Diagnosis Of Clinical Mastitis Research Articles

Understanding barriers to reducing antimicrobials on Australian dairy farms: A qualitative analysis.

Reducing antibiotic use in production animal systems is one strategy which may help to limit the development of antimicrobial resistance. To reduce antimicrobial use in food-producing animals, it is important to first understand how antibiotics are used on farm and what barriers exist to decreasing their use. In dairy production systems, mastitis is one of the most common reasons for administering antimicrobials. Therefore, it is important to understand the motivations and behaviours of dairy farmers in relation to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mastitis. In this study, we interviewed a sample of dairy farmers and dairy industry professionals from the major dairying regions of eastern Australia regarding their current practices used to diagnose, treat, and control subclinical and clinical mastitis. Inductive thematic analysis was used to code interview transcripts and identify the recurrent themes. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) the challenges associated with the detection and diagnosis of clinical mastitis, including with laboratory culture, (2) the motivations behind treatment decisions for different cases, (3) decisions around dry cow therapy and the role of herd recording, and (4) concerns regarding the development of antimicrobial resistance. This study identifies several challenges which may limit the ability of Australian dairy farmers to reduce antimicrobial use on farm, such as the need for rapid and reliable diagnostic tests capable of identifying the pathogenic causes of mastitis and the difficulties associated with conducting herd recording for the implementation of selective dry cow therapy. Industry professionals were concerned that farmers were not using individual cow records to aid in treatment decisions, which could result in unnecessary antimicrobial use. The results of this study can act as the basis for future research aimed at assessing these issues across the broader Australian dairy industry.

Intramammary treatment of clinical mastitis quarters with ceftiofur does not cause anbiotic residues in adjacent untreated quarters.

The study was carried out in dairy cows to elucidate whether treatment of clinical mastitis quarters with Spectramast® LC (ceftiofur hydrochloride, 125 mg, Zoetis) created a reason for discarding milk from adjacent untreated healthy quarters. The antibiotic was infused once daily in the affected mammary quarter for four days. Forty-nine cows were evaluated after diagnosis of clinical mastitis in three or fewer udder quarters. In all cases, quarters that did not receive treatment had milk samples collected one day after the end of treatment. All milk samples from untreated quarters were below the maximum permissible limit for the presence of antibiotic residues after analysis with the BetaStar S Combo test. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics may explain this finding. We conclude that it is feasible to use milk from untreated quarters of animals that have been treated with Spectramast® LC. We also reiterate the need to carry out tests with other pharmacological bases, and that the results found in this experiment cannot be extrapolated to other drugs.Dairy cattle have considerable importance in the development of the Brazilian economy, being directly linked to economic and social progress. In the first half of 2020, 12.1 billion liters of milk were produced in Brazil and in 2019, there was a new record of 25.01 billion liters produced (IBGE, 2020). This production comes from a wide variety of production systems, coming from smallholder farmers as well as from large companies that use the latest technologies available on the market. Dairy production is a complex activity. For one to obtain economical success, several aspects must be monitored. Maintaining the health of animals is a top priority, and the literature suggests that various diseases are a common challenge for dairy producers. Mastitis is the main disease that affects dairy cows, responsible for considerable economic loss and significant zootechnical and productive challenges (Ruegg, ). It is considered the second leading cause of cow culling in dairy herds, behind reproductive problems. Mastitis is characterized by infection of the mammary gland and may or may not occur with inflammation, generating changes in the mammary tissue and properties of the milk. It is classifield into clinical or subclinical mastitis, according to presence or absence of clinical signs, and into contagious or environmental based on the causative agent (Correa et al., ).

