Treating clinical mastitis in dairy herds: a role for on farm culture?

Livestock ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 233-238
Author(s):  
James Breen
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Parenteral Antibiotic ◽  
Veterinary Profession ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Lactation Cycle ◽  
Rational Use Of Antibiotics ◽  
On Farm ◽  
New Industry

The focus on the rational use of antibiotics in dairy herds has meant that mastitis control has received renewed interest, particularly around prevention of new infections and alternative treatment strategies. The former has seen the development of a new industry initiative (QuarterPRO) to help advisors and farmers reduce the rate of new infections and index cases. The latter has seen widespread uptake of the selective use of intramammary antibiotic for infected cows at drying-off, a reminder to the veterinary profession as well as clients about the general lack of evidence for the use of parenteral antibiotic in combination with intramammary antibiotic for mild and moderate clinical mastitis events, and finally the potential to select intramammary antibiotic treatment for clinical mastitis using on farm culture (OFC). It is important that veterinary surgeons are aware of the research around the development and use of OFC and the suitability of individual herds for this approach. Whereas antibiotics may not be required for mild clinical mastitis events caused by some pathogens, particularly Escherichia coli, it is important that clinical mastitis events (particularly first cases in a lactation cycle) caused by Gram-positive pathogens such as Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus are treated with intramammary antibiotic to optimise chance of cure and reduce risk of transmission. With this in mind, we need to consider individual herd cell count data, herd pathogen profile and ensure careful monitoring of outcomes for clinical mastitis cases in herds that are selecting treatment based on OFC, particularly for index (first) cases in a cow's lactation.

Reducing antibiotic use in the control of mastitis in dairy herds.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (014) ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Breen
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Epidemiological Pattern ◽  
Cow Health ◽  
Mastitis Control

Abstract The control of mastitis remains a focus of attention for dairy farmers, veterinary surgeons and advisors due to its impact on cow health and welfare, milk quality, sustainable production, and the financial costs associated with treatment, prevention and ongoing control. In addition, the focus on the unnecessary use of antibiotics in agriculture has meant that mastitis control in dairy herds has received renewed interest, particularly around prevention of new infection and alternative treatment strategies. The latter includes the selective use of intra-mammary antibiotic for infected cows at drying-off, reserving parenteral antibiotic for clinical cases where the cow is ill, and selecting intra-mammary antibiotic treatment for clinical mastitis based on culture results. Treating clinical mastitis caused by Gram-positive pathogens such as Streptococcus spp. with intra-mammary antibiotic remains important to optimise chance of cure and reduce risk of transmission of infection, although antibiotics may not be required for clinical mastitis infections caused by other pathogens, particularly E. coli. The long-term reduction and rationalisation of antibiotic use in mastitis control is achieved through improved management to prevent new infections and avoid the need to treat mastitis. This comes through understanding the predominant epidemiological 'pattern' of infection in the herd and targeted implementation of well-specified interventions to reduce the rate of new infection, either in lactation or during the dry period. For most dairy herds, environmental mastitis pathogens predominate and therefore management and hygiene of housed and pastured environments is a key component of mastitis control plans designed to reduce the need to use antibiotics in mastitis control.

Responding to questions about clinical mastitis treatment failure on farm: improving the outcome

Livestock ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-36
Author(s):  
Kath Aplin ◽  
James Breen
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Failure ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Bacteriological Cure ◽  
Veterinary Surgeons ◽  
Bulk Tank ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Financial Penalty

The treatment of clinical mastitis on farm is always under the spotlight for veterinary surgeons due to the financial penalty of withholding milk from the bulk tank, the challenge of achieving a bacteriological cure during lactation compared with during a dry period and the importance of antibiotic use in dairy herds. This article focuses on the management of the FIRST clinical mastitis case in a cow's lactation, as this not only represents the best chance of achieving a bacteriological cure as well as a symptomatic one, but also puts emphasis on the need to measure the outcome of treatment approaches for first cases and the likely origin of first cases so that treatment can be avoided in the future.

