Cases Of Mastitis Research Articles

Discrimination Model Construction for Non-Lactational Mastitis and Breast Cancer Based on Imaging Features.

Aims/Background The clinical presentation of non-lactational mastitis (NLM) shares similarities with some symptoms and examination results of breast cancer (BC), which can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. Current studies on breast lesions mostly focus on the diagnostic performance of a single imaging technique. This study aims to construct a discrimination diagnostic model for NLM and BC based on such imaging features as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to validate the application value of the model, assisting clinicians in improving disease diagnosis and refining medical decisions. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis. Clinical data of 108 patients suspected of NLM based on imaging diagnosis, admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University between May 2018 and August 2023, were collected. Among them, 94 cases were pathologically confirmed as NLM and 14 cases as BC. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed on the patients' clinical data, ultrasound features, and MRI features to select the risk factors for discriminating NLM and BC, and construct a discrimination model. The discrimination performance of the model was analyzed with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and calibration curve. Results In the NLM group, there were 24 cases of granulomatous lobular mastitis (25.53%) and 70 cases of plasma cell mastitis (74.47%). In the BC group, there were 2 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma, 2 cases of atypical hyperplasia, 3 cases of papillary carcinoma, and 7 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ. Age, internal blood flow, calcification, edge, enhancement characteristics, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, and time-intensity curve (TIC) type were independent factors for differentiating NLM and BC (p < 0.05). The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of the model for discriminating NLM and BC was 0.920. The DCA results showed that the model had high net benefits for discriminating NLM and BC. The calibration curve analysis showed that the model had good consistency with the actual diagnosis of NLM and BC, with a chi-square value of 4.545 and a p-value of 0.155 according to the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Conclusion Age, internal blood flow, calcification, edge, enhancement characteristics, ADC, and TIC curve types are important factors in distinguishing NLM and BC, and the model based on the above characteristics to distinguish NLM and BC has a high net benefit in distinguishing the two.

Cytological Evaluation of Palpable Non-Neoplastic Breast Lesions among Women attended from Rural Community of Bangladesh: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Non-neoplastic palpable breast disease is one of the most common disorders from which women suffer throughout the world. The use of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) method has proven to be quick, simple and cost-effective with minimum risk of complications in the evaluation of breast lumps. Objective: This study was planned to find out the common causes of various types of non-neoplastic breast lesions of female at different ages through fine needle aspiration cytology. Methodology: The retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Pathology at Monno Medical College&amp; Hospital, Manikganj, Bangladesh. It lasted 2 years 6 months from July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. This study examined all breast lumps found in female patients. For data analysis, the patient's age and FNAC report were recorded. Aspirates were done using 5ml/10ml syringe and 23-gauge needle. Smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain. Results: The study included total 349 female patients with breast lesion. Among these, non-neoplastic lesions were 183(52.44%) cases and neoplastic lesions were 166(47.56%) cases. Among the lesions, 105(30.08%) cases were in fibrocystic changes; 28(8.02%) cases were in non-suppurative mastitis; 24(6.87%) cases were in suppurative mastitis (abscess), 14(4.01%) cases were in granulomatous mastitis. About 45(42.88%) cases of Fibrocystic changes, 13(44.84%) cases of non-suppurative mastitis and 9(37.5%) cases of Suppurative mastitis (abscess) were in the age group 21 to 30 years, 21 to 30 years and 41 to 50 years respectively. Conclusion: Fibrocystic changes are the commonest lesion in this study. Journal of Monno Medical College June, 2024; 10 (1):07-12

In vitro capsule or biofilm formation of Streptococcus uberis and bacteriological cure of bovine mastitis.

