长春市某奶牛场乳腺炎病原菌的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

奶牛乳腺炎是制约奶牛养殖效益和奶品质的主要疾病之一，为了解当前长春市某大型集约化奶牛场奶牛乳腺炎病原菌流行和耐药情况，本试验对该场奶牛乳腺炎发病情况进行了调查，对采集的119份临床型乳腺炎乳样进行细菌分离鉴定并对分离鉴定的病原菌进行小鼠致病性试验和药敏试验。结果显示：该场奶牛乳腺炎发病率在4%左右，初产牛乳腺炎发病率明显高于经产牛，乳腺炎发病率还与胎次、年龄等因素相关。本试验共分离鉴定出木糖葡萄球菌49株(42.2%)、松鼠葡萄球菌39株(33.6%)、大肠杆菌15株(12.9%)、金黄色葡萄球菌5株(4.3%)、无乳链球菌3株(2.6%)、菠萝泛菌3株(2.6%)、产酸克雷伯菌1株(0.9%)和铜绿假单胞菌1株(0.9%);其中菠萝泛菌、无乳链球菌和铜绿假单胞菌对小鼠具有较强致病性。药敏试验结果显示，分离菌株的耐药性普遍存在，大肠杆菌和铜绿假单胞菌耐药种类最多。除无乳链球菌外，其他菌株均对庆大霉素或阿米卡星敏感，可作为该场奶牛乳腺炎治疗首选药物。本试验通过对该场乳腺炎调查、分离菌鉴定和耐药性分析，为该场乳腺炎的防治提供了参考依据。     

衡水市某奶牛场临床型乳房炎病原菌的分离鉴定及药敏试验

为了给奶牛乳房炎的预防及治疗提供理论依据,试验对从衡水市某奶牛场采集的20份临床型乳房炎牛的乳样进行了病原菌的分离培养、生化鉴定及药敏试验。结果表明:从20份乳样中共分离到9种162株细菌,其中金黄色葡萄球菌58株(35.8%)、大肠杆菌58株(35.8%)、表皮葡萄球菌10株(6.2%)、腐生葡萄球菌6株(3.7%)、乳房链球菌10株(6.2%)、无乳链球菌8株(4.9%)、停乳链球菌10株(6.2%)、克雷伯杆菌1株(0.6%)、变形杆菌1株(0.6%);葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌为主要病原菌,其次是链球菌,占总菌数的98.8%(160/162);主要病原菌对硫酸头孢喹诺注射液(中剂量组、高剂量组)、中药复方黄连乳腺炎注射液(中剂量组)、林可霉素、头孢曲松钠、新霉素等5种药物呈高度敏感。     

金华市规模奶牛场隐性乳房炎主要病原菌的分离鉴定与药敏试验

对金华市规模奶牛场HMT强阳性的122个乳样进行主要细菌的分离鉴定，查出91个乳样有细菌，细菌检出率为74．59％。检出8种共104个分离菌株，其中主要为凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌53株，占51．0％；传染性细菌中，金黄色葡萄球菌23株，无乳链球菌14株，分别占22．1％和13．5％；环境性细菌感染9株占8．7％，其中链球菌属(除无乳之外)7株占6．7％，且以停乳链球菌为主(5．8％)；肠杆菌2株占1．9％，但未检出大肠杆菌；其他细菌5株占4．8％。由葡萄球菌、链球菌混合感染引起的乳房炎占12．09％。药敏试验结果表明，临床上较常使用的青霉素、链霉素、复方新诺明对该场隐性乳房炎的主要病原菌有很大的耐药性。     

宁夏部分地区奶牛乳腺炎病原菌的分离鉴定

从宁夏9个县(区)的16个规模化牛场采集327份患乳腺炎奶牛乳样,通过分离培养和生化试验,检出含细菌乳样226份,乳样细菌检出率69.11%(226/327);鉴定出奶牛乳腺炎病原菌5大类9种260株,确认宁夏部分地区奶牛乳腺炎主要病原菌为凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌、停乳链球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌和酵母菌。乳腺炎的发生以单一病原感染为主,占84.96%(192/226);混合感染较少,占15.04%(34/226)。     

