Risk factors associated with bacteriological cure, new infection, and incidence of clinical mastitis after dry cow therapy with three different antibiotics

Factors affecting bacteriological cure rates (BCR) and new intramammary infections (IMI) during the dry period as well as clinical mastitis (CM) during early lactation were investigated in 414 German Holstein dairy cows receiving dry cow therapy. Cows were treated with either benethamine benzylpenicillin (300,000 IU), penethamate hydriodide (100,000 IU), and framycetin sulphate (100 mg, n = 136), or cefquinome (150 mg, n = 135), or benzathine cloxacillin (1,280 mg, n = 143). Overall BCR, IMI, and CM at parturition were 86.4%, 20.7%, and 4.3%, respectively. The three antibiotic treatments differed only in BCR, with cloxacillin yielding better results than the others. Udder quarters from cows with > 4 lactations had a higher risk of IMI and CM at calving. Chronic changes in udder tissues were linked to a lower BCR and were associated with a higher risk of CM during early lactation. The risk of CM at calving was higher in udder quarters with unspecific or subclinical mastitis before drying off. In conclusion, with antibiotic dry cow therapy, age and health status of the udder appear to be major determinants of IMI and CM during the dry period and early lactation, while BCR was associated with the antibiotic type and udder tissue status.     

Frequency of isolation of environmental mastitis-causing pathogens and incidence of new intramammary infection during the nonlactating period

Quarter samples (n = 6,328) of mammary secretions were collected from 160 cows during physiologic transitions of the udder to determine the frequency of isolation of mastitis-causing pathogens and the incidence of new intramammary infections (IMI) during the nonlactating period. None of the cows in the herd was infected with Streptococcus agalactiae, and the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was low. Cows were not treated with antibiotics at cessation of milking. A threefold increase in the percentage of quarters infected with major mastitis-causing pathogens developed from late lactation to early involution. Coliforms and streptococci other than Str agalactiae accounted for 94% of major pathogen infections. The number of quarters infected with coagulase-negative staphylococci increased slightly from late lactation to early involution, whereas the number of quarters infected with Corynebacterium bovis decreased markedly. Major pathogens caused 101 of 153 IMI at parturition and greater than 90% were caused by streptococci and coliforms. At parturition, 51 of 52 minor pathogen IMI were caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci. During early lactation, there was a marked decrease in quarters infected with major pathogens; however, the number of quarters with major pathogen IMI during early lactation was 2.3 times higher than the number of quarters infected before cessation of milking. The number of quarters with minor pathogen IMI during early lactation was the same as at parturition, but a marked decrease in quarters infected with coagulase-negative staphylococci and a marked increase in C bovis IMI developed from parturition to early lactation.     

Epidemiologic study of intramammary infections with Staphylococcus aureus during a control program in nine commercial dairy herds

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiologic pattern of intramammary infections (IMIs) with Staphylococcus aureus during implementation of a control program in 9 commercial dairy herds. DESIGN: Cohort study. ANIMALS: 1,651 lactating cows and 53,098 quarter milk samples. PROCEDURES: Nine herds located in different regions of Italy were enrolled. Control of S. aureus infections followed the general principles of contagious mastitis control and was based on precise diagnostic procedures and strict control and segregation of infected cows. All lactating cows in each herd were tested, and those free of S. aureus IMI were enrolled as the cohorts. Further additions to the cohort group were cows and heifers free of S. aureus IMI, as determined from aseptically collected milk samples taken approximately 7 and 14 days after calving. RESULTS: After the ninth month of the program, incidence decreased to < 2 new IMIs/100 cow-months in 7 of the herds. At the end of the study, 8 of 9 herds had an incidence of < or = 1 new IMI/100 cow-months. Heifers were most at risk of developing an IMI. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that control of S. aureus IMIs can be achieved by use of a control program based on segregation and use of hygienic and therapeutic protocols. Analysis of incidence and identification of risk factors in a herd could avoid the possible shortcomings of the program, maximizing the probability of success.     