The relationship between the in vitro detected virulence factors biofilm and capsule formation of Streptococcus (S.) uberis isolates of clinical mastitis in dairy cows and the bacteriological cure rate after antibiotic therapy was investigated in order to better understand the importance of these virulence factors for the bacteriological cure rate. A total of 111 clinical mastitis (CM) cases were collected, in which S. uberis was bacteriologically detected. All mastitis cases were treated in accordance with the approval conditions of the antibiotic udder tubes used. Individual cow information including age, number of lactations, current lactation mastitis and antimicrobial treatment received was recorded. The microtiter plate test was used to detect biofilm formation and Anthony capsule staining was used to detect capsular capacity. Statistical analyses were performed to characterize the correlation between in vitro virulence factors and bacteriological cure (BC) rate. 30.5% (n=29) of the S. uberis isolates of bacteriologically cured cases and 34.5% (n=10) of the isolates of bacteriologically non-cured mastitis cases were found to have the ability to produce capsules in vitro. 70.7% (n=58) of the S. uberis isolates from bacteriologically cured mastitis cases had the ability to produce biofilm in vitro, whereas 58.6% (n=17) of the isolates of non-cured mastitis cases showed ability in producing biofilm. No correlation was found between the in vitro ability of S. uberis to form capsules and biofilms and the BC rate after antibiotic treatment of bovine mastitis. The present work has shown that the investigated in vitro virulence factors are not associated with the BC after antibiotic therapy. Further studies on the role of S. uberis virulence factors are needed to complete the missing knowledge on the difficulties in curing S. uberis mastitis. This study is of great clinical relevance since it enhances the understanding of the occurrence of BC in S. uberis mastitis cases. The investigated virulence factors are often addressed as possible reasons for therapy failure, although respective scientific studies are missing.

Nonlactational Mastitis in Western Brazilian Amazon Mastitis Cases.

Chronic mastitis varies in etiology between its lactational and nonlactational forms and can be challenging to diagnose. This study aimed to assess the epidemiological profile and diverse etiologies of nonlactational mastitis in Amazonas, Brazil, focusing on distinguishing between tuberculous mastitis (TM) and idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM). This is a retrospective and prospective study that was carried out at the mastitis outpatient clinic of Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado from 2013 to 2021 and evaluated epidemiological data, imaging, and laboratory tests. Descriptive statistics were performed. In this retrospective and prospective analysis, 124 medical records were initially considered, with 12 excluded for various reasons. The remaining 112 cases underwent thorough evaluation through epidemiological data, imaging, and laboratory tests, by employing descriptive statistics for analysis. The pathology revealed a predominant prevalence of IGM (64.3%), followed by various forms of mastitis, including confirmed TM (4.5%), presumable TM (8.9%), and others. Our findings indicate that IGM, though a rare cause of breast masses and abscesses, accounts for a significant portion of mastitis cases. Histopathological studies were essential for diagnosis, with ultrasound being the primary imaging tool. This study is one of the largest Brazilian series on nonlactational mastitis, highlighting the condition's complexity and diverse manifestations in the Amazon region.

Isolate and Molecular Identification of Bundle Forming Pilus Gene for Escherichia coli Caused Caw Mastitis

Mastitis is one of the disease infected Caws and effect of their milk product lead economic loss. The aim of this study isolated and molecular identification Bundle Forming Pilus Gene for Escherichia coli caused Caw mastitis. Samples were collected from Caws infected with Mastitis at different farm in Iraq, then applied for cultivation on the suitable media for isolated of E. coli. The E.coli isolates was confirmed by VITEK II automated microbial identification system method and identification by PCR method for expression of bundle forming pilus gene. The result was shown that (9 from 100) from mastitis cases give E. coli positive. All E.coli isolates were confirmed by VITEK method. All E.coli isolates were expressed of bundle forming pilus gene. Conclusion: E.coli caused severe mastitis in Caw and the severity of infection come from express of bundle forming pilus gene that increases the virulence of E.coli be more resistance to antibiotics and unsuitable conditions that may be lead to many serious diseases if dietary contaminated with mastitis E.coli .