头孢洛宁乳房注入剂防治干乳期奶牛乳腺炎的药效学研究

为了探讨头孢洛宁乳房注入剂对干乳期乳腺炎的防治作用,本研究采用微量稀释法测定比较了头孢洛宁、头孢匹林、阿莫西林和氯唑西林对乳腺炎病原菌(大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、乳房链球菌、停乳链球菌、无乳链球菌)的体外抗菌活性;并且,随机选择60头进入干乳期的临床健康奶牛,在最后一次挤奶后每头牛的每个乳区分别灌注一管受试药物或对照药物(氨苄西林-苄星氯唑西林乳房注入剂)。对入选的每头奶牛分别在干奶前、以及产后1、3、5 d,采集每个乳区的乳样进行体细胞计数和细菌学检查。在药物处理后至产后14 d内,每天对受试动物进行临床型乳腺炎检查。结果显示,头孢洛宁、头孢匹林、阿莫西林、氯唑西林对分离自奶牛乳腺炎的大肠杆菌MIC_(50)分别为4、8、8μg/mL128μg/mL;对金黄色葡萄球菌的MIC_(50)分别为0.125、0.25、2、1μg/mL;对乳房链球菌的MIC_(50)分别为4、8、16、128μg/mL;对停乳链球菌的MIC_(50)分别为8、8、8、128μg/mL;对无乳链球菌MIC_(50)分别为0.25、4、0.25、32μg/mL。临床药学研究显示,头孢洛宁乳房注入剂对干乳期奶牛乳腺炎具有良好的防治效果,对不同细菌感染治愈率介于66.6%～100%之间,新感染发生率低于8.3%。在治愈率、新感染率及细菌学清除率方面和对照药物(氨苄西林-苄星氯唑西林乳房注入剂)相比均无显著性差异。表明头孢洛宁对引起奶牛乳腺炎的主要病原菌均具有良好的抗菌活性,干乳期奶牛每乳区灌注一管250 mg的头孢洛宁干乳期乳房注入剂能有效治疗干乳期隐性乳腺炎和预防新的乳腺炎感染。     

江苏部分奶牛场乳腺炎病原菌的分离鉴定、耐药性及血清型研究

为查明江苏部分奶牛场乳腺炎病原菌区系分布、主要病原菌药物敏感性及其血清型,本研究从5个奶牛场采集105份临床型和144份隐性乳腺炎奶样进行了细菌分离鉴定,并对分离鉴定出的6种主要病原菌进行了药敏试验,同时对分离鉴定出的12株金黄色葡萄球菌和17株无乳链球菌,采用多重PCR进行了基因分型,并对金黄色葡萄球菌进行了血清学分型。细菌分离鉴定结果显示,5个奶牛场临床型和隐性乳腺炎病原菌检出率分别为74.34%和61.81%。病原菌区系分布主要为大肠杆菌89株(24.25%)、粪肠球菌64株(17.44%)、克雷伯氏菌23株(6.27%)、志贺氏菌19株(5.18%)、无乳链球菌17株(4.63%)、屎球菌14株(3.81%)、金黄色葡萄球菌12株(3.27%)、停乳链球菌1株(0.27%)、乳房链球菌1株(0.27%)和绿脓杆菌1株(0.27%)。药物敏感性试验结果显示,6种主要病原菌均对克林霉素耐药,耐药率达50.00%~93.75%,均对氨苄西林和氯霉素敏感,敏感率为75.00%~100%。主要病原菌血清型分型结果显示,金黄色葡萄球菌有2个血清型,主要为荚膜多糖336型(66.67%)和5型(33.33%),无乳链球菌主要有2个血清型,主要为Ⅱ型(64.71%)和Ia型(35.29%)。本研究为该地区奶牛乳腺炎临床合理用药及综合防控提供了依据。     