Effects of antibiotic therapy at drying off on mastitis in the dry period and early lactation

Four strategies for selecting cows for intramammary therapy with benzathine cloxacillin at drying off were compared in 12 Victorian dairy herds. The bacteriological status of all quarters of all (1044) cows was determined just before drying off, within 2 d of calving, and again 3 to 5 months after calving. All cases of clinical mastitis (from calving to mid-lactation) were recorded. Cows not infected at drying off were allocated randomly to 2 subgroups of approximately 350 cows each: not infected, not treated (NI-NT), or not infected, all quarters treated (NI-AT). New infection rates in the dry period (3.8% for NI-NT vs 2.1% for NI-AT) and in early lactation (4.1% for NI-NT vs 3.9% for NI-AT) were low and these differences were not significant. Incidence of clinical mastitis in early lactation was almost 50% higher for the treated group of uninfected cows compared with the untreated group (0.05 less than p less than 0.1). Cows infected in one or more quarters at drying off were split randomly into 2 subgroups of approximately 170 cows each: infected, all quarters treated (I-AT), or infected quarters treated only (I-QT). The new infection rate during the dry period was nearly 4 times higher for I-QT (15.3%) due to significantly more new infections by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparative efficacy of three dry-cow antibiotic formulations in spring-calving New Zealand dairy cows

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a dry-cow antibiotic preparation containing cloxacillin plus ampicillin in a formulation that gives a 10-week duration of action, in comparison to products containing cephalonium (10-week action) or cloxacillin alone (7-week action). METHODS: A total of 493 cows were selected from 6 spring-calving dairy herds in the Manawatu region of New Zealand, according to the criteria of the SAMM plan, to receive intramammary antibiotic therapy at the end of lactation (drying off). Cows were randomly allocated to receive 1 of the 3 dry-cow antibiotic products under investigation. Cows were examined twice during the dry period and twice daily during the first 10 days of their subsequent lactation for the presence of mastitis. Milk samples were collected from individual quarters at the time of drying off and at 7 and 28-35 days after calving, for determination of milk somatic cell counts (SCC). Bacteriology was carried out on milk samples taken from cows that developed mastitis during the first 10 days after calving. RESULTS: No cows developed mastitis during the dry period. Sixteen cows developed clinical mastitis within 10 days of calving; there was no difference in incidence between treatments. Streptococcus uberis was the most commonly isolated organism. Mean SCC on Day 7 were lower (p = 0.019) in cephalonium-treated quarters (189.9+/-28.4 x 10(3) cells/ml) than in cloxacillin-treated quarters (388.7+/-71.2 x 10(3) cells/ml); values in quarters receiving cloxacillin plus ampicillin were intermediate (252.0+/-47.0 x 10(3) cells/ml). SCC were similar between treatment groups on Day 28-35. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a combination of cloxacillin plus ampicillin was effective for the prevention of mastitis during the dry and peri-calving-periods in pastured dairy cattle.     

Epidemiology of Streptococcus uberis intramammary infections in a dairy herd.

From 1987 to 1991, almost 36,000 quarter samples of mammary secretion representing 1790 lactations of 510 dairy cows from a research herd were collected for bacteriological examination. The percentage of cows infected with Streptococcus uberis ranged from 12 to 16% of cows/year. S. uberis was isolated from 14.2% of lactations over the 5-year period. The prevalence of S. uberis intramammary infection (IMI) was significantly higher in cows with > or = 4 lactations than in cows with 3 or fewer lactations. Regardless of lactation number, the prevalence of S. uberis was highest before parturition, during early lactation and near drying off. The prevalence of S. uberis infected quarters ranged from 1.3 to 2.3% of quarters/year; the prevalence rate for the 5-year period was 2% of quarters. The quarter prevalence of S. uberis was lowest in cows with < or = 3 lactations, increased significantly with lactation number and was highest in cows with > or = 6 lactations. The percentage of quarters infected with S. uberis varied significantly by year. The majority (95%) of S. uberis IMI were subclinical. The ratio of subclinical IMI to clinical IMI was lowest during early lactation, and increased with days in milk, and with lactation age except for cows in their 5th and 6th lactations. Results of this epidemiological investigation suggest that opportunities exist where suitable control measures could be applied to reduce the impact of S. uberis infections in the dairy herd.     