Metritis and clinical mastitis events in lactating dairy cows were associated with altered patterns of rumination, physical activity, and lying behavior monitored by an ear-attached sensor

Understanding changes in parameters recorded by automated health monitoring systems based on ear-attached sensors on the days immediately before and after diagnosis of metritis and clinical mastitis can help develop dairy cow health monitoring strategies. The objective of this observational cohort study was to characterize rumination time, physical activity, and lying time monitored by an ear-attached sensor before, during, and after clinical diagnosis (CD) of metritis and clinical mastitis. Lactating Holsteins monitored daily for 21 d in milk for detection of health disorders were retrospectively included in the no clinical health disorder group (NCHD; n = 616) if no disorders were diagnosed. Cows were included in the metritis (MET; n = 69) or clinical mastitis (MAST; n = 36) group if diagnosed only with nonsevere metritis (watery, reddish, and fetid uterine discharge with or without pyrexia) or nonsevere clinical mastitis (visibly abnormal milk secretion with or without signs of udder inflammation, with no pyrexia and no systemic signs of disease), respectively. Cows diagnosed with severe metritis (signs of metritis plus systemic signs of disease) or severe clinical mastitis (signs of mastitis plus pyrexia and systemic signs of disease), and cows diagnosed with nonsevere metritis or clinical mastitis plus another disorder within -7 to +7 d of CD of metritis or clinical mastitis diagnosis, were included in the metritis plus (MET+; n = 25) or the clinical mastitis plus (MAST+; n = 15) group, respectively. Cows were fitted with an ear-attached accelerometer to measure rumination time, physical activity, and lying time. Mean daily values, mean value absolute change, and relative change for the mean daily value from 3 or 5 d before CD to the nadir for cows with metritis and clinical mastitis, respectively, were analyzed with linear mixed models with or without repeated measures. Rumination time and physical activity were lesser, and lying time was greater for the MET and MET+ groups than for the NCHD group for most days from -4 to +7 d of CD of metritis. Generally, daily rumination time, physical activity, and lying time differences were greater and more prolonged between the MET+ and NCHD than between the MET and NCHD groups. Similarly, cows in the MAST and MAST+ groups had lesser rumination time and physical activity than cows in the NCHD group for several days before diagnosis. Lying time was greater for the MAST+ than the NCHD group on d -1 and 0 relative to CD. Absolute values and relative changes from 3 d before CD to the day of the nadir for rumination time and physical activity, or peak for lying time, were different for cows in the MET and MET+ groups than for the NCHD group. Similar results were observed for the MAST and MAST+ groups compared with the NCHD group. For cows with metritis, either an increase in rumination time and physical activity or a decrease in lying time was observed from the day of CD to resolution of clinical signs, but no changes were observed for the NCHD. Cows with clinical mastitis and the NCHD group had different rumination times, physical activity, and lying times on the day of CD and resolution of clinical signs, but cows with clinical mastitis had no significant changes from the day of CD to resolution of clinical signs. We conclude that cows affected by metritis and clinical mastitis presented substantial alterations of the patterns of rumination time, physical activity, and lying time captured by an ear-attached sensor. Thus, automated health monitoring systems based on ear-attached sensors might be used as an aid for identifying cows with metritis and clinical mastitis. Moreover, behavioral parameter changes after CD might be good indicators of resolution of clinical signs of metritis but not mastitis.

Avaliação do leite do teste de Tamis e seu efeito sobre a qualidade do leite

Consumers demand for food safety affects dairy industry, restraining the sector to adapt to milk quality parameters established by legislation, such as somatic cell count (SCC) and standard plate count (SPC). Good agricultural practices have positive impact over these parameters, especially Forestripping Milk (FSM), which consists of observing the first milk streams collected in a dark-bottomed mug for identification of clinical mastitis. These first milk streams have high somatic cells count and bacteria. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of milk from FSM, such as SCC and SPC values, and its impacts on milk quality of the cooling tank through simulating contamination. Fourteen dairy farms and one experimental farm were evaluated for SCC and SPC parameters of FSM. It was observed that there was no statistically significant difference for SCC and SPC between milk samples from the cooling tank and cooling tank simulating the inclusion of milk from FSM. Statistically significant difference for somatic cell score (SCS) and SPC was observed when tanks were classified by SCC. In addition, difference in SCS was observed between morning and afternoon milking. The collection of first milk streams can contribute to decrease in SCC and SPC of milk in the cooling tank. FSM must be practiced by all dairy farmers as milking management, to assist in clinical mastitis diagnosis and improve milk quality.

