Influence of feeding level after drying off on incidence of mastitis and keratin plug formation in dairy cows (original) (raw)

Aetiology and prevalence of bovine intramammary infection at drying off

Veterinarski Arhiv, 2012

The aim of this research was to determine etiology and prevalence of udder infection in dairy cows before drying off on dairy farms in Croatia. A research was carried out on 6 dairy farms in Croatia. Milk samples were taken into sterile plastic tubes during the last milking prior to drying off. Bacteriology examination of milk samples had obtained 54 positive samples ; prevalence of intramammary infection (IMI) was 22.5%. The most common pathogens of IMI prior to drying off were Streptococcus spp. Lancefield group D (7.79%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6.56%). Other pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (2.87%), Pseudomonas spp. (2.46%), Streptococcus agalactiae (2.05%), and other microorganisms (1.23%). In this research higher IMI prevalence in rear quarters (P= 0.03) in comparison to front quarters was observed. There were no significant differences in infection prevalence (P=0.07) comparing right to left quarters. Significantly higher prevalence of infection caused by Str...

Effects of environmental modification on mastitis occurrence and hormonal changes in Holstein cows

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 2013

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 33(6):826-830, junho 2013 826 RESUMO.-[Efeito da modificação ambiental sobre a ocorrência de mastite e alterações hormonais de vacas Holandesas.] O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência do sistema de resfriamento adiabático evaporativo, acionado em diferentes horários, em instalação do tipo fre-ABSTRACT.-Arcaro J.R.P., Matarazzo S.V., Pozzi C.R., Arcaro Junior I., Toledo L.M., Costa E.O. & Miranda M.S. 2013. Effects of environmental modification on mastitis occurrence and hormonal changes in Holstein cows. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 33 :826-830. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of evaporative cooling in freestall on mastitis occurrence, milk production, and composition, as well as cortisol, T 3 (triiodothyronine), and T 4 (thyroxin) levels in lactating dairy cows. Twenty-eight multiparous cows averaging 70 ± 10 day postpartum were used in four treatments from January to March 2003. The treatments were: Day (cooling from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.); Night (cooling from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.); 24-hour (cooling 24-hour); and Control (no cooling). Wired cup test was used for clinical mastitis diagnosis, and the California Mastitis Test (CMT) was used to identify subclinical mastitis. Blood and milk samples were taken weekly for microbiological and hormonal analyses. The cortisol levels were higher than normal values in all treatment groups, suggesting stress conditions, but T 3 and T 4 levels remained normal in all groups. The occurrence of subclinical mastitis was lower in Day and Night groups than in Control and 24-hour groups. Regarding the microbiological analyses, in all groups the isolation of Corynebacterium sp. from milk samples increased while negative coagulase staphylococci (CNS) declined as etiological agents of subclinical mastitis. However, in Day and 24-hour groups, coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) increased mainly Staphylococcus aureus (49.8% and 47.7% respectively). The Night group showed a decrease in subclinical mastitis occurrences. Our data indicate that all animals subjected to treatments presented high levels of cortisol, indicating a stress condition. The Night treatment presented a reduction in microbial isolation, suggesting a reduced susceptibility to mastitis.

In vitro and in vivo studies on treatment and prevention of bovine mastitis

2011

Mastitis prevalence on dairy farms depends on the number of infected cows and the duration of each intramammary infection. Strategies aiming to influence these factors are the subject of research presented in this thesis. Decreasing the duration of infection can be achieved by successfully treating infected quarters. Treatment of mastitis can occur during lactation or in the dry period. Treatment success is influenced by the concentration of antimicrobial achieved at the site of infection and the length of time it is present. The concentration of antimicrobial should exceed the relevant minimal inhibitory concentration. The susceptibility of mastitiscausing organisms varies among geographical areas and over time. New Zealand's susceptibility data demonstrated a high susceptibility to penicillin. A formulation containing this antimicrobial was administered to healthy lactating cows milked once or twice daily. The concentrations of penicillin in milk were above the minimal inhibitory concentrations for the entire inter-dosing interval. Doubling the number of treatments or milking once-a-day resulted in a significantly increased time above the minimal inhibitory concentrations. The number of new infections is greatest during the early dry period in mature cows and in the pre-calving period in both heifers and mature cows. Pre-partum administration of delayed release antimicrobial formulations in heifers decreased the incidence of clinical mastitis and resulted in better reproductive performance, but not in increased milk production, when compared to control heifers. More effective prevention of new infections within the dry period was achieved by administering a novel teat sealant to mature cows when compared to a commercial teat sealant and untreated controls. Strategies for shortening the duration of intramammary infections and decreasing the number of affected cows at the start of lactation investigated in this thesis should reduce the prevalence of mastitis on dairy farms in New Zealand.