Assessment of antimicrobial transfer from treated to untreated mammary gland quarters by use of high-pressure liquid chromatography for detection of cloxacillin in milk samples from nonlactating dairy cows

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether half-udder intramammary infusion of cloxacillin results in transfer of cloxacillin from treated to untreated mammary gland quarters within nonlactating cows, and, if so, at what concentrations, and to determine whether selection of ipsilateral versus diagonal-contralateral quarters for treatment affects cloxacillin transfer among quarters. ANIMALS: 20 Holstein-Friesian cows from a dairy herd. PROCEDURES: A within-cow half-udder comparison trial was used in which 2 of 4 mammary gland quarters (ipsilaterally or diagonally) received an intramammary infusion of cloxacillin on day 1 of the nonlactating period. Three days later, milk samples were taken from all untreated quarters and high-pressure liquid chromatography was used to detect and quantify milk cloxacillin concentrations. RESULTS: Cloxacillin was detected in 25% of all untreated mammary gland quarters. Mean cloxacillin concentration in untreated quarters was below minimum inhibitory concentrations for targeted mastitis pathogens. No significant difference in cloxacillin concentrations was found in the ipsilateral or diagonal treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Within-cow half-udder comparison trials are valid for antimicrobial trials in nonlactating cows, although transfer of antimicrobials does occur in trace concentrations. Ipsilateral or diagonal-contralateral treatment designs perform similarly. This type of design is economical for researchers, although care must be taken to account for within-cow clustering of mammary gland quarter data.     

Effect of precalving intramammary treatment with pirlimycin in nulliparous Holstein heifers

A clinical trial was conducted to determine whether prepartum intramammary pirlimycin reduces the proportion of nulliparous heifers with intramammary infection (IMI) during early lactation and improves milk production. Quarter milk samples were collected from 428 heifers, systematically allocated to treatment and control groups, 6 to 12 d before the expected calving date and 2 to 8 d after calving. At the prepartum visit, heifers in the treatment group (n = 219) received an infusion of pirlimycin hydrochloride in all 4 quarters; the control heifers (n = 209) received no infusions. Intramammary infection was detected in 69% of the heifers and 33% of the quarters before calving. After calving, the proportion of treated heifers with IMI was significantly lower than the proportion of control heifers (31% versus 45%). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 10% of the heifers and 3% of the quarters before calving. After calving, the proportion of IMIs due to S. aureus was significantly lower in the treated heifers than in the control heifers (5.6% versus 10%). Antibiotic treatment increased the percentage of cures and prevented new IMIs caused by gram-positive bacteria after calving. The incidence of new IMIs caused by gram-negative bacteria and yeast was higher among treated heifers than among control heifers. There was no overall effect of treatment on milk production, but there was a significant interaction effect of treatment and the interval between treatment and calving. An increase of 302 kg of milk was observed when antibiotic treatment was applied more than 1 wk before calving. Treatment did not affect the milk somatic cell count on the 1st 3 test days after calving.     

Epidemiology of Streptococcus uberis Intramammary Infections in a Dairy Herd

From 1987 to 1991, almost 36 000 quarter samples of mammary secretion representing 1790 lactations of 510 dairy cows from a research herd were collected for bacteriological examination. The percentage of cows infected with Streptococcus uberis ranged from 12 to 16 % of cows/year. S. uberis was isolated from 14.2 % of lactations over the 5-year period. The prevalence of S. uberis intramammary infection (IMI) was significantly higher in cows with ≥4 lactations than in cows with 3 or fewer lactations. Regardless of lactation number, the prevalence of S. uberis was highest before parturition, during early lactation and near drying off. The prevalence of S. uberis infected quarters ranged from 1.3 to 2.3 % of quarters/year; the prevalence rate for the 5-year period was 2 % of quarters. The quarter prevalence of S. uberis was lowest in cows with ≤3 lactations, increased significantly with lactation number and was highest in cows with ≥6 lactations. The percentage of quarters infected with S. uberis varied significantly by year. The majority (95 %) of S. uberis IMI were subclinical. The ratio of subclinical IMI to clinical IMI was lowest during early lactation, and increased with days in milk, and with lactation age except for cows in their 5th and 6th lactations. Results of this epidemiological investigation suggest that opportunities exist where suitable control measures could be applied to reduce the impact of S. uberis infections in the dairy herd.     

