scholarly journals Sanitary practices associated with animal welfare in the control of mastitis in the dairy herd

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. e102101724467
Author(s):  
Mirian Yumi Makatu ◽  
Jefferson Filgueira Alcindo ◽  
Gabriela Cortellini Ferreira Ramos ◽  
Katia Denise Saraiva Bresciani ◽  
Márcia Marinho

Agricultural practices are a powerful tool with health management contributing to the improved performance of production of animal welfare. The study aimed to verify that farming practices are important tools in the control of bovine mastitis and the degree of knowledge of the producers with respect to the practices. Guided visits were carried out the rural properties, when they were distributed educational materials and tools, made from recyclable material, used in the management of sanitary practices related to animal welfare. To evaluate the physiological profile were collected biological samples such as: blood, feces and milk, and for assessing the sanity and animal welfare were used a questionnaire. Blind 20 cows were selected for a total of 79 rooms of which breast; 36 rooms were negative to the CMT, but 12 were of these were positive to Staphylococcus and microbiology microorganism of higher occurrence. Animal welfare was compromised by the incidence of Subclinical Mastitis, infestation of flies and the absence of prophylactic measures. It is concluded that the use of good agricultural practices is a suitable tool associated with the animal welfare and important in the identification of bovine mastitis, and a lack of information and knowledge regarding best practices, especially in relation to preventive management.

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliano Leonel Gonçalves ◽  
Roberta L. Lyman ◽  
Mitchell Hockett ◽  
Rudy Rodriguez ◽  
Marcos Veiga dos Santos ◽  
...  

This research study aimed to evaluate the use of the milk leukocyte differential (MLD) to: (a) identify quarter milks that are culture-positive; and (b) characterize the milk leukocyte responses to specific groups of pathogens causing subclinical mastitis. The MLD measures the absolute number and relative percentage of inflammatory cells in milk samples. Using the MLD in two dairy herds (170 and 172 lactating cows, respectively), we studied all lactating cows with a most recent monthly Dairy Herd Improvement Association somatic cell count (SCC) >200 × 103 cells/ml. Quarter milk samples from 78 cows meeting study criteria were analysed by MLD and aseptically collected milk samples were subjected to microbiological culture (MC). Based upon automated instrument evaluation of the number and percentage of inflammatory cells in milk, samples were designated as either MLD-positive or – negative for subclinicial mastitis. Positive MC were obtained from 102/156 (65·4%) of MLD-positive milk samples, and 28/135 (20·7%) of MLD-negative milk samples were MC-positive. When MC was considered the gold standard for mastitis diagnosis, the calculated diagnostic Se of the MLD was 65·4% (IC95% = 57·4 to 72·8%) and the Sp was 79·3% (IC95% = 71·4 to 85·7%). Quarter milks positive on MC had higher absolute numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages, with higher neutrophils% and lymphocytes% but lower macrophages%. The Log10 (N/L) ratios were the most useful ratio to differentiate specific subclinical mastitis quarters from healthy quarters. Use of the MLD on cows with monthly composite SCC > 200 × 103 cells/ml for screening at quarter level identified quarters more likely to be culture-positive.In conclusion, the MLD can provide an analysis of mammary quarter status more detailed than provided by SCC alone; however, the MLD response to subclinical mastitis was not found useful to specifically identify the causative pathogen.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ma. Fabiola León-Galván ◽  
José E. Barboza-Corona ◽  
A. Arianna Lechuga-Arana ◽  
Mauricio Valencia-Posadas ◽  
Daniel D. Aguayo ◽  
...  