奶牛急性乳腺炎病原菌的分离与鉴定

为了查明乳腺炎的主要致病菌, 试验对来自不同奶牛场的25头患急性乳腺炎奶牛进行了病原菌的分离与鉴定。从阜新、锦州两地6个牛场共分离出26株目的菌, 16株为金黄色葡萄球菌, 10株为B群链球菌。葡萄球菌和链球菌检出率分别占病原菌检出数的61 54% ( 16 /26 ) 和38 46% (10 /26)。     

奶牛乳腺炎病原菌的分离、耐药性分析及其特异性卵黄抗体的体外抑菌效果

试验从新疆石河子地区3个建设兵团采集60份临床型乳腺炎患牛的奶样。细菌分离纯化后,在VITEK 2微生物自动分析系统基础上,利用16S r DNA序列分析对乳腺炎主要致病菌进行菌种鉴定,并对病原菌进行药敏试验。结果表明,60份奶样中共分离14种细菌,其中无乳链球菌(S.agalactiae)最多(20%),其次为金黄色葡萄球菌(S.aureus)(15.56%)。选择14种常用抗生素,采用Kithy-Bauer纸片法,对分离出的病原菌进行药敏试验,无乳链球菌和金黄色葡萄球菌对青霉素的耐药性最强(耐药菌株最多)。通过免疫蛋鸡制备无乳链球菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的特异性卵黄抗体(Ig Y),体外抑菌试验表明,10mg/m L的特异性Ig Y能够有效抑制两种细菌的生长,为卵黄抗体替代抗生素防治奶牛乳腺炎提供一定理论基础。     

我国部分地区个体奶牛场乳房炎细菌学调查

在对成都、兰州、郑州、济南、哈尔滨、南昌六个城市 10 5个个体奶牛场所做的乳房炎流行病学调查的基础上 ,采集各种类型乳房炎奶样 2 80头份 (340个乳室 ) ,经细菌分离鉴定共分得12种 316株菌 ,牛只和乳室出菌率分别为 84 .2 9%和 80 %。其中与乳房炎有密切关系的病原菌 7种180株 ,主要为停乳链球菌 (37.78% )、大肠杆菌 (2 4 .4 4% )、无乳链球菌 (15 .5 6 % )、金黄色葡萄球菌 (13.33% )、绿脓杆菌 (4.4 4% )、克雷伯氏菌 (2 .2 2 % )、变形杆菌 (2 .2 2 % ) ,不同地区的牛场细菌分布有所不同。同时采集桶奶样 15 2份 ,其中 119份检出各种细菌 ,出菌率为 78.2 8% ,经细菌分离鉴定分得 7种 14 0株 ,其中与乳房炎有密切关系的病原菌 4种 35株 ,主要为停乳链球菌(6 8.5 7% )、大肠杆菌 (17.14 % )、乳房链球菌 (11.4 3% )、无乳链球菌 (2 .86 % )。该项细菌学调查初步明确了我国个体奶牛场细菌学分布状况 ,为个体牛场进一步综合防治奶牛乳房炎提供了科学依据。     

张家口地区奶牛临床型乳腺炎病原菌的分离鉴定

采集具有临床型乳腺炎奶牛的奶样,经细菌的分离培养、纯培养和生化试验,以确定奶牛临床型乳腺炎的致病菌种类。结果发现患临床型乳腺炎奶牛的致病菌和占分离菌株的百分率为:腐生葡萄球菌19.7%、金黄色葡萄球菌16.5%、兽疫链球菌17.3%、停乳链球菌9.4%、乳房链球菌3.9%、无乳链球菌1.6%、产气肠杆菌17.3%、聚团肠杆菌4.7%、奇异变形杆菌3.0%、大肠杆菌3.0%、蜡样芽胞杆菌3.0%,样品中单纯感染与混合感染的百分率分别为66.0%和27.8%。     

