Mastitic Goats Research Articles

The Effectiveness of β-glucan in the Treatment of Caprine Mastitis Induced by Candida albicans

This study evaluated the efficacy of β-glucan, extracted from Candida albicans isolated from mastitic goat milk using an alkaline-acidic method, in treating C. albicans-induced mastitis. Twenty lactating goats (2–4 years old, 25–30 kg) were randomly divided into five groups (Group I–Group V), with each group consisting of four goats. Sixteen goats were intramammarily inoculated with 1.2 × 10⁷ yeast/2 mL of virulent C. albicans. The groups were as follows: Group I (negative control, uninfected), Group II (positive control, infected but untreated), Group III (treated with Nystatin, 200,000 units/half udder/day intramammary for 7 days), Group IV (treated with β-glucan, 5 mg/mL/half udder, administered intramammary every 48 h for three doses), and Group V (treated with a combination of β-glucan and Nystatin; β-glucan was administered as in Group IV, followed 2 h later by Nystatin, 200,000 units/half udder/day for 7 days). Clinical signs, milk quality (California Mastitis Test and fungal cultures), and serum levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ were assessed on days 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 post-inoculation. The results showed that the positive control group exhibited persistent mastitis symptoms throughout the study. Goats treated with β-glucan alone (Group IV) demonstrated significant symptom reduction and fungal elimination by day 15. The combination therapy group (Group V) achieved similar improvements by day 25. Serum IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were significantly elevated in the positive control group, while the β-glucan-treated group showed a substantial reduction in these inflammatory markers, indicating its potential as a standalone antifungal therapy. The Nystatin group (Group III) and the combination group (Group V) also exhibited reduced cytokine levels, although these were higher than those observed in the β-glucan and negative control groups. This study confirms the potential of β-glucan as an effective treatment for C. albicans-induced mastitis in goats. Its ability to lower inflammatory cytokine levels and eliminate fungal infections highlights its promise as a therapeutic option, particularly in combination with Nystatin, for managing fungal mastitis‎‎‎.

Prevalence of Mycotic Mastitis and Evaluation of Some Virulence Potential of Candida albicans Isolated from Mastitic Goats

Prevalence of Mycotic Mastitis and Evaluation of Some Virulence Potential of Candida albicans Isolated from Mastitic Goats

PK/PD Analysis of Marbofloxacin by Monte Carlo Simulation against Mycoplasmaagalactiae in Plasma and Milk of Lactating Goats after IV, SC and SC-Long Acting Formulations Administration.

Simple SummaryIn some countries like Spain and France, contagious agalactia (CA) is a highly relevant issue. CA is a mycoplasmosis affecting small ruminants and it is associated with a relevant economic impact on dairy. The poor efficacy of vaccines and their inability to prevent disease transmission is conducive to the use of antibiotics to control CA. However, only a few groups of antimicrobial agents are effective against these species, and selecting an adequate antimicrobial agent following the categorization of antibiotics made by the different international organisms (European Medicine Agency, World Health Organization) in veterinary medicine becomes a difficult task. The PK/PD approach is a useful tool to guide veterinarians on the appropriate targets through a rational selection of the best dose regimen of antimicrobial agents. In this study, marbofloxacin pharmacokinetics was studied after three routes of administration with two long-acting formulations. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values of Mycoplasma agalactia isolated from goats affected by CA in Spain were calculated. The results show that systemic exposure achieved in lactating goats following these formulations provides rate of drug release that could be adequate to maintain effective plasma concentrations against M. agalactiae. The PK/PD analysis by Monte Carlo simulation showed that a dosage regimen from 8.47 to 11.57 mg/kg every 24 h could effectively treat goats affected by CA.Contagious agalactia is a mycoplasmosis affecting small ruminants that have become an important issue in many countries. However, PK/PD studies of antibiotics to treat this problem in lactating goats affected by Mycoplasma (M.) agalactiae, the main CA-causing mycoplasma are almost non-existent. The aims of this study were to evaluate the plasma and milk disposition of marbofloxacin in lactating goats after intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC) and subcutaneous poloxamer P407 formulations with and without carboxy-methylcellulose (SC-P407-CMC and SC-P407) administration. Marbofloxacin concentrations were analysed by the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of M. agalactiae field isolates from mastitic goat’s milk were used to calculate surrogate markers of efficacy. Terminal half-lives of marbofloxacin after IV, SC, SC-P407 and SC-P407-CMC administration were 7.12, 6.57, 13.92 and 12.19 h in plasma, and the half-lives of elimination of marbofloxacin in milk were 7.22, 7.16, 9.30 and 7.74 h after IV, SC, SC-P407 and SC-P407-CMC administration, respectively. Marbofloxacin penetration from the blood into the milk was extensive, with Area Under the Curve (AUCmilk/AUCplasma) ratios ranged 1.04–1.23, and maximum concentrations (Cmax-milk/Cmax-plasma) ratios ranged 0.72–1.20. The PK/PD surrogate markers of efficacy fAUC24/MIC and the Monte Carlo simulation show that marbofloxacin ratio (fAUC24/MIC > 125) using a 90% of target attainment rate (TAR) need a dose regimen between 8.4 mg/kg (SC) and 11.57 mg/kg (P407CMC) and should be adequate to treat contagious agalactia in lactating goats.