Thirty-two farms (n=535cows) located in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, were sampled. Pathogens from bovine subclinical mastitis (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CLM) were identified by 16S rDNA and the sensitivity to both antibiotics and bacteriocins ofBacillus thuringiensiswas tested. Forty-six milk samples were selected for their positive California Mastitis Test (CMT) (≥3) and any abnormality in the udder or milk. The frequency of SCM and CLM was 39.1% and 9.3%, respectively. Averages for test day milk yield (MY), lactation number (LN), herd size (HS), and number of days in milk (DM) were 20.6 kg, 2.8 lactations, 16.7 animals, and 164.1 days, respectively. MY was dependent on dairy herd (DH), LN, HS, and DMP<0.01, and correlations between udder quarters from the CMT were around 0.49P<0.01. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were mainly identified, as well asStaphylococcus aureus,Streptococcus uberis,Brevibacterium stationis,B. conglomeratum, andStaphylococcus agnetis. Bacterial isolates were resistant to penicillin, clindamycin, ampicillin, and cefotaxime. Bacteriocins synthesized byBacillus thuringiensisinhibited the growth of multiantibiotic resistance bacteria such asS. agnetis,S. equorum,Streptococcus uberis,Brevibacterium stationis, andBrachybacterium conglomeratum, but they were not active againstS. sciuri, a microorganism that showed an 84% resistance to antibiotics tested in this study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Silva Ramos ◽  
Karina Medici Madureira ◽  
Vinicius Alvim Passos Baldacim ◽  
Cynthia Pereira Da Costa e Silva ◽  
Mailson Rennan Borges Dias ◽  
...  

Background: Physiological and immunological adaptations occurred in peripartum period may be responsible for susceptibility to intramammary infections during colostrogenesis. Increase in blood flow and hormones cause physiological edema by accumulation of lymphatic fluid in interstitial space. Specific composition of mammary secretion increases the susceptibility to mastitis. So, the study of physical, cellular and microbiological changes in the mammary gland in this period are fundamental for understanding, diagnosing and adopting prophylactic measures for bovine mastitis. This study aimed to characterize physiological and pathological changes that occur in the mammary gland during transition period.Materials, Methods & Results: Thirteen cows, in second to fourth lactation were followed from 3 weeks pre-calving to 3 weeks post-calving. Cows were submitted weekly to physical examination of mammary gland, strip cup test, California Mastitis Test (CMT), Microscopic Somatic Cell Count (MSCC), and bacteriological examination of mammary secretion. Mammary quarters were divided into two groups: BAC-: samples that did not present bacteriological growth throughout transition period; BAC+: samples that presented bacteriological growth in at least two isolates of the same bacterial genus. Regarding physical examination of mammary gland, the parameters localized or generalized alteration in volume, asymmetry, reddish color, reduced skin elasticity, increased temperature, and swollen consistency presented higher frequencies in the BAC- group. On the other hand, infection in mammary quarters of cows from BAC+ group promoted a decrease in frequencies of increased volume, decreased elasticity, and elevated temperature in the mammary gland, in addition to a higher positivity to CMT and higher cellularity. Overall rate of intramammary infection was 25.82%, with non-aureus Staphylococci (NAS) being the predominant agent (69.2%). Maximum peak of bacterial isolates occurred immediately after calving (33.3%). Differences were observed between groups (P = 0.021) for CMT, showing a higher frequency of positive tests in BAC+ group (36.5%) compared to BAC- group (18%). MSCC varied between weeks (P = 0.001), groups (P = 0.001), and between the interaction of the two variables (P = 0.019). Highest median value of MSCC was observed at calving (1.5 × 106 cells/mL), being different (P = 0.001) from the +1, +2, and +3 weeks and the lowest median value of MSCC (0.08×106 cells/mL) was observed in +3 compared to previous weeks (P < 0.05).Discussion: NAS was predominantly isolated in mammary secretions of cows during peripartum, it is commonly found in the skin and canal of the teat and are associated with subclinical mastitis. Peak of mammary infection was observed on calving, probably by the cortisol peak resulting in a stress leucogram and decrease in the functional activity of immune cells. Changes observed in the physical examination of mammary gland of cows from BAC- group are compatible with physiological edema caused by circulatory changes that occurs with the proximity of calving, increasing blood flow necessary for production of colostrum. Alterations in the mammary quarters of cows from BAC+ group may be associated with functional loss of mammary parenchyma or persistent infectious process, characterizing clinical findings of pathological changes during transition period. Mammary quarters of the BAC+ group presented higher percentages of positive reactions to CMT in weeks +1 and +2, and higher MSCC values and are associated with infection of the mammary gland.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 550
Author(s):  
Cassandra Eibl ◽  
Martina Baumgartner ◽  
Verena Urbantke ◽  
Michael Sigmund ◽  
Katharina Lichtmannsperger ◽  
...  