Eficiência do produto homeopático BioBoi® combinado ao manejo adequado da ordenha, no tratamento de mastite em vacas em lactação

The dairy production chain is one of the main economic activities in Brazil, with primary production present in almost all Brazilian municipalities, involving more than one million rural producers, and generating jobs in all segments of the chain. The growing consumption of dairy products, and the pursuit of quality, lead to increasing concern with food and nutritional safety. Among the factors that affect milk composition are management and the incidence of diseases, with mastitis being one of the most frequent infections affecting dairy cattle. This results in economic losses due to reduced production and milk quality, increased costs for labor, medication, and veterinary services, and the early disposal of animals. Treatment with commercial homeopathic products presents an alternative to avoid problems found in the continuous use of allopathic medicines, such as residues in animal-derived products, selection of multi-resistant strains, and reactions in hypersensitive individuals. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of using a commercial homeopathic product in the treatment of bovine mastitis when combined with proper milking management. Our specific objectives were to evaluate the milker’s handling before, during, and after milking, to determine the incidence and prevalence of clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis in the herd before and after treatment, and to perform comparative analyses of the data obtained at the beginning and end of the experiment. The results showed that positive behaviors by the milker had greater influence on the cows' behavior, which remained calm and stress-free throughout the milking process, as well as a correlation with obtaining low somatic cell counts (SCC). Regarding the prevalence of mastitis in the herd, although it decreased, there was no statistically significant difference. However, there was evidence of the positive interference of the homeopathic medicine on its incidence. It is concluded that the homeopathic medicine is effective in inhibiting the emergence of new cases of mastitis, as well as in treating acute cases of mastitis and reducing the herd's SCC, being efficient in the control and prevention of mastitis; it is also concluded that the milker plays an important role in this process, making it essential for them to be aware and valued for this.

Exposure of Cattle Breeding Herds to Naturally Co-Contaminated Zearalenone and Deoxynivalenol: The Relevance of a Urinary Mycotoxin Monitoring System for Herd Health and Food Safety.

The widespread presence of Fusarium mycotoxins in animal feed is a global issue, not only for the health of livestock but also for ensure the safety of food as an end product. High concentrations of zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) have been detected in the diets of Japanese Black (JB) and Holstein Friesian (HF) breeding herds. Consequently, we monitored serum biochemical parameters over a long time in both herds, focusing on anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and acute-phase inflammation. Additionally, urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and progesterone levels were measured in the HF herd. The JB herd, a ZEN-dominant model with low DON contamination, demonstrated ZEN levels that exceeded the Japanese limit in the purchased total mixed rations (TMR). Conversely, the HF herd, which primary consumes DON-dominant feed with low ZEN contamination, had high DON levels in the dent corn silage. Specifically, the JB herd's TMR contained 1.79 mg/kg ZEN and 0.58 mg/kg DON, whereas the HF herd's silage had 15.3 mg/kg DON (dried sample) and 0.1 mg/kg ZEN. Enzyme-linked immunoassay were used to measure urinary ZEN-DON levels following confirmation through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Urinary ZEN-DON levels measured were significantly correlated (p < 0.05, r > 0.6) in both herds. In the HF herd, AMH levels increased (p = 0.01) and serum amyloid A (SAA) levels decreased (p = 0.02) when contaminated and at the end of the monitoring period. Additionally, urinary ZEN and DON levels were significantly correlated with SAA levels (ZEN: p = 0.00, r = 0.46; DON: p = 0.03, r = 0.33), with an increase in ZEN and DON levels resulting in higher SAA levels. The JB herd showed no significant differences. Additionally, in the HF herd, 8-OHdG/Cre levels increased significantly during major contamination periods (p < 0.05). Clinical data from the HF herd indicated an increase in mastitis cases and treatment rates during periods of major contamination. Abortion rates in the HF herd decreased from 22.9% (before monitoring) to 8.9% (during the high contamination period) and finally to 1% (at the end of the monitoring period), with corresponding increases in progesterone levels. ZEN-DON contamination adversely affects breeding cattle's productivity, reproductive performance, and health. Therefore, monitoring urinary ZEN-DON is valuable for detecting contaminants and ensuring the safety of food products.