Antibiotic sensitivity patterns in Staphylococcus spp. isolated from goat milk in association with molecular detection of antibiotic resistance genes.

Microbes become unresponsive to the drugs used to treat infections due to their ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance. The present research aimed to study the patterns of phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus spp. isolated from goat milk. A total of 200 milk samples were collected to isolate Staphylococcus spp. from mastitic and healthy goats from Punjab state, India. The isolates were then identified biochemically and molecularly (polymerase chain reaction (PCR)). An antibiotic sensitivity test was conducted using 15 different antibiotics. Molecular detection of antibiotic resistance genes was done using PCR. Chi-square test was done to study the association between genotypic and phenotypic resistance patterns among the isolates. A total of 47 Staphylococcus spp. were isolated of which 33 and 14 isolates were respectively coagulase positive and negative. The isolates phenotypically showed the highest resistance to Penicillin G (P) (91.4%). Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found 56.25%. Amongst the antibiotic resistance genes, tetK (87.23%) was the most prevalent isolated gene followed by blaZ (85.10%), mecA (48.93%), and tetM (14.89%). Statistical analysis revealed that the genotypic and phenotypic resistance patterns were significantly associated with penicillin and methicillin (MET) resistances. The high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus spp., especially MRSA, in goat milk is of concern and needs to be addressed in this area.

Coagulase-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus circulating in clinical mastitic goats in Bangladesh.

Background and Aim:Staphylococcus aureus is argued as one of the principal organisms responsible for mammary gland infection in lactating goats, causing both clinical and subclinical mastitis. Being highly zoonotic potential, pathogen emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has a significant clinical impact on treatment and management of clinical mastitis. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence of coagulase-positive S. aureus (CoPS), antimicrobial resistance profile of Staphylococcus spp., prevalence of MRSA, and association between different clinical parameters with CoPS.Materials and Methods:A total of 67 clinical mastitic goats were sampled based on clinical examination and California mastitis test. Standard bacteriological methods were performed to isolate and identify Staphylococcus spp. CoPS were confirmed by nuc gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All staphylococcal isolates were further examined for antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk diffusion method. MRSA was confirmed based on mecA gene-based PCR.Results:Here, 49 (73.13%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 61.41-82.35) samples were positive for Staphylococcus spp., of which 17 (34.69%; 95% CI, 22.88-48.73) isolates were CoPS and rest of the isolates (32; 65.30%; 95% CI, 51.27-77.12) were identified as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (coagulase-negative staphylococci [CNS]). Both, CoPS and CNS isolates displayed the highest resistance against tetracycline (76.47% and 75%, respectively) and oxacillin (70.58% and 68.75%, respectively). Notably, all staphylococcal isolates were multidrug-resistant (showed resistance to ≥3 classes of antimicrobials). mecA gene was found in 6 (8.96%; 95% CI, 3.84-18.52) CoPS isolates indicating MRSA strains. Among different clinical parameters, presence of high body temperature (p<0.05), firm udder consistency (p<0.01), bloodstained milk (p<0.00), and pus in milk (p<0.00) were significantly associated with the presence of CoPS in mastitic caprine milk.Conclusion:To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of MRSA isolated from clinical caprine mastitis cases in Bangladesh. The findings of this study would help in cautious selection as well as administration of antimicrobials for therapeutic management of mastitic goats.