The present case report provides data on the phenotypic and genotypic properties of S. canis isolated from nine dairy cows with subclinical mastitis (SCC greater than 200,000 cells/mL in the quarter milk sample, no clinical signs) and from a cat living in the barn and reports the eradication of the pathogen from the herd with an automatic milking system. The isolates were identified using conventional bacteriology, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and genetic relationships were investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Udder health management and hygiene instructions comprised the removal of the carnivores from the barn, strict monitoring of milking hygiene and techniques to avoid new infections via the milking robot, with simultaneous therapy for all infected cows. Phenotypic and genotypic properties of all isolates were identical. MLST revealed a unique sequence type (ST55) and a farmyard cat was identified as the most likely source of the S. canis infection in cows. The simultaneous treatment of all infected cows and management and hygiene improvements lead to a decreased SCC within four weeks.


Soil Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Haddish Melakeberhan ◽  
Gregory Bonito ◽  
Alexandra N. Kravchenko

Soil health connotes the balance of biological, physicochemical, nutritional, structural, and water-holding components necessary to sustain plant productivity. Despite a substantial knowledge base, achieving sustainable soil health remains a goal because it is difficult to simultaneously: (i) improve soil structure, physicochemistry, water-holding capacity, and nutrient cycling; (ii) suppress pests and diseases while increasing beneficial organisms; and (iii) improve biological functioning leading to improved biomass/crop yield. The objectives of this review are (a) to identify agricultural practices (APs) driving soil health degradations and barriers to developing sustainable soil health, and (b) to describe how the nematode community analyses-based soil food web (SFW) and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) data visualization models can be used towards developing sustainable soil health. The SFW model considers changes in beneficial nematode population dynamics relative to food and reproduction (enrichment index, EI; y-axis) and resistance to disturbance (structure index, SI; x-axis) in order to identify best-to-worst case scenarios for nutrient cycling and agroecosystem suitability of AP-driven outcomes. The FUE model visualizes associations between beneficial and plant-parasitic nematodes (x-axis) and ecosystem services (e.g., yield or nutrients, y-axis). The x-y relationship identifies best-to-worst case scenarios of the outcomes for sustainability. Both models can serve as platforms towards developing integrated and sustainable soil health management strategies on a location-specific or a one-size-fits-all basis. Future improvements for increased implementation of these models are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Aarsha Raj ◽  
Vinodkumar Kulangara ◽  
Tresamol P. Vareed ◽  
Deepa P. Melepat ◽  
Latha Chattothayil ◽  
...  

Abstract Variations in the levels of acute phase proteins and lactoferrin in serum and milk for diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows are described in this research paper. Milking animals from two organized dairy farms in Kerala, India, were screened by California Mastitis Test (CMT), Electrical Conductivity test (EC) and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) test to identify animals affected with sub clinical mastitis (SCM). The concentrations of acute phase proteins (APP) Haptoglobin (Hp), C- reactive protein (CRP), Albumin, Lactoferrin (Lf) and α- 1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) in milk and Hp, Albumin, Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and CRP in the serum of 40 normal cows and 40 cows affected with sub clinical mastitis were assessed. Solid phase ELISA was employed for assessment of all parameters except the albumin levels, for which spectrophotometry was used. The values of Hp in milk; and SAA, AGP and Lf in serum, were significantly elevated in the group with sub clinical mastitis. Such variations were found to be independent of the specific bacterial organism causing the disease. These results show that significant variations exist in the levels of acute phase proteins Hp, AGP and Lf in milk, and SAA in serum of animals affected with subclinical bovine mastitis that are not affected by specific bacterial etiology.


Author(s):  
C. Ghazaei

Mycoplasmas are an important and economically significant cause of mastitis in dairy cows in various parts of the world. The organisms are highly contagious, with the main reservoir of infection originating from cows with subclinical mastitis. In 1998 the 1st cases of bovine mastitis due to Mycoplasma bovis were diagnosed in Ardabil State, Iran. An investigation was carried out with the aim of establishing the extent of mycoplasma infections in dairy cows in Ardabil State. Milk samples obtained from 80 cows with clinical mastitis were cultured in the laboratory for the presence of mycoplasmas. Similarly, 48 bulk-tank milk samples were examined for the presence of mycoplasmas. A modified Hayflick broth was used to isolate the mycoplasmas and an immunoperoxidase test used for the species identification of the isolates. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated from 39 (48.75 %) of the clinical mastitis samples and from 48 of the bulk-tank milk samples tested. This indicated that mycoplasma udder infections were more prevalent in dairy cows in Ardabil State than previously thought.