A comparative field trial of cephalonium and cloxacillin for dry cow therapy for mastitis in Australian dairy cows

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the therapeutic efficacy of dry cow agents containing either cephalonium or cloxacillin within Australian dairy herds. DESIGN: A treatment-control trial. METHODS: Milk from infected quarters of cows with high somatic cell counts in milk on eight Australian dairy farms was cultured to identify bacterial pathogens. Cows were randomly assigned to treatment groups and one group was treated with cephalonium at drying off and the other group was treated with cloxacillin at drying off. Milk samples from infected quarters were collected immediately after calving and were cultured for pathogens. The effect of treatment on bacteriological cure was examined and somatic cell counts from infected cows from the first two herd tests after calving were examined for a treatment effect. On four farms, milk samples were collected for culture from all cases of clinical mastitis identified within the first 7 days after calving. The effect of treatment upon incidence of clinical mastitis after calving was examined. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between treatments on quarter cure rates for new infections, for chronic infections and for infections with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus uberis. Infected quarters treated with cephalonium had a significantly higher cure rate than quarters treated with cloxacillin when Corynebacterium bovis and Staphylococcus epidermids were included as pathogens combined (80.3% versus 70.7%). There was no significant difference between the treatments on somatic cell counts of infected cows at the first two herd tests after calving. There was no difference between treatments on the incidence of clinical mastitis in the first 7 days after calving.     

A comparative efficacy trial between cefuroxime and cloxacillin as intramammary treatments for clinical mastitis in lactating cows on commercial dairy farms

AIMS: To assess the efficacy of a commercial intramammary preparation containing cefuroxime as a treatment for clinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows. METHODS: Clinical mastitis cases (n=440) were identified during early to mid lactation on 36 seasonally-calving commercial dairy herds in south-western Victoria, Australia, that ranged in size from 140 to 550 cows. A milk sample for bacterial culture was collected from each affected quarter prior to treatment. Cases were treated using a commercial intramammary antibiotic product containing either 250 mg cefuroxime or 200 mg cloxacillin, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and the recommended milk with-holding period was observed. The assessment of clinical cure of each case was made by the farm owner/manager at the end of the milk with-holding period. Post-treatment milk samples were taken from clinically cured quarters at each of three consecutive milkings, commencing 7 days after the end of the milk with-holding period and submitted for bacterial culture. RESULTS: Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 252/416 (60.6%) pre-treatment milk samples submitted from eligible cases. Streptococcus uberis was the most frequent isolate, being cultured from 31.7% of cases. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 18.3% of pre-treatment samples, and Esherichia coli from 7.0%. The clinical cure rate for all eligible cases was 81.7%. There was no significant difference in clinical cure rates between cases treated with cefuroxime (186/225=82.7%) and cases treated with cloxacillin (154/191=80.6%). The trial had 80% power to detect a significant difference if the actual cure rates differed by at least 12.6%. There was a superior clinical response rate (p=0.04) for mastitis cases from which E. coli was isolated that were treated with cefuroxime (18/19=95%) compared with cloxacillin 6/10=60%), but case numbers were low (n=29). The overall bacteriological cure rate for the trial was 70% (69/98 cases assessed). There was no significant difference (p=0.27) in bacteriological cure rate between cases treated with cefuroxime (42/56=75%) and cases treated with cloxacillin (27/42=64%). CONCLUSIONS: This trial demonstrated that cefuroxime was an effective intramammary treatment for clinical mastitis and had similar clinical and bacteriological cure rates to cloxacillin, an accepted industry-standard product. Activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was demonstrated for cefuroxime which, along with the economic benefits of less discarded milk compared with other antibiotic preparations, indicated that cefuroxime is likely to be an appropriate intramammary antibiotic for the treatment of clinical mastitis in commercial dairy herds during early to mid lactation in Victoria, Australia.     

A clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment of lactating cows with high somatic cell counts in their milk