PSIX-11 Bacterial clinical mastitis associated with abortion in dairy cows

Abstract Within the period from 20.04.2020 to 15.02.2021 the state of 2087 pregnant cows was studied to identify the connection between abortions and the occurrence of mastitis. During the study period 97 cases of clinical mastitis and 149 cases of abortion were identified. Abortions were observed in 42 out of 97 cows with registered clinical mastitis. It was found that cows that had a clinical form of mastitis during the first 45 days of pregnancy (in the embryonic period of development) subsequently had the maximum number of abortions - 27 heads or 64.28% of abortions of cows with mastitis. Among cows that had mastitis in the period of 46–150 days of pregnancy 13 cases of abortion were revealed (30.9% of abortions of cows with mastitis). Among cows that had mastitis during pregnancy for more than 150 days 2 cases of abortion were detected (4.7% of abortions of cows with mastitis). On the basis of bacteriological analysis, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from milk of 15 aborted cows with the diagnosis of clinical mastitis. To identify species the conventional biochemical methods were applied together with the API 20 E, API Staph, API 20 Strep test (bioMerieux SA, France). In total, 18 species of pathogens were identified, including Ps. aeruginosa (n = 5), E. coli (n = 4), S. aureus (n = 1), S. saprophyticus (n = 8). Ps. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus were isolated both from the organs of the reproductive system and from the milk of the cows who had had abortions after suffering from mastitis, whereas no relationship was found between the microflora of the reproductive system and the udder of the cows whose abortions are not associated with mastitis. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No.20-16-00106

A novel Streptococcus species causing clinical mastitis in a pregnant donkey.

An 8-y-old jenny was presented because of anorexia and mild depression. The jenny had weaned her colt 10 d before the admission. Upon arrival at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the heart rate was elevated, and the right udder was painful and swollen on palpation. Milk stripping of the affected side revealed purulent content; the contralateral udder had normal-appearing milk. Cytology of mammary gland secretions from the affected side revealed a large number of hypersegmented reactive neutrophils with phagocytized bacteria. Complete blood count, serum chemistry, and fibrinogen were within normal limits. A diagnosis of clinical mastitis was made, and the jenny was started on a 5-d course of broad-spectrum antibiotics, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, hydrotherapy, and milk stripping. Clinical signs reduced over time, and the cure was attained by 96 h post-admission. Aerobic culture and subsequent MALDI-TOF MS analysis identified a bacterium of the Streptococcus genus but not the species. Whole-genome analysis was performed, and 16S rDNA sequencing and analysis determined that our isolate 20-37394 clustered with 2 other Streptococcus strains (27284-01 and 28462). Single-nucleotide variations and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that Streptococcus 20-37394 had 96.8% and 94.9% identities to Streptococcus strains 27284-01 and 28462, respectively; therefore, the bacteria isolated in our case was deemed as a new Streptococcus species.

Udder and teat conformational risk factors for elevated somatic cell count and clinical mastitis in New York Holsteins