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane F. Marques ◽  
Huarrisson A. Santos ◽  
Thomas H. Santos ◽  
Dayanne A. Melo ◽  
Shana M.O. Coelho ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus spp. plays a significant role in the etiology of bovine mastitis. Staphylococcus aureus is considered the most important species due to the high prevalence and the difficulty of in vivo treatment that is related to the expression of virulence factors and biofilm formation. This study aimed to detect the phenotypic expression of the biofilm formation in 20 S. aureus isolated from bovine mastitis and to evaluate the expression and regulation of genes involved in its production. MALDI-TOF and phenogenotypic identification assays were performed to characterize the isolates. The phenotypic biofilm production and the presence of icaA and icaD and bap genes were evaluated. The Agr system was typified (agr I, agr II, agr III and agr IV) and its regulator (agr RNAIII) was detected. Furtherly, Real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed at chosen times to quantify the expression of icaA, icaD and hld genes in three selected isolates. All 20 strains were biofilm producers and most presented icaA and icaD genes. Only one isolate presented the bap gene. The agr gene type II showed a prevalence of 70%. Transcriptional analysis revealed increased expression of ica genes at eight hours of growth. These results confirm that polysaccharides production mediated by the icaADBC operon genes is an essential mechanism to the biofilm formation and contributes to the early stages of bacterial growth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8840
Author(s):  
Katharina Mayer ◽  
Martin Kucklick ◽  
Helene Marbach ◽  
Monika Ehling-Schulz ◽  
Susanne Engelmann ◽  
...  

Within-host adaptation is a typical feature of chronic, persistent Staphylococcus aureus infections. Research projects addressing adaptive changes due to bacterial in-host evolution increase our understanding of the pathogen’s strategies to survive and persist for a long time in various hosts such as human and bovine. In this study, we investigated the adaptive processes of S. aureus during chronic, persistent bovine mastitis using a previously isolated isogenic strain pair from a dairy cow with chronic, subclinical mastitis, in which the last variant (host-adapted, Sigma factor SigB-deficient) quickly replaced the initial, dominant variant. The strain pair was cultivated under specific in vitro infection-relevant growth-limiting conditions (iron-depleted RPMI under oxygen limitation). We used a combinatory approach of surfaceomics, molecular spectroscopic fingerprinting and in vitro phenotypic assays. Cellular cytotoxicity assays using red blood cells and bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) revealed changes towards a more cytotoxic phenotype in the host-adapted isolate with an increased alpha-hemolysin (α-toxin) secretion, suggesting an improved capacity to penetrate and disseminate the udder tissue. Our results foster the hypothesis that within-host evolved SigB-deficiency favours extracellular persistence in S. aureus infections. Here, we provide new insights into one possible adaptive strategy employed by S. aureus during chronic, bovine mastitis, and we emphasise the need to analyse genotype–phenotype associations under different infection-relevant growth conditions.


Author(s):  
Alfredo Gutiérrez R., Alfredo Gutiérrez ◽  
Carlos Sánchez ◽  
Germán D. Mendoza

A linear mixed model and chi-squared tests were used to estimate the effects of the dietary inclusion of herbal choline at 0.071 % of the diet in the entire dairy herd (target dose of 17 g/d in lactating cows) using data from six years in a commercial farm. The feed plant additive (BioCholine) was included in the premix spanning three years (2016-2018) feeding 442 cows average per year and information was compared with the three previous years (2013 – 2015; 424 cows average per year). Energy corrected milk in the period 2016-2018 was increased by 1.57% (p<0.001) compared to years 2013-2016 (36.36 vs. 35.80 kg/d). Fertility in cows during first lactation was improved (P<0.01) with the feed plant additive (45.33 vs. 37.0%). The period feeding herbal choline (2016-2018) showed a reduction (p<0.0001) in abortions (15.65 to 7.29%) and clinical (p<0.005; 12.59 to 6.95%) and subclinical mastitis (p<0.05; 8.65 to 5.22%) and in respiratory disorders (p<0.10; 12.42 to 8.56%) whereas hypocalcaemia incidence was increased (p<0.01) from 1.73 to 6.22%. Total herd replacement was reduced during the years 2016-2018 by 5.73% (p<0.05) without effects in mortality. Inclusion of the plant feed additives containing conjugates of choline improved milk yield, fertility in first lactation cows and important health indicators which help to reduced herd replacement.


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