Etiological agents of dairy cows' mastitis in western part of Poland

The purpose of the study was to determine the etiological mastitis agents in cows from herds located in the western part of Poland in years 2003-2005. Bacteriological examinations of 18,713 samples taken from California Mastitis Test (CMT) positive quarters were performed according to standard methods. Some Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-positive cocci were examined with the use of API tests (Analytical Profile Index). It was found that 32.7% of samples that were CMT positive were culture negative and 9.3% of samples were contaminated. Streptococcus species (15.7%), coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) (14.6%), Staph. aureus (8.6%), Gram-negative bacilli (4.0%) and Corynebacterium species (3.8%) were most frequently isolated. Escherichia coli (52.3%) dominated among Gram-negative bacilli followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.6%), Enterobacter cloacae (3.6%), Serratia marcescens (3.1%), Pasteurella multocida (3.1%), Acinetobacter lwofii (3.1%), and 26 other bacteria species. Stahylococcus xylosus (31.5%), Staph. hyicus (12.2%), Staph. haemolyticus (12.2%), Staph. sciuri (11.6%), Staph. chromogenes (8.8%), Staph. epidermidis (8.3%) and Staph. simulans (6.1%) were the most frequent CNS. Streptococcus uberis (50%), Str. dysgalactiae (19.7%), Str. acidominimus (6.6%) and Enterococcus faecalis (5.3%) were mostly found among CAMP-negative streptococci. An increase in frequency of mastitis caused by non-agalactiae streptococci, Staph. aureus, A. pyogenes and yeast-like fungi and a decrease in that produced by Str. agalactiae in 2005 as compared to years 2003 or 2004 were observed.     

Etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of udder pathogens from cases of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows in Sweden

Background

A nationwide survey on the microbial etiology of cases of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows was carried out on dairy farms in Sweden. The aim was to investigate the microbial panorama and the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, differences between newly infected cows and chronically infected cows were investigated.

Methods

In total, 583 quarter milk samples were collected from 583 dairy cows at 226 dairy farms from February 2008 to February 2009. The quarter milk samples were bacteriological investigated and scored using the California Mastitis Test. Staphylococci were tested for betalactamase production and presence of resistance was evaluated in all specific udder pathogens. Differences between newly infected cows and chronically infected cows were statistically investigated using logistic regression analysis.

Results

The most common isolates of 590 bacteriological diagnoses were Staphylococcus (S) aureus (19%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS; 16%) followed by Streptococcus (Str) dysgalactiae (9%), Str. uberis (8%), Escherichia (E.) coli (2.9%), and Streptococcus spp. (1.9%). Samples with no growth or contamination constituted 22% and 18% of the diagnoses, respectively. The distribution of the most commonly isolated bacteria considering only bacteriological positive samples were: S. aureus - 31%, CNS - 27%, Str. dysgalactiae - 15%, Str. uberis - 14%, E. coli - 4.8%, and Streptococcus spp. - 3.1%. There was an increased risk of finding S. aureus, Str. uberis or Str. dysgalactiae in milk samples from chronically infected cows compared to findings in milk samples from newly infected cows. Four percent of the S. aureus isolates and 35% of the CNS isolates were resistant to penicillin G. Overall, resistance to other antimicrobials than penicillin G was uncommon.

Conclusions

Staphylococcus aureus and CNS were the most frequently isolated pathogens and resistance to antimicrobials was rare.     