Epidemiology and antibiogram of common mastitis-causing bacteria in Beetal goats.

Background and Aim:Mastitis has been identified as the most prevalent and economically imperative disease among dairy animals. Thus, understanding its common bacterial pathogens and risk factors is necessary to improve udder health at herd, region, or country level. However, scientific research on caprine mastitis, especially on Beetal breed, has remained to be insufficient in Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology and antibiogram assay of common mastitis-causing bacterial agents, that is, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Escherichia coli, in dairy goats.Materials and Methods:In total, 500 Beetal goats, irrespective of age and those that were not treated with any kind of antimicrobial agents during the past 120 h, were screened using California Mastitis Test in Pattoki, Kasur District, whereas epidemiological factors were recorded. The milk samples of mastitic goats were then collected and processed using standard methods. Each sample was primarily cultured on nutrient agar. Using a specific medium, each bacterial colony was separated using several streak methods. Six antibiotic disks belonging to different antibiotic groups were used for antibiogram profiling of bacterial isolates. Chi-square test was used to assess the association of baseline characteristics and mastitis occurrence. Meanwhile, multivariable logistic regression (p<0.001) was utilized to determine the risk factors associated with positive and negative dichotomous outcome of mastitis.Results:The results revealed that the overall prevalence of goat mastitis was 309 (61.8%), in which 260 (52%) and 49 (9.8%) cases were positive for subclinical mastitis (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM), respectively. Streptococcus and E. coli were found to be the predominant isolates causing SCM and CM, respectively (p<0.001). It was observed that amoxicillin+clavulanic acid was highly sensitive to isolates of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus and ceftiofur sodium to isolates of Streptococcus and E. coli., while enrofloxacin was found to be sensitive to isolates of Streptococcus and E. coli. Risk factors such as herd structure, deworming, vaccination, presence of ticks, use of teat dip and mineral supplements, feeding type, age, parity, housing, blood in the milk, milk leakage, milk taste, and milk yield were found to have the strongest association with mastitis occurrence, while ease of milking has moderate association.Conclusion:In the area examined, cases of SCM were found to be higher compared with that of CM, and ceftiofur sodium has been identified as the preferred treatment in both clinical and subclinical forms of caprine mastitis in Beetal goats. Risk factors for mastitis that was identified in this study can form the basis for the creation of an udder health control program specific for dairy goats. We hope our findings could raise awareness of the risk factors and treatment approaches for common mastitis-causing bacterial agents.

Study on the Conventional and Traditional Treatment of Caprine Mastitis

Ethnoveterinary practices are very common in Pakistan due to the poor socioeconomic status of the rural farmers. The traditional veterinary healers are therefore getting more attention from farmers. Thirty mastitic goats were selected and divided into five equal groups viz; A, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Groups were treated as A: control (no treatment), B1: parental injections of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and flunixinmaglumine, B2: trimethoprim with sulphadiazene and flunixinmaglumine, C1: oral treatment of Garlic (Allium Sativium L.) and Turmeric (Curcuma Longa L.), C2: Purple fleabane (Centratherum Anthelmenticum) and Turmeric (Curcuma Longa L.). The bacterial load of clinical mastitis before and after treatment was measured. The bacterial load was noticed significantly reduced in group B, followed by C compared with A at 7th and 14th day of conventional and traditional treatments respectively. Furthermore, on day 28th of trial the right teat bacterial load was significantly reduced in all treated groups vs control. Out of 1260 milk samples, the clinical and subclinical mastitis was observed in 65 (5.15%) and 226 (23.1 %) animals respectively. The temperature, pulse, respiration, udder circumference and cumulative bacterial load were elevated in untreated animals and on 0 day, which further subsides following treatment in different groups. The milk quantity was seriously reduced in mastitic goats, however some of the lost milk quantity was recovered following different treatments. It has been revealed that the medicinal plants can also be used effectively at very low cost but recovery is slow.