Our primary objective was to identify udder and teat conformational risk factors associated with the occurrence of elevated somatic cell count (SCC) and clinical mastitis using a prospective cohort study design with careful assessment of exposure and disease outcomes. Mastitis prevalence was evaluated by parity across 6 sampling periods representing key physiological transitions during lactation: 0–1 day in milk (DIM), 3–5 DIM, 10–14 DIM, 50–60 DIM, 90–110 DIM, and 210–230 DIM. Cows were scored for front and rear teat length, width, end shape, and placement, fore udder attachment, udder cleft, udder depth, rear udder height, and rear udder width. Two independent multivariable logistic regression models were used to generate odds ratios (OR) for elevated SCC (≥ 200,000 cells/ml) and farm-diagnosed clinical mastitis. We identified that loose fore udder attachment (reference level: strong fore udder attachment, OR = 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2–3.8) and flat teat end shape (reference level: round teat end shape, OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1–1.9) increased the odds of an elevated SCC event, whereas a negative California Mastitis Test score at 0–1 DIM decreased the odds of an elevated SCC event (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4 to 0.8). Loose fore udder attachment (reference level: strong fore udder attachment, OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.3–10.7), flat teat end shape (reference level: round teat end shape, OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0–2.4), low rear udder height (reference level: intermediate rear udder height, OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 0.3–6.2), and increasing rear teat width (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.2–4.4) heightened the odds of developing clinical mastitis. We identified that within our study cohort, loose fore udder attachment and flat teat ends had an important association with increased odds of both an elevated SCC event and clinical mastitis diagnosis. The identification of these udder and teat conformational risk factors for mastitis can provide farmers an effective and inexpensive tool to manage mastitis.

Detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli in Brazilian mastitic milk goats by multiplex-PCR

ABSTRACT: This study evalueted the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli in milk samples from 257 goats (513 half-udders) and ten bulk tanks, from ten dairy goat farms of São Paulo State, Brazil, by multiplex-PCR. The samples were screened by microbiological culture (gold-standard), and tested by different multiplex-PCR protocols for the detection of each bacterium. A total of 178 half-udders resulted positive by microbiological culture, with coagulase-negative staphylococci (70%), S. aureus (13.5%), S. intermedius (7.9%), and Enterobacteriaceae (4%) the prevalent pathogens. In other way, multiplex-PCR detected 173 pathogens in 151/523 (28.9%; CI95% 25.2-32.9%) milk samples 144/513 (28.1%) half-udders and 7/10 (70%) bulk tanks, with E. coli (86/162, 51.9%) and S. aureus (50/162, 30.9%) the prevalent ones in half-udders, and S. aureus (6/10, 60%) and E. coli (4/5, 36.4%) in bulk tanks. Multiplex-PCR showed a high performance for the detection of three bacteria at a time in mastitic goat milk direct from half-udders or bulk tanks. Thus, this multiplex-PCR protocol proved to be an adequate tool for the identification of the most common mastitis pathogens, independent of their phenotypic characteristics in the diagnosis of clinical mastitis in goats, allowing a continuous and better vigilance and monitoring the herd, being included in quality programs.

Incidence of bovine clinical mastitis in Jammu region and antibiogram of isolated pathogens.

Aim:This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of clinical mastitis in bovines of Jammu region, to identify the infectious organisms responsible for it, and the antimicrobial sensitivity of isolated pathogens.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted on cases that were presented to the Medicine Division of Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 260 cases of bovines were presented from June 30, 2012, to July 01, 2013, out of which 30 cases were of clinical mastitis. The diagnosis of clinical mastitis was made on the basis of history and clinical examination of affected animals.Results:Animal and quarter-wise incidence of clinical mastitis were found to be 11.5% and 5.76%, respectively. Of the 23 isolates obtained, Staphylococcus aureus (60.87%) was the most frequently isolated organism, followed by coagulase negative Staphylococci (13.04%), Streptococcus uberis (4.35%), Streptococcus dysgalactiae (8.69%), and Escherichia coli (13.04%). The antimicrobial sensitivity of isolates revealed maximum sensitivity to enrofloxacin, gentamicin, amoxicillin/sulbactam, ceftriaxone/tazobactam, ceftizoxime, ampicillin/sulbactam and least sensitivity for oxytetracycline and penicillin.Conclusion:Staphylococcus spp. is the major causative agent of clinical mastitis in bovines of Jammu region. The causative agents of the clinical mastitis were most sensitive to enrofloxacin and gentamicin.