Environmental mastitis in intensive high‐producing dairy herds in New South Wales

Objective To determine the prevalence of mastitis pathogens in high‐producing intensive dairy herds in New South Wales. Design Field survey. Procedure Milk samples from the mastitis‐affected quarter were collected from cows on five high‐producing dairy farms in NSW. The 820 samples were cultured using standard microbiological culture techniques. Results Bacteria or fungi were isolated from 83.3% of samples (683/820). More than two colony types were isolated from 16.7% of samples (137/820), two types from 6.6% (54/820), and one type from 52.3% (429/820). No bacteria were isolated from 24.4% (200/820) of the primary cultures, but enrichment cultures of these samples yielded single colony type bacterial isolates from 36.5% (73/200) of samples. Environmental pathogens, including coliforms, environmental Streptococcus and Staphylococcus spp., made up 91% (555/610) of isolates and accounted for 33.6% (205/610), 41.6% (254/610) and 15.7% (96/610), respectively, of isolates. Escherichia coli accounted for 76.1% (156/205) of the coliform isolates, Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae accounted for 32.3% (82/254) and 28.0% (71/254), respectively, of the environmental streptococcal isolates. Contagious pathogens were uncommon, comprising only 2.5% (15/610) of the total isolates. Conclusion The incidence and causes of mastitis are largely influenced by farm management. The relatively high prevalence of coliform mastitis in the intensive high‐producing herds in this survey contrasts with the low incidence reported in surveys of pasture‐based herds in Victoria. If the Australian dairy industry continues its current trend of intensification, coliform intra‐mammary infections may emerge as an increasingly important cause of mastitis.     

Herd benefit-to-cost ratio and effects of a bovine mastitis control program that includes blitz treatment of Streptococcus agalactiae

Twelve dairy herds that had participated in the Pennsylvania Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) program for at least 12 months, that had a 12-month mean DHIA somatic cell count greater than 700,000 cells/ml, and that had greater than 25% of lactating cows infected with Streptococcus agalactiae participated in a herd blitz treatment program. Initially, quarter milk samples for bacteriologic culturing were collected from all lactating cows. Subsequently, all cows identified as infected with Str agalactiae were treated, using a commercial penicillin-novobiocin intramammary infusion product. In addition, a herd mastitis management program of postmilking teat dipping and treatment of all cows at the start of the nonlactating period was instituted. Thirty days after the initial herd visit, samples from all lactating cows were again cultured, and cows infected at that time were treated. Twelve months after the initial herd visit, samples from all lactating cows were again cultured. Mean prevalence of infection with Str agalactiae decreased (P less than 0.05) from 23.0% of quarters and 41.6% of cows initially to 3.4% of quarters and 9.3% of cows at 30 days and 1.6% of quarters and 4.2% of cows at 1 year. Mean herd DHIA somatic cell count decreased (P less than 0.05) from 918,000 cells/ml initially to 439,000 cells/ml at 30 days and 268,000 cells/ml at 1 year.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Udder pathogens and their resistance to antimicrobial agents in dairy cows in Estonia

Background

The goal of this study was to estimate the distribution of udder pathogens and their antibiotic resistance in Estonia during the years 2007-2009.

Methods

The bacteriological findings reported in this study originate from quarter milk samples collected from cows on Estonian dairy farms that had clinical or subclinical mastitis. The samples were submitted by local veterinarians to the Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory during 2007-2009. Milk samples were examined by conventional bacteriology. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed with the disc diffusion test. Logistic regression with a random herd effect to control for clustering was used for statistical analysis.

Results

During the study period, 3058 clinical mastitis samples from 190 farms and 5146 subclinical mastitis samples from 274 farms were investigated. Positive results were found in 57% of the samples (4680 out of 8204), and the proportion did not differ according to year (p > 0.05). The proportion of bacteriologically negative samples was 22.3% and that of mixed growth was 20.6%. Streptococcus uberis (Str. uberis) was the bacterium isolated most frequently (18.4%) from cases of clinical mastitis, followed by Escherichia coli (E. coli) (15.9%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (Str. agalactiae) (11.9%). The bacteria that caused subclinical mastitis were mainly Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (20%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (15.4%). The probability of isolating S. aureus from milk samples was significantly higher on farms that had fewer than 30 cows, when compared with farms that had more than 100 cows (p < 0.005). A significantly higher risk of Str. agalactiae infection was found on farms with more than 600 cows (p = 0.034) compared with smaller farms. The proportion of S. aureus and CNS isolates that were resistant to penicillin was 61.4% and 38.5%, respectively. Among the E. coli isolates, ampicillin, streptomycin and tetracycline resistance were observed in 24.3%, 15.6% and 13.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