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of treatment of lactating cows with high somatic cell counts in milk. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. METHODS: Single pooled quarter samples of milk were obtained from cows with somatic cell counts above 500,000 cells/mL on fifty farms. Milk samples were cultured for known mastitis bacterial pathogens. Cows were randomly allocated to treated and untreated groups. Treated cows received both intramammary cloxacillin and parenteral erythromycin. Single pooled quarter milk samples were obtained at 6 weeks after treatment and were cultured for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. The percentage of samples with no growth at the post-treatment culture was used as an estimate of the bacteriological cures for each pathogen type and for each treatment group. Somatic cell counts of cows were compared between treatment groups and within pathogen group. The number of cows that completed a full lactation were compared between each treatment group and within each pathogen group. RESULTS: Treatment had no effect upon bacteriological cures, irrespective of pathogen present or the presence of bacteria during the previous lactation. There was no effect of treatment upon somatic cell count except for cows infected with Streptococcus dysgalactiae in which treatment caused a significant lowering of cell counts. This effect was not present in the subsequent lactation. Treatment of chronically infected cows did not alter the probability of a cow completing a full lactation but did improve the probability of newly infected cows being retained for the next lactation. Twenty-eight of 214 treated cows developed clinical mastitis in more than one quarter after treatment, thus indicating a poor technique by farmers for the insertion of intramammary antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment during lactation of cows with high somatic cell counts in milk is ineffective in reducing bacterial infections and in reducing somatic cell counts to acceptable numbers.     

Skin sensitivity to tuberculins in cattle vaccinated against Johne's disease

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a dry-cow antibiotic preparation containing cloxacillin plus ampicillin in a formulation that gives a 10-week duration of action, in comparison to products containing cephalonium (10-week action) or cloxacillin alone (7-week action).

Methods: A total of 493 cows were selected from 6 spring-calving dairy herds in the Manawatu region of New Zealand, according to the criteria of the SAMM plan, to receive intramammary antibiotic therapy at the end of lactation (drying off). Cows were randomly allocated to receive 1 of the 3 dry-cow antibiotic products under investigation. Cows were examined twice during the dry period and twice daily during the first 10 days of their subsequent lactation for the presence of mastitis. Milk samples were collected from individual quarters at the time of drying off and at 7 and 28-35 days after calving, for determination of milk somatic cell counts (SCC). Bacteriology was carried out on milk samples taken from cows that developed mastitis during the first 10 days after calving.

Results: No cows developed mastitis during the dry period. Sixteen cows developed clinical mastitis within 10 days of calving; there was no difference in incidence between treatments. Streptococcus uberis was the most commonly isolated organism. Mean SCC on Day 7 were lower (p = 0.019) in cephalonium-treated quarters (189.9 ± 28.4 × 10³ cells/ml) than in cloxacillin-treated quarters (388.7 ± 71.2 x 10³ cells/ml); values in quarters receiving cloxacillin plus ampicillin were intermediate (252.0 ± 47.0 × 10³ cells/ml). SCC were similar between treatment groups on Day 28–35.

Conclusions: The use of a combination of cloxacillin plus ampicillin was effective for the prevention of mastitis during the dry- and peri-calving-periods in pastured dairy cattle.     

An investigation of mastitis due to S agalactiae, S uberis and M smegmatis in a dairy herd

Subclinical mastitis caused by streptococcal infections affected 27 of 83 cows in a commercial dairy herd. Between three and six weeks after intramammary treatment of these cows with cloxacillin, 16 (59 per cent) of the treated cows developed acute clinical mastitis associated with Mycobacterium smegmatis. None of the untreated cows was affected. Infected quarters were moderately hypertrophied and fine clots were present in the milk for three to four weeks. No cows showed systemic signs of illness. Studies carried out over 12 months showed that infected cows shed M smegmatis for three to four months and affected quarters remained hypertrophied in all but one cow after 12 months. The mean milk cell count of affected quarters fell slowly from 4,850,000/ml in the acute stage to 810,000/ml five months later and 620,000/ml 12 months later, suggesting that the organism persisted in the udder. The estimated mean loss in lactation yield for cows with M smegmatis mastitis was 10.8 per cent. Losses were greatest when the hind quarters were involved (mean 28 per cent for cows with both hind quarters affected). Ten of the 16 affected cows were ultimately culled owing to serious reductions in yield.     