Маститы – проблема безопасности, качества и сыропригодности молока сырого

Bovine mastitis is a common hygiene-related issue in milk production. It increases the somatic cell count in milk. Somatic cell count is an important indirect indicator of milk quality. Somatic cells include those of udder and blood. Normally, one healthy udder lobe secretes ≤ 500,000 somatic cells per 1 cm3 milk. In the presence of pathogenic bacteria, the same amount indicates a latent infection. Inflammatory processes in the udder include impaired secretion and mastitis. They increase the number of leukocytes and other blood cells in the total somatic cell count, which means that the milk came from sick cows. Raw milk for cheese production must contain ≤ 4×105 cells per 1 cm3. Mastitis, or garget milk is not suitable for cheese production. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative agent of staphylococcal mastitis in cows. Coagulase-positive staphylococci are responsible for 30-50% cases of infectious mastitis. They pose great risks for bulk-formed cheeses. Mastitis affects milk processing, taste, and storage capacity. It is high in chlorides and low in lactose, which gives it a flat and salty-bitter taste. If somatic cell count exceeds 5×105 cells per 1 cm3, the resulting milk has poor thermal stability. As the content of somatic cells in milk increases, so does the rennet coagulation time: fat goes into whey and moisture in curd increases, which eventually reduces cheese yield.

Association of Cow Drying off Practices with Milk Yield and Udder Health Outcomes in Peri-Urban Smallholder Dairy Herds

In peri-urban smallholder dairy herds, farmers face challenges in drying off cows due to a lack of evidence-based recommendations. This study examined the associations between cow drying-off practices, mean milk yield at drying off and during early successive lactation, and the odds of mastitis and udder leakage cases in herds around Nakuru city, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey of 232 cows across 172 herds was conducted. Mean milk yield was determined using a general linear model, while the odds ratios for mastitis and udder leakage were estimated using a binary logistic regression model, with drying-off practice, cow breed, and dairy management intensification as explanatory variables. All the three explanatory variables were significantly associated (p&amp;lt;0.05) with mean milk yield at drying off, early successive lactation, and the occurrence of mastitis and udder leakages. Cessation of milking (57.3%) was more common than abrupt cessation (42.7%). Mean milk yield was 2.6 liters/day at drying off and 13.4 liters/day during early successive lactation. Teat sealants were applied to cows producing more than 5 liters/day, while gradual reduction in milking, complete cessation of milking, or dry-cow therapy was used for cows producing less than 3 liters/day. During early successive lactation, cows dried off using teat sealant, salt application, stopping concentrate feeding, or gradual reduction in milking produced more milk (14 liters/day) than those dried off by abrupt cessation or dry-cow therapy (10-12 liters/day).Relative to abrupt cessation, the odds of mastitis and udder leakage were lower (p&amp;lt;0.05) with dry-cow therapy (odds ratio 0.12; 0.12), gradual cessation of milking (odds ratio 0.22; 0.29), or stopping concentrate feeding (odds ratio 0.14; 0.26). The study found that gradual reduction in milking (47%) and abrupt cessation of milking (22%) were the most common drying-off practices. These methods are effective for cows producing less than 3 liters/day at the start of drying off and do not result in milk loss during early successive lactation. However, abrupt cessation of milking is more likely to result in poor udder health outcomes. Though teat sealant was rarely used (3.9%), it proved effective for cows producing more than 5 liters/day, maintaining milk production and udder health during early successive lactation. These findings provide crucial insights for farmers on selecting appropriate drying-off practices to optimize milk yield and udder health.

Characteristics of primary tuberculous mastitis in tuberculosis endemic country: A case series