This study showed that the main pathogens associated with clinical mastitis were Str. uberis and E. coli. Subclinical mastitis was caused mainly by S. aureus and CNS. The number of S. aureus and Str. agalactiae isolates depended on herd size. Antimicrobial resistance was highly prevalent, especially penicillin resistance in S. aureus and CNS.     

Bovine mastitis and its association with selected risk factors in smallholder dairy farms in and around Bahir Dar,Ethiopia

Three hundred fifty one (195 local zebu and 156 Holstein x local zebu crosses) lactating cows of smallholder farms in Bahir Dar 'milk shed' were examined from September 2003 to March 2004 to determine mastitis prevalence, isolate pathogens and identify the role of some potential risk factors. Clinical prevalence was determined through examination of abnormalities of milk, udder or cow. California mastitis test (CMT) was used for determination of subclinical mastitis prevalence. Clinical prevalence at cow level was 3.9% in crossbreds and none in local zebu breeds. Subclinical mastitis at cow level based on CMT was high (34.4%) in crossbreds compared to indigenous zebu (17.9%) (p < 0.05). Quarter subclinical prevalence based on CMT was 17.9% and 4.9% in crossbreds and local zebu, respectively. The pathogens isolated from mastitic milk (CMT positive milk) were coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS), S. aureus, Str. agalactiae, Str. dysgalactiae, Str. uberis, Micrococcus species, C. bovis, A. pyogens, B. cereus, and S. intermedius. Among these, the most frequent isolates were CNS (50%), S. aureus (19%), Str. agalactiae (8%) and Str. dysgalactiae (7%). Among potential risk factors considered, stage of lactation, parity and breed were found to affect the occurrence of mastitis significantly (p < 0.05).     

Incidence and types of clinical mastitis in dairy herds with high and low somatic cell counts

Eighteen dairy herds were studied, 12 with a 12-month Dairy Herd Improvement Association herd mean somatic cell count (SCC) less than or equal to 150,000 cells/ml (low SCC) and 6 with a 12-month mean SCC greater than 700,000 cells/ml (high SCC). At the outset of the study, quarter samples for bacteriologic culture were collected (in duplicate) from all quarters of all lactating cows (whole herd culture). Subsequently, quarter milk samples for culture from all cows with clinical mastitis were collected for a period of 6 months. In the herds with low SCC, results of whole herd culture revealed low prevalence of intramammary infection attributable to all major pathogens (less than 4% of all quarters). Prevalence of infection with Streptococcus agalactiae (22.2% of all quarters) and Staphylococcus aureus (6.6% of all quarters) was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in the herds with high SCC. Mean incidence of clinical mastitis in the herds with low SCC was 4.23 infections/100 cows/month (range, 0.42 to 10.25 infections). In the herds with high SCC, mean incidence was 2.91 infections/100 cows/month (range, 1.33 to 3.92 infections). In the herds with low SCC, infection type, as mean percentage of total clinically infected quarters sampled for culture/herd, was 0.0%, 2.2%, 12.3%, 43.5%, and 28.6% for Str agalactiae, S aureus, streptococci other than Str agalactiae, coliforms, and organisms not isolated, respectively. Respective percentages for the herds with high SCC were 41.5%, 18.3%, 12.6%, 8.0%, and 8.8%. During the study period (from April through January), incidence of clinical mastitis and clinical mastitis caused by coliform bacteria were highest in July and August for herds with low SCC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Herd management and prevalence of mastitis in dairy herds with high and low somatic cell counts