Effect of mastitis on some hematological and biochemical parameters of Red Sokoto goats.

Aim:This research project investigates the effect of mastitis on some hematological and biochemical parameters of Red Sokoto goats (RSGs).Materials and Methods:In this investigation, 16 clinically and subclinically diagnosed mastitic and 20 non-mastitic RSGs, within Sokoto metropolis, were sampled. Blood samples were collected both in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and anticoagulant free sample bottles for hematology and biochemical analysis, respectively.Results:A statistical analysis of the results revealed no significant difference in all the hematological parameters analyzed for both the mastitic and non-mastitic goats except mean corpuscular hemoglobin where significant difference (p<0.05) was observed. Similarly, no significant difference was recorded in the serum biochemistry except for the increase in total protein (p<0.001), globulin (p<0.05), and alanine aminotransferase activity (p<0.05).Conclusion:This finding is a pointer to the fact that mastitis could be regarded as a localized problem affecting the udder without serious systemic or metabolic involvement in RSGs.

Prevalence of clinical and subclinical caprine mastitis of northern region in Bangladesh

Mastitis is a multifactorial and infectious disease of the udder of dairy animals. Infected animals suffer from pain and fever and causing damage in udder and changes in milk. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical caprine mastitis associated with bacterial pathogens during the period from January to June, 2017. A total of 120 lactating goats were randomly selected from different villages of Dinajpur district and 240 milk samples from each udder half were aseptically collected. The udders were examined and screened for the evidence of clinical and subclinical mastitis by clinical examination of udders and examining milk samples. Subclinical mastitis was detected by California Mastitis Test (CMT). Milk samples of all clinical and subclinical mastitis goats were cultured in/on bacteriological media for isolation and characterization of responsible bacterial pathogens. The overall prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis in goats was found to be 11.67% and 38.75%, respectively. Bacteriological examination of mastitic milk samples of caprine revealed Staphylococcus spp. (32.5%) as the major pathogen followed by Escherichia coli (22.5%), Pseudomonas spp. (12.5%), Klebsiella spp. (12.5%) and Bacillus spp. (5%). Results of this study indicated that about 50% of caprine udder were infected with mastitis (38.75%), which may render lowering milk production and mortality of goats and kids. It needs to screen milk sample of lactating goats by CMT, identify mastitic goats with infected bacteria, evaluate antibiotic sensitivity and design control strategy accordingly.Progressive Agriculture 29 (2): 127-138, 2018

Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Characterization of E. Coli Isolated from Subclinical Mastitic Sheep and Goats

Mastitis is one of the most serious healthy and economic problems in all dairy sheep and goat flocks. Examination of 200 milk samples collected from apparently healthy sheep and goats using California mastitis test (CMT) showed that 94 (47%) were CMT positive. Standard methods for isolation and identification of E. coli could identify 19 strains. Five different serogroups were successfully identified among 19 E. coli strains, the serogroups were O1 (21.1%), O26 (21.1%), O114 (15.8%), O148 (15.8%) and finally O125 (10.4%), in addition to 3 untypable strains. The antimicrobial susceptibility results for erythromycin and cefoxtin revealed all E. coli isolates were resistant to erythromycin (100%) followed by high frequencies of resistance observed to cefoxtin 18 isolates (94.7%). Phylogenetic grouping of E. coli by triplex PCR using two genes (chuA and yjaA) and an anonymous DNA fragment tspE4C2 indicated that 5/6 were B2 group and 1/6 was A group. Detection of virulence genes of 6 E. coli. isolates showed that 2/6 harbored eaeA gene and none of 6 isolates harbored CFA/I gene. While, the mph A erythromycin resistance gene were present in 4/6.but 2/6 isolates harbored bla CTX cefoxitin resistance gene.