Prevalence of pathogens in milk samples of dairy cows with clinical mastitis and in heifers at first parturition

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd-Alois Tenhagen ◽  
Inken Hansen ◽  
Annette Reinecke ◽  
Wolfgang Heuwieser
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Staph Aureus ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Mastitis Pathogens

Prevalence of mastitis pathogens in milk samples from dairy cows and heifers was studied over a period of 1 year (Aug 2005–Aug 2006) in ten dairy herds in Germany. Milk samples (n=8240) were collected from heifers without clinical mastitis at parturition (n=6915), from primiparous cows with clinical mastitis (n=751) and from older cows with clinical mastitis (n=574). Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) were the predominant group of bacteria isolated (46·8% of samples) from clinically healthy quarters of primiparous cows around parturition, followed by streptococci (12·6%), coliforms (4·7%) and Staphylococcus aureus (4·0%). Thirty-three percent of samples were negative on culture (range on farm level, 12·0–46·4%). In cases of clinical mastitis in primiparous and older cows, streptococci were the predominant finding (32·1 and 39·2%) followed by CNS (27·4 and 16·4%), coliforms (10·3 and 13·1%) and Staph. aureus (10·0 and 11·7%). Negative results were obtained from 21·3% (range, 0·0–30·6%) and 19·5% (range, 0·0–32·6%) of these samples. Results indicated substantial differences in the prevalence of pathogens among herds. There was a positive within-herd correlation between the monthly prevalences for Streptococcus dysgalactiae between the three groups of samples. This correlation was also found between clinical samples of primiparous and older cows for Staph. aureus. These correlations were not found for the other pathogens. Besides herd, prevalence of pathogens was influenced by parity, type of sample and season.

Phage typing of Staphylococcus aureus associated with subclinical bovine mastitis

1987 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dermot P. Mackie ◽  
David A. Pollock ◽  
Sean P. Rodgers ◽  
Ernest F. Logan
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Bovine Mastitis ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Phage Typing ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Almost All ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Epidemiological Significance ◽  
Mastitis Control

SummarySix hundred and seventeen isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from sub-clinical mastitis cases in 63 dairy herds in Northern Ireland were typed using a set of 25 phages. Ninety-four per cent of the isolates were typable, with nine phages, predominantly from groups I and III, being responsible for almost all of the lysis. Although 68 phage patterns were found, six of them typed 47·2 % of the isolates. One strain accounted for 14·7% of the isolates, but the largest number of strains (44) was restricted to individual farms. The epidemiological significance of these findings for on-farm mastitis control is discussed.

scholarly journals High Heritabilities for Antibiotic Usage Show Potential to Breed for Disease Resistance in Finishing Pigs

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 829
Author(s):  
Wim Gorssen ◽  
Dominiek Maes ◽  
Roel Meyermans ◽  
Jürgen Depuydt ◽  
Steven Janssens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Antibiotic Usage ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Parenteral Antibiotic ◽  
On Farm

The use of antimicrobials in animal production is under public debate, mainly due to the risk of transfer of resistance to pathogenic bacteria in humans. Therefore, measures have been taken during the last few decades to reduce antibiotic usage in animals, for instance, by national monitoring programmes and by improving animal health management. Although some initiatives exist in molecular genetic selection, quantitative genetic selection of animals towards decreased antibiotic usage is an underexplored area to reduce antibiotic usage. However, this strategy could yield cumulative effects. In this study, we derived new phenotypes from on-farm parenteral antibiotic records from commercially grown crossbred finishing pigs used in the progeny test of Piétrain terminal sires to investigate the heritability of antibiotics usage. Parenteral antibiotic records, production parameters and pedigree records of 2238 full-sib pens from two experimental farms in Belgium between 2014 and 2020 were analysed. Heritability estimates were moderate (18–44%) for phenotypes derived from all antibiotic treatments, and low (1–15%) for phenotypes derived from treatments against respiratory diseases only. Moreover, genetic correlations between these new phenotypes and mortality were low to moderate (0.08–0.60) and no strong adverse genetic correlations with production traits were found. The high heritabilities and favourable genetic correlations suggest these new phenotypes, derived from on-farm antibiotics records, to be promising for inclusion in future pig breeding programs to breed for a decrease in antibiotics usage.

scholarly journals Characterization of Escherichia coli Strains Derived from Cow Milk of Subclinical and Clinical Cases of Mastitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 541
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Grudlewska-Buda ◽  
Krzysztof Skowron ◽  
Ewa Wałecka-Zacharska ◽  
Natalia Wiktorczyk-Kapischke ◽  
Jarosław Bystroń ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Economic Problem ◽  
Cow Milk ◽  
P Value ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Bonferroni Test