Thirty-two dairy herds, 16 with low somatic cell counts (LSCC; Dairy Herd Improvement Association 12-month mean herd SCC less than or equal to 150,000 cells/ml) and 16 with high somatic cell counts (HSCC; Dairy Herd Improvement Association 12-month mean herd SCC greater than or equal to 700,000 cells/ml) were evaluated to determine the relationship between the prevalence of mastitis in each herd and each herd's mastitis control and management practices. Once for each herd, duplicate quarter milk samples were collected from the lactating cows, a survey of herd mastitis control, milking hygiene, and management practices of each herd was performed, and milking-machine function was evaluated. Of the 16 herds with LSCC, 2 (12.5%) had Streptococcus agalactiae isolated and 7 (44%) had Staphylococcus aureus isolated. Both organisms were found in all of the herds with HSCC. In herds with LSCC, the mean percentage of quarters infected with Str agalactiae was 0.1%, the mean percentage infected with streptococci other than Str agalactiae was 1.9%, and the mean infected with S aureus was 0.7%. In herds with HSCC, 25.7% of the quarters were infected with Str agalactiae, 3.7% were infected with streptococci other than Str agalactiae, and 7.6% were infected with S aureus. A program of postmilking teat dipping and treatment of all cows at the beginning of the nonlactating period was practiced more frequently in the herds with LSCC (81.3%) than in the herds with HSCC (37.5%). Major differences were not found between the 2 groups of herds in the use of the more common milking hygiene techniques or in the maintenance and functional characteristics of the milking equipment.     

Summer mastitis in heifers: a bacteriological examination of secretions from clinical cases of summer mastitis in Denmark

A total of 166 samples of secretions collected from Danish heifers suffering from clinically diagnosed summer mastitis were examined bacteriologically. One hundred and sixty three samples yielded positive findings whereas no growth was obtained from 3 specimens. The majority of samples revealed a mixed flora in which the predominant components were Actinomyces pyogenes, Peptostreptococcus indolicus, a microaerophilic coccus (Stuart-Schwan coccus), Fusobacterium necrophorum, Bacteriodes melaninogenicus and Streptococcus dysgalactiae. Pure cultures were recovered in only 7% of cases. P. indolicus was isolated from 875 of the cases, a microaerophilic coccus from 84%, A. pyogenes from 72%, Fusobacterium necrophorum from 52%, Str. dysgalactiae from 37%, B. melaninogenicus from 33% and various unidentified obligate anaerobic Gram-negative rods from 31%. The results confirm the complex bacterial aetiology of summer mastitis.     

In vitro susceptibilities of canine urinary bacteria to selected antimicrobial agents

Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted on bacteria that were isolated from urine specimens collected by antepubic cystocentesis from dogs with urinary tract infections. Antimicrobics to which greater than or equal to 90% of these urinary bacteria were susceptible in vitro included trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ), nitrofurantoin, cephalexin, nalidixic acid, and gentamicin for isolates of Escherichia coli; ampicillin, TMP-SMZ, cephalexin, nalidixic acid, and gentamicin for isolates of Proteus mirabilis; ampicillin chloramphenicol, TMP-SMZ, nitrofurantoin, cephalexin, kanamycin, and gentamicin for isolates of coagulase-positive staphylococci; cephalexin, nalidixic acid, and gentamicin for isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae; ampicillin, TMP-SMZ, and gentamicin for isolates of Streptococcus faecalis, Str faecium, and Str zymogenes; ampicillin, chloramphenicol, TMP-SMZ, and gentamicin for isolates of Str viridans; and ampicillin, chloramphenicol, TMP-SMZ, nitrofurantoin, cephalexin, kanamycin, and gentamicin for isolates of Str canis. No antimicrobial agent tested was effective in vitro at the 90% level for isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but gentamicin was closest, at 89%.