Farm records in investigation of epidemiology, symptomatology and causes of clinical mastitis in a dairy farm

Mastitis is one of the most important diseases in dairy cow farms and one of the most common cause for antibiotic treatment. Aims of this study were: to investigate frequency and trends of clinical mastitis in cows on a large dairy farm, describe clinical characteristics of mastitis and investigate causative infectious agents in selected cases alongside antimicrobial resistance. In our study we used farm records for clinical mastitis recorded for period 2016 and 2017. We also used results of the regular on farm testing of the somatic cell count for 2017. Samples of milk from all clinical mastitis cases were taken during November and December 2017 in order to investigate causative agents and their antimicrobial resistance. Occurrence of clinical mastitis was 205 cases (47.7%) in 2017 compared to 93 cases (29.7%) recorded in 2016. In 2017 reoccurrence of clinical mastitis in same animal was recorded for 93 cows (45.4%). In 2016 reoccurrence of clinical mastitis in same animal was recoded for 49 cows (29.7%). Average course of clinical mastitis in 2016 was 3 days, while in 2017 4.5 days (continuous days of recording a case in farm records). Somatic cell count in more than half of tested animals was higher than 200.000 SC/ml according to the measurements from February and July 2017 (number of cows tested 236 and 169, respectively). Out of 23 milk samples, 20 had bacteriological growth. In 9 samples we identified S.aureus, in 6 streptococcus spp., in 4 coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) and one sample contained E.coli. Most common resistance was found for lincomycin-spectinomycin (100%) gentamicin (92%), followed by cefquinome (65%), linkomycin (53%) and erythromycin (47%). Isolates of S.aureus were resistant on the largest number of investigated antibiotics.

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The presence of pathogens in milk of ewes in relation to the somatic cell count and subpopulations of leukocytes

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/43/2021-cjas ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tvarožková ◽

Vašíček ◽

Uhrinčať ◽

Mačuhová ◽

Hleba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Polymorphonuclear Cells ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Major Health Problem ◽

Milk Samples

Mastitis is a major health problem of the udder in dairy sheep breeds. For diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, somatic cell count (SCC) is commonly used. The presence of pathogens in the udder causes the increase of leukocytes and thus SCC in milk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of pathogens in the milk of ewes and the possible relationship with SCC. The changes of leukocytes subpopulation in milk samples with high SCC were evaluated as well. The experiment was carried out on a dairy farm with the Lacaune breed. This study was conducted on 45 ewes (98 milk samples) without signs of clinical mastitis. Based on somatic cell count, samples were divided to five SCC groups: SCC1 < 200 000 cells/ml (45 milk samples); 200 000 ≤ SCC2 < 400 000 cells/ml (10 milk samples); 400 000 ≤ SCC3 < 600 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); 600 000 ≤ SCC4 < 1 000 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); SCC5 ≥ 1 000 000 cells/ml (31 milk samples). No pathogens were observed in the majority of milk samples (60.20%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the most commonly isolated pathogens from the milk of ewes (86.11%). Staphylococcus epidermidis had the highest incidence from CNS (35.48%). In the SCC5 group, up to 79.31% of bacteriological samples were positive. The percentage of leukocytes significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the samples with higher SCC (≥ 200 × 10<sup>3</sup> cells/ml) in comparison to the group SCC1. Also, the percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was significantly higher with increasing SCC (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the presented results showed that the high SCC was caused by the presence of the pathogen in milk. Thus SCC < 200 000 cells/ml and leukocyte subpopulation, especially PMNs, could be considered as important tools in udder health programs applied in dairy ewes.

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Genetic associations for pathogen-specific clinical mastitis and patterns of peaks in somatic cell count

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800058926 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 187-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Y. de Haas ◽

H.W. Barkema ◽

Y.H. Schukken ◽

R.F. Veerkamp

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Genetic Selection ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Genetic Associations ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Streptococcus Uberis ◽

Lactation Curve

AbstractGenetic associations were estimated between pathogen-specific cases of clinical mastitis (CM), lactational average somatic cell score (LACSCS), and patterns of peaks in somatic cell count (SCC) which were based on deviations from the typical lactation curve for SCC. The dataset contained test-day records on SCC in 94 781 lactations of 25 416 cows of different parities. Out of these 94 781 lactations, 41 828 lactations had recordings on occurrence of pathogen-specific CM and on SCC, and 52 953 lactations had recordings on SCC only. A total of 5 324 lactations with cases of CM were recorded. Analysed pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, and culture-negative samples. Pattern definitions were based on three or five consecutive test-day recordings of SCC. They differentiated between short or longer periods of increased SCC, and also between lactations with and without recovery. Occurrence of pathogen-specific CM and presence of patterns of peaks in SCC were both scored as binary traits. Variance components for sire, maternal grandsire, and permanent animal effects were estimated using AS-REML. The estimated heritability for overall CM was 0·04, and similar heritabilities for pathogen-specific CM were estimated. Heritabilities for the patterns of peaks in SCC ranged from 0·01 to 0·06. Heritabilities for LACSCS were 0·07 to 0·08. Genetic correlations with patterns of peaks in SCC differed for each pathogen. Generally, genetic correlations between pathogen-specific CM and patterns of peaks in SCC were stronger than the correlations with LACSCS. This suggests that genetic selection purely on diminishing presence of peaks in SCC would decrease the incidence of pathogen-specific CM more effectively than selecting purely on lower LACSCS.

