Efficacy of Novel Antimicrobial Post-milking Teat Dip on the Rate of New Intramammary Infections with an Experimental Bacterial Challenge against Contagious Mastitis Organisms

Abstract

Teat dipping with effective products is a critical control point for mastitis prevention. Objective of this study was to determine efficacy of a novel antimicrobial solution containing citrate ion, methylene blue, parabens and emollients (ZuraLacSD, Zurex PharmAgra) used as a post-milking teat dip against a positive control and negative control in reducing the incidence of new intramammary infections during a period of experimental exposure of teats to contagious mastitis organisms, Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus. Novel germicide post milking teat dip significantly (P < 0.01%) reduced the number of new infections of Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus compared to both the negative control (95.3%) and positive control (80.9%) treatments. Incidence of clinical mastitis with a bacteriological positive identification of one of the challenge organisms was 40, 4 and 0 for negative control, positive control and novel germicide dips, respectively. Under the conditions of this study, no differences were visually observed for teat skin condition among the treatments. The use of a novel germicide used in a post-milking teat dip significantly reduced the number of new intramammary infections (new IMI) caused by experimental challenge with contagious mastitis pathogens Strep. agalactiae and Staphylocccus aureus compared to no post-milking teat dipping (negative control) and to an industry standard, 0.5% iodine post-milking teat dip.