Mastitis is a major economic problem in dairy herds, as it might decrease fertility, and negatively affect milk quality and milk yield. Out of over 150 bacterial species responsible for the udder inflammation, Escherichia coli is one of the most notable. This study aimed to assess antimicrobial susceptibility, resistance to dipping agents and biofilm formation of 150 E. coli strains isolated from milk of cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis. The strains came from three dairy herds located in Northern and Central Poland. The statistical analyses were performed with post-hoc Bonferroni test and chi-square test (including Yates correction). The data with a p value of <0.05 were considered significant. We found that the tested strains were mostly sensitive to antimicrobials and dipping agents. It was shown that 37.33% and 4.67% of strains were resistant and moderately resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, respectively. No extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing E. coli were detected. The majority of strains did not possess the ability to form biofilm or formed a weak biofilm. The strong biofilm formers were found only among strains derived from cows with subclinical mastitis. The lowest bacteria number was noted for subclinical mastitis cows’ strains, after stabilization with iodine (3.77 log CFU × cm−2) and chlorhexidine (3.96 log CFU × cm−2) treatment. In the present study, no statistically significant differences in susceptibility to antibiotics and the ability to form biofilm were found among the strains isolated from cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis. Despite this, infections in dairy herds should be monitored. Limiting the spread of bacteria and characterizing the most common etiological factors would allow proper treatment.

On-farm culture and pathogen identification: risks and benefits

Livestock ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 268-273
Author(s):  
Al Manning
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Selective Treatment ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Streptococcus Uberis ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Implementation Studies ◽  
International Experts ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
High Bulk

Selective treatment of clinical mastitis cases based on the results of on-farm culture (OFC) has been suggested by several international experts. It is based on the theory that mastitis cases caused by Gram-negative species has high resolution rates, and those that do not resolve respond poorly to therapy. Several peer-reviewed studies have evaluated the accuracy of different OFC test kits, which are between 60–85% accurate at identifying Gram-positive pathogens. Implementation studies consistently show a reduction in antimicrobial use, although further research across larger populations is needed to assess the impact on mastitis cure. Any OFC protocol should be regularly reviewed with the herd veterinarian. Herds with a high bulk cell count, a high prevalence of Gram-positive pathogens (e.g. Streptococcus uberis), or with a high prevalence of Klebsiella spp. should carefully consider the impact of deferred or withholding treatment on mastitis cure.

scholarly journals High heritabilities for antibiotic usage show potential to breed for disease resistance in finishing pigs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim Gorssen ◽  
Dominiek Maes ◽  
Roel Meyermans ◽  
Jurgen Depuydt ◽  
Steven Janssens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Antibiotic Usage ◽  
Finishing Pigs ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Parenteral Antibiotic ◽  
On Farm

The use of antimicrobials in animal production is under public debate, mainly due to the risk of transfer of resistance to pathogenic bacteria in humans. Therefore, measures have been taken during the last decades to reduce antibiotic usage in animals, for instance by national monitoring programmes and by improving animal health management. Although some initiatives exist in molecular genetic selection, quantitative genetic selection of animals towards decreased antibiotic usage is an underexplored area to reduce antibiotic usage. However, this strategy could yield cumulative effects. In this study we derived new phenotypes from on-farm parenteral antibiotic records from commercially grown crossbred finishing pigs used in the progeny test of Pietrain terminal sires to investigate the heritability of antibiotics usage. Parenteral antibiotic records, production parameters and pedigree records of 2238 full-sib pens from two experimental farms in Belgium between 2014 and 2020 were analysed. Heritability estimates were moderate (18-44%) for phenotypes derived from all antibiotic treatments, and low (1-15%) for phenotypes derived from treatments against respiratory diseases only. Moreover, genetic correlations between these new phenotypes and mortality were low to moderate (0.08-0.60) and no strong adverse genetic correlations with production traits were found. The high heritabilities and favourable genetic correlations suggest these new phenotypes derived from on-farm antibiotics records to be promising for inclusion in future pig breeding programs to breed for a decrease in antibiotics usage.

A SURVEY OF CLINICAL MASTITIS IN SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND DAIRY HERDS

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 143-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. W. Daniel ◽  
D. O'boyle ◽  
M. S. Marek ◽  
A. J. Frost
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Dairy Herds
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