Efficacy of extended pirlimycin therapy for treatment of experimentally induced Streptococcus uberis intramammary infections in lactating dairy cattle

Streptococcus uberis is an important cause of mastitis in dairy cows throughout the world, particularly during the dry period, around the time of calving, and during early lactation. Strategies for controlling S. uberis mastitis have not received adequate research attention and are therefore poorly defined and inadequate. Objectives of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy of extended therapy regimens with pirlimycin for treatment of experimentally induced S. uberis intramammary infections in lactating dairy cows during early lactation and to evaluate the usefulness of the S. uberis experimental infection model for evaluating antimicrobial efficacy in dairy cows. The efficacy of extended pirlimycin intramammary therapy regimens was investigated in 103 mammary glands of 68 dairy cows that became infected following experimental challenge with S. uberis during early lactation. Cows infected with S. uberis in one or both experimentally challenged mammary glands were randomly allocated to three groups, representing three different treatment regimens with pirlimycin, including 2-day (n = 21 cows, 31 mammary quarters), 5-day (n = 21 cows, 32 quarters), and 8-day (n = 26 cows, 40 quarters). For all groups, pirlimycin was administered at a rate of 50 mg of pirlimycin hydrochloride via intramammary infusion. A cure was defined as an experimentally infected mammary gland that was treated with pirlimycin and was bacteriologically negative for the presence of S. uberis at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after treatment. Experimental S. uberis intramammary infections were eliminated in 58.1% of the infected quarters treated with the pirlimycin 2-day regimen, 68.8% for the 5-day regimen, and 80.0% for the 8-day regimen. Significant differences (P <.05) in efficacy were observed between the 2-day and 8-day treatment regimens. The number of somatic cells in milk decreased significantly following therapy in quarters for which treatment was successful in eliminating S. uberis. However, there was no evidence to suggest that extended therapy with pirlimycin resulted in a greater reduction in somatic cell counts in milk than the 2-day treatment. The S. uberis experimental infection model was a rapid and effective means of evaluating antimicrobial efficacy during early lactation at a time when mammary glands are highly susceptible to S. uberis intramammary infection.     

Fungi isolated from bovine udders,and their possible sources

AIM: To identify fungi isolated from infections of the bovine mammary gland, and establish their possible sources.

METHODS: From a herd of 420 cows, milk samples were collected from all quarters at calving and cultured to detect causative organisms. Quarters identified as infected with fungi were further sampled during early lactation. Samples from feedstuffs, the feed pad and ends of teats were also collected and analysed for the presence of fungi.

RESULTS: Eleven of 420 cows were diagnosed with intramammary infections (IMI) caused by yeasts (nine cows, 10 quarters) and moulds (two cows, three quarters). Six of the yeast species had previously been reported as being responsible for mastitis. Elevated somatic cell counts (SCC) were observed in many quarters, but most infections were eliminated spontaneously. Two of the fungi isolated from milk samples were also isolated from feedstuffs and teat swabs, and seven other fungi isolated from milk samples were not isolated from feed, the feed pad or cows' teats.

CONCLUSIONS: Isolation of fungi from the udder is rarely reported in dairy cows in New Zealand. In this herd, contamination of the end of the teat originating from feedstuffs and possibly exacerbated by the use of a feed pad may have led to the establishment of IMI caused by fungi.

CLINICAL RELEVENCE: Fungi are infrequently if ever reported in mastitis trial data or surveys in New Zealand and are probably of little clinical significance.     

Fungi isolated from bovine udders , and their possible sources

AIM: To identify fungi isolated from infections of the bovine mammary gland, and establish their possible sources. METHODS: From a herd of 420 cows, milk samples were collected from all quarters at calving and cultured to detect causative organisms. Quarters identified as infected with fungi were further sampled during early lactation. Samples from feedstuffs, the feed pad and ends of teats were also collected and analysed for the presence of fungi. RESULTS: Eleven of 420 cows were diagnosed with intramammary infections (IMI) caused by yeasts (nine cows, 10 quarters) and moulds (two cows, three quarters). Six of the yeast species had previously been reported as being responsible for mastitis. Elevated somatic cell counts (SCC) were observed in many quarters, but most infections were eliminated spontaneously. Two of the fungi isolated from milk samples were also isolated from feedstuffs and teat swabs, and seven other fungi isolated from milk samples were not isolated from feed, the feed pad or cows' teats. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation of fungi from the udder is rarely reported in dairy cows in New Zealand. In this herd, contamination of the end of the teat originating from feedstuffs and possibly exacerbated by the use of a feed pad may have led to the establishment of IMI caused by fungi. CLINICAL RELEVENCE: Fungi are infrequently if ever reported in mastitis trial data or surveys in New Zealand and are probably of little clinical significance. KEY WORDS: Fungi, yeast, mould, bovine, intramammary infection, somatic cell count, mastitis.     