Potential of a polyherbal drug to prevent antimicrobial resistance in bacteria to antibiotics

Persistence of antibacterial drugs for prolonged period in milk increases the probability of antimicrobial resistance progress. Ceftizoxime was found to be excreted in milk for a prolonged period in goats, cows and buffaloes following intravenous injection of ceftriaxone and ceftizoxime. A single dose of ceftriaxone was administered intravenously in healthy control goats (group I) and a single oral dose of the commercial mammary protective polyherbal drug (1.9 gm) was given one hour prior to intravenous ceftriaxone injection in healthy (group II) and induced mastitic (group III) goats to evaluate milk disposition of ceftizoxime following single intravenous dosing of ceftriaxone at 42.25 mg kg−1.Ceftriaxone/ceftizoxime was analyzed by HPLC. The t1/2α and t1/2β values were 14.755 ± 2.733 and 149.079 ± 18.565 hour, respectively indicating prolonged persistence of ceftizoxime in milk. The polyherbal drug increased the milk concentration at later hours and hastened the excretion of ceftizoxime from milk compared to control group. Ceftriaxone could not be detected in milk. The study suggested that adjunct single or repeated therapy of the polyherbal drug may cause non persistence of ceftriaxone and shorter persistence of ceftizoxime in milk.

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.

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Comparative Therapeutic Efficacy of Different Drugs Against Caprine Contagious Agalactia

The present work was undertaken with the aim to compare the therapeutic efficacy of different drugs against contagious agalactia in lactating goats. A total of 24 lactating goats having clinical mastitis and positive for Mycoplasma agalactiae were placed randomly into four groups i.e. T1-T4, each group comprised of six mastitic goats and subjected to different therapeutic regimens. Six clinically healthy goats were kept as healthy control. Mycoplasma agalactiae was detected and confirmed as causative agent of contagious agalactia by using polymerase chain reactions which showed a specific 176 bp bands obtained from the DNA amplification of Mycoplasma agalactiae using primers ma-mp 1F and ma-mp 1R. The response of therapeutic study was evaluated on the basis of clinical score card, clinical parameters and polymerase chain reactions on day 0 pretreatment and on days 7 and 14 post treatment. At the time of sampling, the clinical signs in sick animals were of clinical mastitis i.e. swelling of udder, abnormal milk secretion, pain on palpation of the udder and raised clinical parameters. The response of therapeutic study revealed significant improvement in temperature, pulse and respiration in all the treatment groups. On the basis of score card and polymerase chain reactions results on days 7 and 14 post-treatment, goats of the group T4 that was subjected to the treatment with combination of tylosin, tocopherol and sodium selenite showed earliest recovery.

Effects of herbal extract of Ocimum sanctum as supportive therapy with intravenous ceftriaxone in experimentally induced staphylococcal chronic mastitis in goat