Mastitis Causing Pathogens within the Dairy Cattle Environment

International Journal of Biology, 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between bacterial numbers found within the bedding material and those found upon the teats in cattle herds bedded on three different bedding materials; sand, sawdust and straw. The bacteria to be studied are known to be responsible for the development of mastitis within the mammary glands resulting in reduced milk quality and poor welfare conditions for the animal. Samples for the analysis were collected under natural housing conditions from the bedding and from the teats of a representative sample of each herd. These were then plated to isolate numbers of the environmental bacteria, Streptococcus uberis and Escherichia coli (E. coli), and to conduct a total viable count for comparison. Statistical analysis showed that six of the nine relationships tested resulted in a P<0.05. The microbial test results also showed that the straw bedding hosted the lowest total number of bacteria at 8.5 x 10. When compared with the incidence of mastitis infections within the herd, the straw bedding had a considerably higher number of infections than from the sand or sawdust with thirty-one cases recorded. In conclusion, minimising pathogen growth within the bedding material, results in lower numbers of pathogens being transmitted onto the cow's teats thereby reducing the possibility of intrammamary infections. It is recommended that further work is carried out through repeating the study on a larger number of farms to identify whether the relationship between the bacterial numbers exists on further farms. In addition to this, it is also recommended that further analysis of the pathogens responsible for the mastitis within the herds be undertaken to identify if the environmental pathogens are responsible for these intrammamary infections.

Subclinical Mastitis at an Organised Farm: Prevalence, Etiology and Antibiogram

A total of 262 quarters of 66 apparently healthy dairy buffaloes at an organised farm were screened for subclinical mastitis. Following IDF criteria the quarter-wise prevalence of subclinical, latent and non-specific mastitis was 4.58% (SCC> 500,000/ml and culturally positive), 13.74% (SCC <500,000/ml and culturally positive) and 2.62% (culturally negative and SCC> 500,000/ml), respectively. Out of 48 culturally positive quarters, 50 isolates were recovered and two quarters had mixed infection. Staphylococcus spp. (n=32) was observed to be the predominant pathogen followed by Streptococcus spp. (n=18). All the isolates were subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity test by disc diffusion method. Staphylococci showed 100% susceptibility to ampicillin, cloxacillin, amoxycillin, ceftriaxone and cefoperazone followed by 95% susceptibility to penicillin, chloramphenicol, tylosin and enrofloxacin. Streptococci revealed 100% sensitivity towards chloramphenicol, ampicillin, enrofloxac...

Reduction of intramammary infections in dairy cow herd by application of mastitis suppression procedures

Journal of Dairy, Veterinary & Animal Research, 2023

The aim of this study was to reduce the prevalence of mastitis by introduction of effective anti-mastitis measures in a herd of 125 dairy cows. The effectiveness of the relevant measures was monitored by six examinations conducted in two-month intervals during the one-year period. A reduction in the prevalence of mastitis was recorded from 53.6% to 22.9%, i.e. by 26.0%. The prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. as the most frequently isolated pathogens of the mammary gland in the examined samples gradually reduced from 33.4% to 18.4%, 14.1%, 10.0%, 7.6%, and 8.1%. In contrast to the dynamics of mastitis, the monthly fluctuations in the values of somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC) in bulk tank milk samples were irregular. However, a declining dynamics of SCC and TBC was evident during the last three samplings which reflected a reduction in the counts of udder pathogens after the treatment and introduction of mastitis suppression procedures.