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The selective treatment of clinical mastitis based on on-farm culture results: II. Effects on lactation performance, including clinical mastitis recurrence, somatic cell count, milk production, and cow survival

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2010-4047 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 94 (9) ◽

pp. 4457-4467 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

A. Lago ◽

S.M. Godden ◽

R. Bey ◽

P.L. Ruegg ◽

K. Leslie

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Milk Production ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Lactation Performance ◽

Selective Treatment ◽

On Farm

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Mastitis pathogens and somatic cell count in ewes milk

Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences ◽

10.5219/1338 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 164-169

Author(s):

Kristína Tvarožková ◽

Vladimír Tančin ◽

Michal Uhrinčať ◽

Lukáš Hleba ◽

Lucia Mačuhová

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Milk Samples ◽

The Third ◽

The Relationship ◽

Mastitis Pathogens

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of pathogens in selected group of ewes and the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and the presence of pathogens. The experiment was carried out on a dairy farm, where predominantly breed was a Tsigai. Sampling was carried out in monthly intervals as part of the milk recording test day from February to July 2019. A total of 303 ewes were included in the survey, during the milk recording test day. The ewes with SCC ≥1000 × 103 cells.mL-1 were selected for further sampling at half udder level. Based on SCC the ewes were divided into five groups: <200 ×103; ≥200 <400 × 103; ≥400 <600 × 103; ≥600 <1000 × 103; ≥1000 × 103 cells.mL-1. The first group of SCC contained 33.9% of milk samples, the second 14.1% of samples, the third 5.7% of samples, the fourth 6.2% and the fifth 40.1% of samples. The most common pathogens were coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS). The most frequent CNS was Staphylococcus (S.) simulans (24.4%). S. aureus was identified in 5.3% of bacteriological positive samples. Almost 70% of ewes with bacteriological positive samples were repeated identified the presence of pathogens during tested period. SCC ≥500 × 103 cells.mL-1 were detected in 92.5% bacteriological positive milk samples. The presence of pathogens increased SCC in milk (p <0.001) as compared to samples free of pathogens. In conclusion, the SCC ≥500 × 103 cells.mL-1 could be important for detection of subclinical mastitis at half udder level in dairy ewes.

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Sub-Clinical Mastitis and Reproduction: Season, Parity and Stage of Lactation Effects on Conception Rate and Milk Somatic Cell Count

10.21203/rs.3.rs-185675/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Abdolah Mirzaei ◽

Tahereh Ararooti ◽

Mohsen Ghavami ◽

Amin Tamadon

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Conception Rate ◽

Stage Of Lactation ◽

Lactation Stage ◽

Reproduction Season

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of subclinical mastitis (somatic cell count (SCC)>250000 cells/ml) on the fertility of Holstein dairy cows in different parities, lactation stages and seasons. Data of 2437 SCC in a dairy farm including number of insemination, pregnancy detection, date of calving and insemination, SCC after insemination (maximum of 30 days), and parity were evaluated. The rate of subclinical mastitis in the first, second, third and fourth and more lactation number was 18.8%, 25.7%, 26.5% and 35.4%, respectively and in spring, summer, autumn and winter was 24.5%, 19.7%, 18.5% and 33.6%, respectively. Conception rate of cows with subclinical mastitis (24.6%) was lower than cows without subclinical mastitis (30.9%; P=0.003). In addition, the conception rate in the second and third lactation in cows with subclinical mastitis was significantly lower than in cows without subclinical mastitis. The conception rate of cows with subclinical mastitis in summer in the second lactation and in winter in the second and third lactation was significantly lower than in cows without subclinical mastitis. Therefore, subclinical mastitis in mid lactation stage and also in the second and third parities especially in summer and winter can disturb fertility more than the other conditions. Also, considering these facts during these periods of times in managing of subclinical mastitis can improve fertility outcome of the herd.

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Correlations among the somatic cell count of individual bulk milk, result of the California Mastitis Test and bacteriological status of the udder in dairy cows

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/avet.52.2004.2.6 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 173-183 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Sz. Jánosi ◽

Zs. Baltay

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Large Scale ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Coliform Bacteria ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

California Mastitis Test ◽

Bulk Milk

In a survey of about 3000 dairy cows producing low somatic cell count (SCC) milk and kept on a large-scale dairy farm, California Mastitis Test (CMT) positivity was found in 2714 udder quarters of 1491 cows. Pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from 57.6% of these 2714 udder quarters during bacteriological examination. The commonest pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS, 41%) and Staphylococcus aureus (32.5%); however, udder infections caused by environmental streptococci (12.8%) and coliform bacteria (6.8%) were also common. All pathogens resulted in a significant increase of the SCC in individual bulk milk (IBM) samples. In the case of CNS, this SCC elevation in IBM was significantly lower than in the case of infection by the other pathogens. In spite of this, because of the high number of udder infections caused by CNS, the adverse effect exerted by CNS on dairy herds is considered to be substantial. It was found that 54.6% of all CMT-positive cows produced IBM of an SCC below 400 thousand per ml. The milk produced by 41% of the 315 cows excreting S. aureus also had an SCC below 400 thousand per ml. This poses a serious risk of infection to the healthy herdmates. At the same time, 11% of the infected cows produced IBM with an SCC below 100 thousand per ml. On the basis of these findings, only the regular analysis of SCC of IBM can be a reliable indicator of chronic intramammary infection. As the SCC of milk produced by CMT-positive cows (and especially of those excreting pathogens) tended to increase with advancing lactation, the authors suggest that an efficient drying-off therapy should be used to restore udder health and, whenever justified, culling of cows cannot be avoided either.

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