus infection causing subclinical mastitis of dairy cows and may contribute to the cow's recovery from mastitis. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results indicate that Nigella sativa might act as an antibacterial in vivo in dairy cows.
Highlights
Staphylococcus aureus mastitis is known to be highly resistant to antibiotic therapy
Cows with milk Somatic Cell Count (SCC) more than 200,000 cells mL 1 were enrolled in the study based on positive California Mastitis Test (CMT) and isolation of the same mastitis pathogen in 2 samplings performed with 1 week intervals
Bacterial counts in the milk (Fig. 1) indicated a change in milk SCC following the injections of paraffin and Nigella Sativa Extract (NSE) and reduced the bulk milk SCC from 245,000-218,000 cells mL−1 in the treatment group
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus mastitis is known to be highly resistant to antibiotic therapy. The main finding during subclinical mastitis in dairy cows is the elevated milk Somatic Cell Count (SCC). Subclinical mastitis leads to a decrease in both milk quality and production, by far, it is the most prevalent form of mastitis world-wide in dairy cattle (Hu et al, 2001). The results of a study revealed clear potentiality of N. sativa fixed oil as a source for anti-microbial drugs and support its use in Corresponding Author: Hamideh Ghodrati Azadi, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of intramammary injection of Nigella sativa on infected cows with subclinical mastitis as a result of spontaneous infection with S. aureus
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