Tuberculous mastitis (TM) is a rare form of tuberculosis, occurring as a primary disease when there is no evidence of tuberculosis in other locations. There are no clear clinical features of TM, especially in the absence of a previous tuberculosis infection. Due to its unclear clinical picture, diagnosis is difficult, and it is often confused with breast carcinoma or pyogenic abscesses. The aim of this study was to report our experience and discuss the characteristics and diagnostic modalities in cases of primary TM in a tuberculosis-endemic area. Method A case series study was conducted at the Arifin Achmad Regional Hospital, reporting four cases of primary tuberculous mastitis in January 2024. The patients were women aged 24-41 years. Case presentation All patients presented with complaints of breast pain for the last 2 weeks to 2 months and complained of symptoms in the form of a lump in the breast that was reddish in colour and mastalgia. One patient was diagnosed during pregnancy, and one had a history of prior breastfeeding. One patient presented with FNAB results for breast carcinoma. The other patient complained of an ulcer on her breast. Physical examination revealed axillary lymphadenopathy in all patients. Histopathological examination revealed tuberculous mastitis in all patients and 1 with tuberculous mastitis, fibrocystic changes, and Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH). Conclusion Patients with tuberculous mastitis who visited our institution had symptoms similar to those of abscesses and breast cancer. The FNAC test is the most reliable, but false-negative results can occur. Diagnosis requires teamwork between the patient’s doctor, anatomical pathologist, and radiologist. This research requires a larger scale to describe actual conditions.

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: Imaging Findings and Outcomes with Nonsteroidal Treatment in a Predominantly Hispanic Population.

We describe the demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, and treatment response among 235 cases of biopsy-proven idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) at a single institution. An institutional review board-approved retrospective search of the breast imaging database was performed to select patients with biopsy-proven IGM between 2017 and 2022. Retrospective review evaluated clinical presentation, imaging findings with US and mammography, and treatment recommendations (antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], warm compresses, or observation only). Response to treatment was evaluated on follow-up US. A favorable treatment response was a decrease in size or resolution of disease on follow-up imaging. Statistical analysis using Poisson regression was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with each treatment. A total of 235 patients met the selection criteria with a mean age of 38 years (18 to 68). The majority of patients were Hispanic (95%, 223/235). Of all patients, 75.3% (177/235) received treatment (consisting of 1 or any combination of antibiotics, NSAIDs, warm compresses), 24.7% (58/235) were treated with observation, 78.7% (185/235) returned for follow-up imaging, and 21.3% (50/235) were lost to follow-up. Of those with follow-up imaging, disease improvement was seen in 70.3% (102/145) of patients who received treatment compared with 72.5% (29/40) of patients treated by observation alone. Multivariate analysis further showed no difference in clinical outcomes among the treatment of unifocal, multifocal, or recurrent IGM. Nonsteroidal treatment of IGM showed no significant improvement on follow-up imaging compared to treatment with observation alone in a predominantly Hispanic patient population.

False Alarms: The Intriguing Cases of Granulomatous Mastitis Mimicking Malignancy along with Review of the Literature

Abstract Background: Granulomatous mastitis is a rare and challenging condition that can mimic malignancy in the breast. This condition often presents with clinical and radiological features that overlap with those of breast cancer, making it difficult to differentiate between the two based solely on clinical assessment. Aims and Objective: The objective of this study is to highlight the diagnostic dilemmas, the clinico-pathological profile of such cases and what enables a correct diagnosis in such cases. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 5 patients with histologically proven granulomatous mastitis attending OPD/IPD at a tertiary care center in south India during a period of 18 months from Jan 2022 – Jul 23. We present five cases of granulomatous mastitis highlighting the inconsistency of the clinical, imaging and initial biopsy findings, briefly review the relevant literature and discuss the challenges associated with its diagnosis. Results and Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of awareness of granulomatous mastitis and its clinicopathological characterstics. The study also emphasizes that a multidisciplinary approach involving Surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and medical oncologists is crucial to accurately diagnose and manage this condition. Review of literature revealed few studies highlighting the clinic-radiological and histopathological profile of such cases of granulomatous mastitis mimicking malignancy however such studies are far less and encompass only isolated single case reports or occasional series of 2-3 cases. To our knowledge this is one of the largest case series with 5 cases highlighting the clinicopathological details and the diagnostic dilemmas.