A strategy to estimate the rate of recruitment of inflammatory cells during bovine intramammary infection under field management

BackgroundIn most infectious diseases, among which bovine mastitis, promptness of the recruitment of inflammatory cells (mainly neutrophils) in inflamed tissues has been shown to be of prime importance in the resolution of the infection. Although this information should aid in designing efficient control strategies, it has never been quantified in field studies.MethodsHere, a system of ordinary differential equations is proposed that describes the dynamic process of the inflammatory response to mammary pathogens. The system was tested, by principal differential analysis, on 1947 test-day somatic cell counts collected on 756 infected cows, from 50 days before to 50 days after the diagnosis of clinical mastitis. Cell counts were log-transformed before estimating recruitment rates.ResultsDaily rates of cellular recruitment was estimated at 0.052 (st. err. = 0.005) during health. During disease, an additional cellular rate of recruitment was estimated at 0.004 (st. err. = 0.001) per day and per bacteria. These estimates are in agreement with analogous measurements of in vitro neutrophil functions.ConclusionsResults suggest the method is adequate to estimate one of the components of innate resistance to mammary pathogens at the individual level and in field studies. Extension of the method to estimate components of innate tolerance and limits of the study are discussed.

Mediation analysis to estimate direct and indirect milk losses due to clinical mastitis in dairy cattle

Milk losses associated with mastitis can be attributed to either effects of pathogens per se (i.e., direct losses) or effects of the immune response triggered by intramammary infection (indirect losses). The distinction is important in terms of mastitis prevention and treatment. Regardless, the number of pathogens is often unknown (particularly in field studies), making it difficult to estimate direct losses, whereas indirect losses can be approximated by measuring the association between increased somatic cell count (SCC) and milk production. An alternative is to perform a mediation analysis in which changes in milk yield are allocated into their direct and indirect components. We applied this method on data for clinical mastitis, milk and SCC test-day recordings, results of bacteriological cultures (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and streptococci other than Strep. dysgalactiae and Strep. uberis), and cow characteristics. Following a diagnosis of clinical mastitis, the cow was treated and changes (increase or decrease) in milk production before and after a diagnosis were interpreted counterfactually. On a daily basis, indirect changes, mediated by SCC increase, were significantly different from zero for all bacterial species, with a milk yield decrease (ranging among species from 4 to 33g and mediated by an increase of 1000SCC/mL/day) before and a daily milk increase (ranging among species from 2 to 12g and mediated by a decrease of 1000SCC/mL/day) after detection. Direct changes, not mediated by SCC, were only different from zero for coagulase-negative staphylococci before diagnosis (72g per day). We concluded that mixed structural equation models were useful to estimate direct and indirect effects of the presence of clinical mastitis on milk yield.

Etiologia e fatores de risco para a infecção mamária de cabras leiteiras em seis propriedades do Estado de São Paulo

The aim of this study was to identify etiologic agents and risk factors for mastitis in dairy goats. For this, two aliquots were collected from 257 milk samples, between April and September, 2012, from 136 Saanen goats from six intensive management farms, with manual and mechanical milking system located in the state of São Paulo. The first aliquot of milk samples was obtained in vials containing preservative bronopol for electronic somatic cell count (SCC), and the second in sterile bottles for bacteriological examination. For risk factors evaluation, epidemiologic questionnaires were performed by the research team by visual observation and survey with handler and owners. Analyzes univariate and multivariate were performed using multiple logistic regression. Was observed prevalence of 28.79% of mammary infection, and predominance of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS). The SCC median was 4,7x105 cells per mL (cells mL-1) of milk. In univariate analysis, was observed risk for mammary infection in places where, the goat was not the main activity of the property (p=0.03); when the diagnosis of clinical mastitis by proof of dark background was not performed (p=0.07); when chlorine was not used in the cleaning of the teats (p=0.29); improper cleaning of the milking parlor (p= 0.06); inadequate hygiene in the milking process (p=0.03) and inadequate hygiene of the milkers (p=03). The main group of pathogen isolated in this study was CNS. The biggest risk associated with mammary infection was the hygiene of ceilings, room, milker and also the process of milking resulting from these microorganisms. Thus, despite indications of hygienic measures in the programs of milk quality and mastitis control, the applicability and awareness of employees involved in the production chain of milk goats are not sensitized. Therefore, the personnel training is the principal measure recommended for the control of mastitis in dairy goats.