Comparison of clinical findings, microbiological results, and farming parameters in goat herds affected by recurrent infectious mastitis

Small Ruminant Research, 2012

A total of 1388 goats from 31 farms distributed throughout Sardinia, Italy, were investigated in this study. The goat population of Sardinia accounts for a quarter of the entire goat population of Italy. In this work, data and information concerning each farming site were collected, a detailed clinical examination of the udder of lactating animals was carried out, and microbiological examination of milk was performed. Results were then subjected to statistical analysis in order to highlight possible correlations among all findings. Significant results were obtained by comparing clinical findings with bacteriological positivity of milk.

Effect of Post-Milking Teat Dip on Subclinical Mastitis in Crossbred Cows 1 2 2 2

Journal of Krishi Vigyan, 2024

The prevalence of subclinical mastitis is currently increasing in our country and adversely affecting dairy farmers' economies. To note down the effect of post-milking teat dip on subclinical mastitis, 30 crossbred cows were randomly divided into two groups based on parity and age viz., T (n=15, farmer's practiceso washing of milker hand and udder with water) and T (n=15, with farmer's practices along with the use of 1 post-milk teat dip of 3.5% Lactic acid) during the experimental trial of 30 days. By use of post-milk teat dip, the CMT and SCC positive cases were decreased by 71.4 % and 72.2 % respectively in T. The SCC 1 and pH of milk were significantly (p< 0.05) reduced however, milk yield was significantly (p< 0.05) th increased by 6.7 % in T compared to T on 28 day. The use of post-milk teat dip is cost-effective in terms 1 o of economics and recommended for dairy farmers to prevent subclinical mastitis.

INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STREPTOCOCCUS SPP. AS AGENTS OF CATTLE MASTITIS AND THE MILK CYTOGRAM

The existence possibility of a correlation between microbial pathogen agent of the cattle mastitis and the milk cytogram starts from de supposition that some etiological agents can induce numerical increases of a different somatic milk cells types. This supposition is based on the fact that each bacterial species or genus presents self pathogenic elements and action mechanisms. So, if the different pathogenic agents act through different aggressive pathways then the defense mechanisms of the organism must be also different. The aim of this study was to demonstrate if there is a correlation between Streptococcus spp. as agents of cattle mastitis and milk cytogram. Mastitis occurs when the udder becomes inflammed because leukocytes are released into the mammary gland in response to invasion of the teat canal, usually by bacteria. These bacteria multiply and produce toxins that cause injury to milk secreting tissue and various ducts throughout the mammary gland. Elevated leukocytes, or somatic cells, cause a reduction in milk production and alter milk composition. These changes in turn adversely affect quality and quantity of dairy products (4). Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram positive bacterium which inhabits ducts and cisterns of the gland. It causes an inflammation which blocks the ducts, leading to decreased milk production, increased somatic cell count, and eventually to involution. It has few enzymes/toxins and is very sensitive to antibiotic treatment. Streptococcus agalactiae infection is associated with contagious mastitis (1, 3). Because infections from contagious pathogens (S. aureus, Str. agalactiae) tend to be of long duration, new infections in the herd may lead to increased prevalence of infection and are reflected in elevated somatic cells count (SCC) for bulk tank. Well-managed herds that have controlled mastitis due to contagious pathogens and have higher average milk production can experience problems with increased cases of clinical mastitis caused by environmental pathogens, yet maintain herd average SCC below 300,000. Intramammary infections by environmental pathogens tend to be shorter than those caused by contagious pathogens. The period of elevated SCC for these cows would be correspondingly shorter as well. The shorter duration of mastitis caused by environmental

Cow- and quarter-level risk factors for Streptococcus uberis and Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

Journal of dairy science, 2001

This study was designed to identify risk factors for intramammary infections with Streptococcus uberis and Staphylococcus aureus under field conditions. An 18-mo survey with sampling of all quarters of all lactating cows at 3-wk intervals was carried out in three Dutch dairy herds with medium bulk milk somatic cell count (200,000 to 300,000 cells/ml). Quarter milk samples were used for bacteriology and somatic cell counting. Data on parity, lactation stage, and bovine herpesvirus 4-serology were recorded for each animal. During the last year of the study, body condition score, and teat-end callosity scores were recorded at 3-wk intervals. A total of 93 new infections with Strep. uberis were detected in 22,665 observations on quarters at risk for Strep. uberis infection, and 100 new infections with Staph. aureus were detected in 22,593 observations on quarters at risk for Staph. aureus infection. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis with clustering at herd and cow level was used...