Comparison of a machine learning model with a conventional rule-based selective dry cow therapy algorithm for detection of intramammary infections

We trained machine learning models to identify intramammary infections (IMI) in late lactation cows at dry-off to guide antibiotic treatment, and compared their performance to a rule-based algorithm that is currently used on dairy farms in the US. We conducted an observational test-characteristics study using a data set of 3,645 cows approaching dry-off from 68 US dairy herds. The outcome variables of interest were cow-level IMI caused by all pathogens, major pathogens, and Streptococcus and Strep-like organisms (SSLO), which were determined using aerobic culture of aseptic quarter-milk samples and identification of isolates using MALDI-TOF. Individual cow records were extracted from the farm software to create 53 feature variables at the cow and 39 at the herd-level which were derived from cow-level descriptive data, records of clinical mastitis events, results from routine testing of milk for volume and concentrations of somatic cell count (SCC), fat, and protein. ML algorithms evaluated were logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, light gradient-boosting machine, naïve bayes, and neural networks. For comparison, cows were also classified according to a conventional rule-based algorithm that considered a cow as high risk for IMI if she had at one or more high SCC (>200,000 cells/ml) tests or ≥2 cases of clinical mastitis during the lactation of enrollment. Area under the curve (AUC) and Youden's index were used to compare models, in addition to binary classification metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. ML models had slightly higher AUC and Youden's index values than the rule-based algorithm for all IMI outcomes of interest. However, these improvements in prediction accuracy were substantially less than what we had considered necessary for the technology to be a worthwhile alternative to the rule-based algorithm. Therefore, evidence is lacking to support the wholesale use of ML-guided selective dry cow therapy at the moment. We recommend that producers wanting to implement algorithm-guided SDCT use a rule-based method.

Unravelling the complex mechanisms of multidrug resistance in bovine mastitis pathogens: Insights into antimicrobial resistance genes, biofilm dynamics, and efflux systems

Mastitis remains a paramount economic threat to dairy livestock, with antibiotic resistance severely compromising treatment efficacy. This study provides an in-depth investigation into the multidrug resistance (MDR) mechanisms in bacterial isolates from bovine mastitis, emphasizing the roles of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), biofilm formation, and active efflux systems. A total of 162 Staphylococci, eight Escherichia coli, and seven Klebsiella spp. isolates were obtained from 215 milk samples of clinical and subclinical mastitis cases. Antibiotic susceptibility testing identified Twenty Staphylococci (12.35 %), six E. coli (75 %) and seven Klebsiella (100 %) identified as MDR displaying significant resistance to β-lactams and tetracyclines The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index of these isolates ranged from 0.375 to 1.0, highlighting extensive resistance. Notably, 29 of the 33 MDR isolates produced biofilms on Congo red agar, while all exhibited biofilm formation in the Microtitre Plate assay. Critical ARGs (blaZ, blaTEM, blaCTX-M, tetM, tetA, tetB, tetC, strA/B, aadA) and efflux pump genes (acrB, acrE, acrF, emrB, norB) regulating active efflux were identified. This pioneering study elucidates the synergistic contribution of ARGs, biofilm production, and efflux pump activity to MDR in bovine mastitis pathogens. To our knowledge, this comprehensive study is the first of its kind, offering novel insights into the complex resistance mechanisms. The findings underscore the imperative need for advanced antibiotic stewardship and strategic interventions in dairy farming to curb the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, thereby protecting both animal and public health.

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles from Ocimum sanctum: A potent inhibitor of biofilm forming ability and efflux pumps in bacteria causing bovine mastitis

Therapeutic management of mastitis faces significant challenges due to multidrug resistance. In the present study, multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli were isolated from bovine clinical mastitis cases and the phenotypic and genotypic multidrug resistance profiling was carried out. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized using Ocimum sanctum leaf extracts and characterized via UV Vis absorption, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction studies, Energy dispersive spectroscopy and Electron Microscopy. The determined minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the AgNPs against the recovered MDR isolates were 62.5 μg/ml and 125 μg/ml respectively. At a concentration of 50 μg/ml, the AgNPs demonstrated biofilm inhibitory activities of 80.35 % for MDR E. coli, 71.29 % for S. aureus and 60.18 % for MDR K. pneumoniae. Post-treatment observations revealed notable differences in biofilm formation across bacterial isolates. Furthermore, AgNP treatment led to significant downregulation of expression of the efflux pump genes acrB, acrE, acrF, and emrB in Gram-negative isolates and norB in Staphylococci isolates. This research underscores the potential for the development of an eco-friendly antimicrobial alternative in the form of green synthesized silver nanoparticles to combat drug resistance offering potential antibiofilm and efflux pump inhibitory activities.