Changes in behaviour of dairy cows with clinical mastitis

Behaviour is an important tool for recognizing illness in animals. One of the most common diseases in dairy cattle is clinical mastitis. Evidence suggests that cows with this disease show sickness behaviours, but little is known about the progression of behavioural changes before and after the disease becomes clinical. The aims of this study were to determine changes in feeding and competitive behaviour at the feed bunk of dairy cows before the diagnosis of clinical mastitis and determine the effect of intramammary antibiotic treatment on behaviour. Dry matter intake, feeding time, number of visits to the feeder, rate of feed intake, number of replacements occurring at the feeder (when one cow displaced a feeding cow and took her position at the feed bin) and the percent of intake during peak feeding time were measured daily in eight cows diagnosed with clinical mastitis in one quarter of the udder. Clinical mastitis was diagnosed based on daily rectal body temperature as well as condition of the foremilk and udder assessed by the milker at each milking from calving until 30 days in milk. Starting on the day of diagnosis, cows received an intramammary antibiotic twice daily for three consecutive days. During the 5 days period before diagnosis, cows decreased feed intake by 1.2kg/d (SE=0.2, P<0.001) but showed no other changes in feeding behaviour during this time. The frequency of competitive replacements at the feeder (slope=−2.3 no./d, SE=1.0, P=0.04) and the percentage of intake at peak feeding time (slope=−1.8%, SE=0.6, P=0.008) were lower compared to day of diagnosis. Following treatment, cows immediately increased feed intake, feeding time and competitive replacements at the feeder. These results show that cows with naturally occurring clinical mastitis exhibit signs of sickness behaviour in the days before diagnosis, and that these behaviours rapidly recover in the days after treatment.

Diagnosis of clinical or subclinical mastitis in ewes

Objectives of this paper are to review (i) diagnostic methods and procedures available for clinical or subclinical mastitis in ewes and (ii) applications of these procedures in the diagnosis of mastitis. Early and correct diagnosis of the disease is important for identification of affected animals. The following diagnostic procedures can be used: clinical examination, imaging techniques (ultrasonography, endoscopy), bacteriological examination of milk samples, immunological tests, identification of biomarkers (cytological examination of milk and measurement of milk electroconductivity). In most cases, diagnosis of clinical mastitis is straightforward, based on the findings of clinical examination. The differential diagnosis includes primarily (i) bacterial mastitis (usually sporadic occurrence in a flock, usually unilateral, isolation of bacteria from milk samples), (ii) mycoplasmal mastitis [usually epidemic occurrence in a flock, usually bilateral accompanied by other signs (e.g., arthritis), isolation of Mycoplasma spp. from milk samples] and (iii) infection by Small Ruminant Lentivirus [usually epidemic occurrence in a flock, usually bilateral accompanied by various signs (e.g., respiratory or neurological signs) in the same or other animals of the flock, detection of antibodies to the virus, pro-viral DNA or viral RNA in blood samples]. Subclinical mastitis should be always suspected as one of the primary causes in cases of decreased milk production in dairy flocks; it should also be considered as a possible factor in cases of suboptimal growth rate of lambs in mutton-type production flocks. Diagnosis of subclinical mastitis is based on detection of infection (i.e., isolation of microorganisms from milk samples) and/or inflammatory reaction in the mammary gland. The best method for detection of the inflammatory reaction remains the demonstration of increased cellular content in milk, although various other methods, have been proposed. For individual animals, values <0.5×106cellsmL−1 indicate a healthy mammary gland and values >1.0×106cellsmL−1 indicate a mammary gland with clinical or subclinical mastitis, with no need to perform a simultaneous bacteriological examination of milk samples to confirm the problem; values between 0.5×106 and 1.0×106cellsmL−1 indicate ‘suspected disease’, hence there is a need for performing bacteriological examination in milk. Two consecutive measurements increase accuracy of results. In bulk milk samples, counts of 0.65×106cellsmL−1 indicate approximately 15% prevalence of subclinical mastitis in the flock. In the differential diagnosis of cases of reduced milk yield in ewes, other possible causes of the problem should be taken into account (e.g., parasitic infections, chronic wasting diseases, suboptimal level of nutrition); in cases of suboptimal growth rate of lambs, other factors may be responsible (e.g., protozoan or parasitic infections, energy or micronutrient deficiency, viral disease).