The protective effects of Ocimum sanctum leaf juice as supportive therapy in induced chronic staphylococcal mastitis were evaluated with intravenous ceftriaxone injection in lactating goats. Chronic mastitis was induced after 30days of intracisternal inoculation of 2000 c.f.u. of Staphylococcus aureus (J 638) into the left teat of the udder in two Groups of goats (Group I and Group II). Group I mastitic goats received only ceftriaxone injection i.v. at 20mg/kg at 4days intervals two times, whereas Group II mastitic goats were given fresh undiluted O. sanctum leaf juice at 5ml/kg orally for consecutive 14days with intravenous ceftriaxone injection at 20mg/kg at 7days intervals two times. In the animals receiving O. sanctum leaf juice, the plasma concentration of ceftriaxone increased to 0.11±0.03μg/ml, 33.93±1.54μg/ml, 1.62±0.17μg/ml, 0.70±0.09μg/ml and 0.19±0.03μg/ml vs control at 48, 216, 240, 264 and 288h with an increased concentration of ceftizoxime i.e., 0.26±0.03μg/ml,0.58±0.05μg/ml, 0.85±0.02μg/ml,1.26±0.04μg/ml, 2.82±0.04μg/ml, 1.96±0.04μg/ml, 0.67±0.02μg/ml vs below detectable level in control Group at 72, 216, 240, 264, 288, 312 and 336h, respectively. Further, the concentration of its metabolite i.e., ceftizoxime increased to 4.08±0.18μg/ml and 0.80±0.18μg/ml at day 4 and 6, respectively in milk from a below detectable level and milk concentration of both ceftriaxone and ceftizoxime increased in both halves of the udder at different time in Group II goats. No S. aureus colony was seen in milk at 96h post treatment in Group II goats. O. sanctum leaf juice (0.05ml) decreased the minimum inhibitory concentration of ceftriaxone (3μg/ml) and ceftizoxime (1μg/ml) to 0.5μg/ml for both the drugs against inoculated S. aureus. O. sanctum treatment significantly reduced the alkaline phosphatase activity along with an increase in lactoperoxidase activity maintaining normal reduced glutathione level with intravenous ceftriaxone therapy. The findings proved that O. sanctum leaf juice has significant bioenhancing and antioxidant activities which can be used as supportive therapy in staphylococcal chronic mastitis in goat.

Comparative pharmacokinetics using a microbiological assay and high performance liquid chromatography following intravenous administration of cefquinome in lactating goats with and without experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

Cefquinome pharmacokinetic values were compared using a microbiological assay (MA) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in lactating goats with and without experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus mastitis. Five healthy lactating goats received an IV injection of cefquinome sulfate (75mg, equivalent to cefquinome at 3.0mg/kg BW). The same dose of cefquinome sulfate was administered IV after clinical mastitis was induced by intracisternal infusion of 100 cfu of S. aureus ATCC 29213. Jugular venous blood and milk samples were obtained periodically after cefquinome administration in healthy and mastitic goats, and plasma and skimmed milk cefquinome concentrations were determined using MA and HPLC. Deming regression and Bland-Altman plots indicated equivalence of MA and HPLC. Both MA and HPLC analytical methodologies yielded statistically similar mean values for the cefquinome concentration-time relationship in plasma and skimmed milk and similar values for almost all calculated pharmacokinetic indices; however, HPLC had a lower limit of quantification LOQ and coefficient of variation, and a higher correlation coefficient for standard curves. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis indicated that mastitis decreased the mean residence time of cefquinome in plasma but did not change the mean residence time in skimmed milk. Skimmed milk cefquinome concentrations after IV injection remained below the MIC (0.25μg/mL) for S. aureus at every measurement time except at 6h after injection, and clinical mastitis remained present for at least 5 days in treated goats. In conclusion, MA provides a simple, practical and inexpensive method for measuring cefquinome concentrations in plasma and skimmed milk samples from goats, while, HPLC proved to be more sensitive, specific and accurate. Mastitis increased cefquinome clearance compared to healthy goats which emphasizes the importance of performing pharmacokinetic studies in infected animals. Additional studies are required to determine whether intramammary cefquinome is effective in treating S. aureus mastitis in goats.

Expression of cathelicidins mRNA in the goat mammary gland and effect of the intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharide on milk cathelicidin-2 concentration

Cathelicidins are a family of antimicrobial peptides found in neutrophils and the epithelium that have broad-spectrum activity against bacteria. This study aimed to investigative the mRNA expression of cathelicidins and protein localization of cathelicidin-2 in the goat mammary gland and its secretion into milk. The mRNA expression of cathelicidins was examined in different regions of the mammary gland by reverse transcription PCR. A cathelicidin-2 antibody was raised in rabbits by immunization with a synthetic cathelicidin-2 peptide consisting of 17 amino acids. The protein localization of cathelicidin-2 was investigated in the mammary gland by immunohistochemistry. Skim milk was collected before (0h) and 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24h after the intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharide and saline, and the concentration of cathelicidin-2 was examined by an enzyme immunoassay. The mRNAs of cathelicidin-1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 were expressed in both the teat and deep region of the mammary gland from healthy and mastitic goats. Immunoreactive cathelicidin-2 was not localized in the epithelial cells of the teat skin, teat cistern, or mammary alveoli, whereas it was localized in polymorphonuclear cells in the mammary gland and those collected from the blood and milk. Cathelicidin-2 was detected in skim milk by Western blotting. The concentration of cathelicidin-2 in milk increased 4h after the intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharide. These results suggest that cathelicidin-2 is expressed in polymorphonuclear cells and is secreted into milk in goat.