Advancing mastitis assessment in dairy bovines via short milking tube thermography: A seasonal perspective.

In India, where dairy production leads globally, infrared thermography (IRT) and short milking tube thermography specifically are vital for managing mastitis. Therefore, the present study focuses on thermal imaging of the udder and short milking tube (SMT) of the milking machine during the peak milking process of Sahiwal cows and Murrah buffaloes during winter, summer, rainy and autumn seasons to identify sub-clinical (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM) cases using the Darvi DTL007 camera. The udder health was assessed using the California Mastitis Test, Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and IRT throughout the year. Log10SCC and thermogram analysis revealed a difference (p < 0.01) between healthy, SCM, and CM cases during different seasons in both breeds. Further results showed an increase (p < 0.01) in SMT thermograms of SCM and CM cases compared to healthy quarters in Sahiwal cows during winter, summer, rainy, and autumn were 4.26 and 7.51, 2.37 and 4.47, 2.20 and 3.64, 2.90 and 4.94 ºC, respectively and for Murrah buffaloes were 3.56 and 5.55, 2.70 and 3.81, 1.72 and 3.10, 3.14 and 4.42ºC, respectively. The highest degree of increase in milking udder skin surface temperature and SMT of SCM and CM cases compared to healthy quarters was observed during the winter and the least during the rainy season. Thus, regardless of the seasons examined in this study, SMT thermograms effectively assessed SCM and CM.

Granulomatous mastitis and other inflammatory mastitis simulating breast neoplasms – A retrospective study in the fine needle aspiration cytology clinic of a tertiary care center in eastern India

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an important diagnostic modality in palpable breast lesions. This together with imaging modality is important in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions of the breast. Granulomatous/inflammatory mastitis forms a small subset of breast lesions that may present as a breast lump. Clinical and radiological features in these cases may mimic malignant breast pathology. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to study the frequency of granulomatous mastitis and other inflammatory mastitis with respect to other neoplastic lesions of the breast, presented in FNAC clinics and to correlate the cytological findings with the clinical presentation of granulomatous and other inflammatory mastitis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pathology in a tertiary care center in Eastern India for duration of 4 years 5 months. Details of all patients who underwent FNAC for breast lesions during the study period were recorded in terms of their clinical presentation, cytological findings, imaging, and ancillary investigations. The findings were then tabulated in a master sheet and analysis done by descriptive statistics using SPSS 25. Results: A total of 154 cases were included with 5 cases (3.2%) of granulomatous and 12 cases (7.8%) of inflammatory mastitis. Age range for granulomatous/inflammatory mastitis was 20–70 years. Lump and pain were the most common complaints followed by inflammatory skin changes and nipple discharge. Very few cases also showed nipple retractions and very occasional systemic symptoms like fever. History of lactation was seen among five cases. Three cases showed positive acid-fast bacilli in Ziehl–Neelsen stain. Radiology was discordant with cytological findings in three cases, where the former suggested a breast neoplastic process. Conclusion: Granulomatous/inflammatory mastitis is a rarely diagnosed entity in breast cytopathology with no standard guidelines for management. Antibiotics antitubercular therapy and corticosteroids are some proposed lines of medical management. In treatment-resistant cases, wide local excision may be done depending on available resources and surveillance opportunities.