Evaluation of Effects of Milking Hygiene and Management Factor on Clinical Mastitis Incidence in Dairy Cows

Summary The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of clinical mastitis and somatic cell count (SCC) in six dairy herds which had different milking management and hygiene conditions. Four - hundred thirty one Holstein - Friesian cows were used in the study. The herds were classifi ed to be good (Group 1, n=2), medium (Group 2, n=1) or bad (Group 3, n=3) according to milking management and hygiene. The study was carried out on these 3 groups. Diagnosis of clinical mastitis was based on pathological symptoms in quarters and abnormal changes in milk. Rates of clinical cases were 20.2%, 28.3% and 36.5% for good, medium and bad conditions. Individual (ISCC) and bulk tank (BTSCC) somatic cell count were categorized to be low, medium and high. Of the quarters, 82% had low ISCC (<200.000 cells mL -1 ) in herds with good milking hygiene. Average ISCC and BTSCC values were higher in bad conditions than others (P<0.05).

Management of Bovine Udder Affections with a Combination Homeopathic Therapy

Mastitis is an economically significant disease of dairy cattle throughout the world. Diagnosis of clinical mastitis poses no problem but at present its management is solely dependent on antibiotics, which are costly, and out of reach of the poor farmer as well the residue problem it poses for human health through its excretion in milk. Therefore, the search for alternate management strategies for mastitis and udder infections is continuing throughout the world. Recently some homeopathic drugs have been claimed to be efficacious. The present trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a combination homeopathic therapy in udder infections of dairy cows.

Antigen capture ELISA using a monoclonal antibody for the detection of Mycoplasma bovis in milk

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) was developed to detect Mycoplasma (M.) bovis in milk samples from cattle. With this procedure, 1 × 10 5 colony forming units per ml (cfu/ml) milk were routinely detectable. No cross-reactions to other bovine mycoplasma species were observed. Both the sensitivity of 80.6% and the specificity of 94.9% are sufficient for its use in diagnosis of clinical mastitis. The sensitivity could be increased by 10% after introduction of 48-hour pre-incubation of samples. This allowed recognition of cows shedding M. bovis amounts of 10 3 cfu/ml in their milk, which is typical for subclinical cases. Screening of milk samples by means of this antigen capture ELISA has advantages over culture methods in terms of speed and potential to monitor large herds, thereby permitting early culling of infected animals to reduce transmission of the pathogen to non-infected animals.

Within-herd and between-herd variation in diagnosis of clinical mastitis in cattle

Summary: In a set of data on farmer-observed clinical mastitis in cattle, all milk samples were scored with regard to milk color and milk texture (presence of flakes and viscosity). During a 1-year period, 1,106 milk samples were collected from 125 farms with a bulk milk somatic cell count &lt; 150,000 cells/ml. The overall variation, the between-herd variation, and the within-herd variation of the scores were evaluated and compared with each other. Differences between farmers were found for the scores on the visual characteristics per sample. However, these differences were not related to the reported number of cases of clinical mastitis per year. It was concluded that the diagnostic capability of farmers whose herds had low somatic cell counts did not have a negative influence on the validity of farmer-observed clinical mastitis incidence. However, care should be taken in herds with a low frequency of cases.