Emerging of coagulase negative staphylococci as a cause of mastitis in dairy animals: An environmental hazard

In Egypt, knowledge about the coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) involved in mastitic animals is limited. CNS have emerged to be pathogens causing intramammary infections in Egyptian dairy herds. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of CNS in dairy ruminants (cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats). A total of 884 quarter milk samples were investigated to study the prevalence of CNS among mastitic and subclinically mastitic cows, buffalo–cows, ewes and does in Egypt. Identification of the isolates was achieved using API staph test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CNS were isolated from the examined subclinical mastitic cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats with percentages of 16.6%, 59.4%, 50% and 55.6%, respectively. Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus cohnii, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus lentus, Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Staphylococcus simulans were identified as CNS that recovered from the examined milk samples. The CNS as mastitis-causing agents could not be neglected as they can cause substantial economic losses.

Detection of Casein Phosphopeptides in Goat Milk

The aims of this study were to profile casein phosphopeptides in goat milk, to accurately determine the site of phosphorylation, and to evaluate whether or not any of the casein phosphorylation patterns were specific to a given physiological condition. Goat milk, collected before and after experimental induction of endotoxin mastitis, was separated by SDS-PAGE. Casein bands were digested with trypsin and the resulting peptides were analyzed by nLC-MS/MS. Eight out of nine predicted tryptic phosphopeptides corresponding to 18 different phosphorylation sites were detected in αS1-, αS2-, and β-casein. Characterization of the phosphorylation sites illustrated the capability of tandem MS to accurately localize phosphorylated residues among a number of other putative sites. Despite an apparent lower abundance, almost all of the phosphopeptides were also detected in milk samples obtained from the goats following experimental induction of endotoxin mastitis. However, a tetra-phosphopeptide in αS2-casein was only observed in the milk samples obtained from healthy animals. The absence of this multiphosphopeptide in the mastitic goat milk samples could indicate changes in phosphorylation as a result of disease and potentially be used as a marker for milk quality. This study represents the first comprehensive analysis of casein phosphoproteome and reveals a much higher level of phosphorylation than previously demonstrated in goat milk.

Effect of Mastitis on Pharmacokinetics of Levofloxacin Following Single Dose Intravenous Administration in Goats

Disposition kinetics of levofloxacin was investigated after single dose intravenous administration at the dose of 10 mg/kg in six healthy and six mastitic Black Bengal lactating goats. Mastitis was induced in goats by coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus . The maximum milk concentration was higher in mastitic goats (17.01 ± 0.67 μg/ ml) as compared to healthy (14.75 ± 0.95 μg/ml). The therapeutic milk concentration in mastitic goats (0.10 ± 0.00 to 16.61 ± 0.70 μg/ml) was maintained for 48 h, which was significantly longer than healthy goats (36 h). The t ½ β in plasma (5.08 ± 0.18 h) and milk (7.28 ± 0.09 h) of mastitic goats were significantly longer than healthy goats (4.04 ± 0.24 and 4.16 ± 0.76 h). The total body clearence in plasma of healthy goats (5.64 ± 0.78 ml/kg/min) was almost similar to mastitic goats (5.82 ± 0.44 ml/kg/min). The AUC milk /AUC plasma ratio (3.36) in mastitic goats indicated extensive penetration of levofloxacin from plasma to milk. The t 1/2 milk /t 1/2 plasma ratio was 1.43. The AUC/MIC ratio in plasma and milk of mastitic goats were 296 and 1014 respectively. Based on the plasma kinetic parameters, it was concluded that levofloxacin may be used for treatment of mastitis in goats.