Incidence Of Intramammary Infection Research Articles

Premilking Udder Hygiene

Incidence of intramammary infection is highly correlated to the number of mastitis pathogens on the teat end at milking. The objective of premilking teat sanitation is to reduce the microbial population in order to minimize the probability of mastitis. Milking time hygiene is extremely important due to the potential interaction between milking machine functions and microflora of teat skin. Current recommended procedures for premilking udder preparation range from water hose wash, manual drying, wet paper towel wash plus paper towel dry, to predipping alone plus paper towel dry. Regardless of udder cleaning procedure, manual drying of teats is a significant factor in reduction of total bacteria counts. Predipping with iodine-based sanitizers, .1 to .25% iodine concentration, reduced intramammary infection with environmental pathogens 51% compared with good udder preparation in a field trial on four commercial dairy farms. Infections by coagulase-negative staphylococci were not reduced by predipping. Effective premilking udder hygiene is essential for the production of high quality milk. Bacteria, preincubation and pasteurized milk counts are reduced. Sediment is minimized. Incidence of mastitis is reduced. Proper udder hygiene procedures should be practiced at every milking.

Evaluation of .5% and 1% Iodophor Teat Dips on Commercial Dairies

Two postmilking teat dips containing .5 and 1% iodine were evaluated for approximately 8 mo under conditions of natural exposure to mastitis pathogens on four commercial dairy farms. In the two herds using .5% iodophor, incidence of intramammary infection with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae was reduced 68.3 and 46.2%, respectively. When numbers of new infections with both pathogens were combined, efficacy for the .5% iodophor was 62.3%. In the two herds using 1% iodophor, incidence of intramammary infection with Staph. aureus and Strep. agalactiae was reduced 52.4 and 70.7%, respectively. When numbers of new infections with both pathogens were combined, effacacy for the 1% idophor was 64.3%. Efficacy of teat dips was variable against coagulase-negative staphylococci and Corynebacterium bovis.

Evaluation of Linear Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid as a Teat Dip in a Commercial Dairy

A postmilking teat dip containing 1.94% linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid1 was evaluated for approximately 6 mo on a commercial dairy farm that milked an average of 75 cows. Sixteen Staphylococcus aureus infections were diagnosed, 12 in the undipped control quarters and 4 in the dipped. Incidence of intramammary infection with Staphylococcus aureus was reduced 68.1%. Seventy-five infections were diagnosed as micrococci, 42 in control and 33 in the dipped group, a 23.6% reduction. A total of 37 Corynebacterium sp. infections were diagnosed, 21 and 16 in control and dipped groups, a 25.8% reduction. Teat skin condition did not change during the study.

Intramammary Infections in Primigravid Heifers Near Parturition

Mammary secretion from 32 primigravid heifers was obtained aseptically to determine frequency of bacterial isolation and incidence of intramammary infection near parturition. Quarter samples were collected 14 and 7 days prior to expected parturition, at parturition, and 7 and 14 days postparturition. Analysis of culture data indicated that 77.1% of samples were bacteriologically negative, and 15.7% contained coagulase negative staphylococci, 4.4% streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae, 3.8% coliforms, .8% coagulase positive staphylococci, and .1% Corynebacterium bovis. Frequency of bacterial isolation was highest in samples obtained prior to and at parturition. Thirty-five of 128 quarters were infected at parturition. Twenty-six of the 35 infections were caused by coagulase negative staphylococci, 4 by streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae, 4 by coliforms, and 1 by coagulase positive staphylococci. Twenty infections were observed during the early postpartum period. Coagulase negative staphylococcal infections decreased markedly. However, the number and type of primary pathogen infections during early lactation were similar to those at parturition.

Incidence of intramammary infections and effects of number of lactations, lactation stage, quarter and calf sex on somatic cell content of milk from Angus-Holstein F-1 cows.

Incidence of intramammary infections and effects of number of lactations, lactation stage, quarter and calf sex on somatic cell content of milk from Angus-Holstein F-1 cows.