Seasonal assessment of mastitis in crossbred goats: A thermographic approach

Sub-clinical mastitis exhibits a higher prevalence in dairy goats than clinical mastitis, necessitating the adoption of non-invasive diagnostic techniques such as infrared thermography (IRT) to detect this economically significant production disease in the dairy sector. Accordingly, this study aims to employ IR imaging of the udder and teat quarters of lactating crossbred goats (Alpine × Beetal and Sanen × Beetal) across various seasons, utilising IRT, to discern cases of sub-clinical (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM). Over a year, 100–110 lactating crossbred dairy goats underwent consistent IRT screenings, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of udder health status using the California mastitis test and somatic cell count (SCC). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to establish the cut-off values for different thermographic parameters in this study. The results revealed that the SCC increased significantly (p < 0.01) in healthy, SCM, and CM milk samples across the seasons. The analysis of ROC revealed a comparatively higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for udder thermograms during SCM than CM and vice versa for teat thermograms. IRT analysis reflected a difference (p < 0.01) in the udder and teat thermograms among quarters of healthy, SCM, and CM in summer, winter, autumn, and rainy seasons. A significant increase (p < 0.01) in udder thermograms was observed for quarters affected with SCM and CM relative to healthy, with an increase of 1.89 and 2.94 °C in winter, 0.85 and 1.63 °C in summer, 0.73 and 1.41 °C in rainy, and 1.33 and 2.38 °C in autumn, respectively. Similarly, for teat thermograms it was 1.79 and 2.81 °C in winter, 0.76 and 1.41 °C in summer, 0.70 and 1.37 °C in rainy, and 1.09 and 1.93 °C in autumn, respectively. Therefore, regardless of the seasons examined in this study, IRT proves to be an effective and supportive tool for early mastitis detection in lactating crossbred dairy goats.

Perspectives and Possibilities for New Antimicrobial Agents in the Treatment and Control of Mastitis Induced by Algae of the Genus Prototheca spp.: A Review.

Innovative approaches in nanotechnology provide a potentially promising alternative to untreatable cases of mastitis caused by genus Prototheca spp. algae infections. Drying of the teats of the affected animals or culling are typically the outcomes of mastitis in dairy cattle caused by these pathogens. A major issue in both veterinary medicine and animal breeding is the Prototheca species' widespread resistance to the current methods of managing infections and the available drugs, including antibiotics. Commercial antifungal preparations are also ineffective. Nanotechnology, an emerging discipline, has the potential to create an effective alternative treatment for protothecal mastitis. The aim of the paper is to combine the literature data on the use of nanotechnology in the control of mastitis, taking into account data on combating mastitis caused by Prototheca spp. infections. The databases employed were PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, focusing on literature from the last 20 years to ensure relevance and currency. Studies conducted in vitro have demonstrated that nanomaterials have significant biocidal activity against mastitis infections of different etiologies. Analyzed research papers show that (NPs), such as AgNPs, CuNPs, AuNPs, etc., may not negatively impact various cell lines and may be effective agents in reducing the pathogens' viability. However, it is also critical to assess the risks involved in using nanomaterials.

Assessment of Published Papers on the Use of Machine Learning in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mastitis

The present study is an evaluation of published papers on machine learning as employed in mastitis research. The aim of this study was the quantitative evaluation of the scientific content and the bibliometric details of these papers. In total, 69 papers were found to combine machine learning in mastitis research and were considered in detail. There was a progressive yearly increase in published papers, which originated from 23 countries (mostly from China or the United States of America). Most original articles (n = 59) referred to work involving cattle, relevant to mastitis in individual animals. Most articles described work related to the development and diagnosis of the infection. Fewer articles described work on the antibiotic resistance of pathogens isolated from cases of mastitis and on the treatment of the infection. In most studies (98.5% of published papers), supervised machine learning models were employed. Most frequently, decision trees and support vector machines were employed in the studies described. ‘Machine learning’ and ‘mastitis’ were the most frequently used keywords. The papers were published in 39 journals, with most frequent publications in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture and Journal of Dairy Science. The median number of cited references in the papers was 39 (interquartile range: 31). There were 435 co-authors in the papers (mean: 6.2 per paper, median: 5, min.–max.: 1–93) and 356 individual authors. The median number of citations received by the papers was 4 (min.–max.: 0–70). Most papers (72.5%) were published in open-access mode. This study summarized the characteristics of papers on mastitis and artificial intelligence. Future studies could explore using these methodologies at farm level, and extending them to other animal species, while unsupervised learning techniques might also prove to be useful.