Efficacy of vaccination and antimicrobial treatment to eliminate chronic intramammary Staphylococcus aureus infections in dairy cattle

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a combination of vaccination and extended intramammary antimicrobial treatment would eliminate chronic intramammary Staphylococcus aureus infections in lactating dairy cows. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 50 dairy cows with chronic mastitis caused by S aureus. PROCEDURE: Cows were identified and paired within herd on the basis of days in milk, lactation number, milk production, and numbers of quarters infected. Treated cows (n=20) received 3 doses of a polyvalent S aureus bacterin on days 1, 15, and 21 of the study along with intramammary administration of pirlimycin in all 4 quarters once daily for 5 treatments (days 16 to 20). Control cows (n=23) received no treatment. Follow-up samples for bacteriologic culture were collected for at least 3 months after treatment to determine treatment success rates. RESULTS: Significantly more S aureus infections were eliminated from treated cows (8/20 [40%]), compared with control cows (2/23 [9%]). The proportion of infected quarters that yielded negative results throughout the follow-up period was also significantly higher in treated cows (13/28 [46%]) than in control cows (2/41 [5%]). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that a combination of vaccination and antimicrobial treatment can be successful in eliminating some cases of chronic intramammary S aureus infections in dairy cattle. However, it is important to consider extended treatment protocols carefully because many cows are likely to remain infected with S aureus despite treatment and vaccination.     

Impact of intramammary tilmicosin infusion as a dry cow therapy

Three hundred subclinically infected quarters of 259 Holstein cows infected with gram‐positive bacteria were selected via quota sampling based on the California Mastitis Test (CMT) result and were divided randomly and equally into treatment and test groups. Quarters of test group (n = 150 in 128 cows) were treated with an intramammary infusion of tilmicosin, and quarters of the control group (n = 150 in 131 cows) were treated with cloxacillin as a traditional intramammary infusion of dry cow (DC) ointment. Cows with more than one infected quarter were randomly assigned to the same group, and adjacent quarters were treated the same. The milk samples of all quarters were obtained, and bacterial cultures and somatic cell count (SCC) were tested before dry cow therapy (DCT) (50 ± 15 days before parturition), and finally on day 2 of the next lactation. Results have shown that total bacteriological cure rates on day 2 of the next lactation were 45% and 78%, (p = .01), new infection rates were 43.3% and 56.6%, and SCC was (6.732 × 10⁵ ± 3.124 × 10⁵) and (5.025 × 10⁵ ± 2.935 × 10⁵), (p > .05) in test and control groups, respectively. Tilmicosin had less effect on reducing IMI due to Corynebacterium bovis, and had no effect on Streptococcus agalactiae, but had a potent effect against Staphylococcus aureus. It was concluded that tilmicosin alone should not be infused as an alternative to conventional dry cow therapy. However, it had a significant effect against S. aureus, and the potential of tilmicosin to treat S. aureus IMI should be confirmed in further studies.     

Prevalence and herd-level risk factors for intramammary infection with coagulase-negative staphylococci in Dutch dairy herds

In this study, the prevalence of intramammary infection (IMI) with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) in The Netherlands was estimated on 49 randomly selected herds with at least 40 lactating cows. In total, 4220 quarter milk samples were collected. The prevalence of CNS IMI in The Netherlands was estimated at 10.8% at quarter level and 34.4% at cow level, making it the most frequently isolated group of pathogens. Fourteen species of CNS were identified; the most frequently isolated species was Staphylococcus chromogenes (30.3%) followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (12.9%) and Staphylococcus capitis (11.0%). Prevalence of CNS IMI was higher in heifers compared to older cows. Geometric mean quarter SCC of CNS-positive quarters was 109,000 cells/ml, which was approximately twice as high as culture-negative quarters. Quarters infected with S. chromogenes, S. capitis and Staphylococcus xylosus had a higher SCC (P<0.05) than culture-negative quarters, while quarters that were culture-positive for S. epidermidis and Staphylococcus hyicus tended to have a higher SCC than culture-negative quarters. An increased prevalence of CNS IMI was associated with the herd-level variables source of drinking water not being tap water, housing of dry cows in one group instead of multiple groups, measurement of cow SCC every month, udder health monitoring by the veterinarian, pasturing during outdoor season, percentage of stalls contaminated with milk, and BMSCC>250,000 cells/ml. Although a causal relation between these factors and prevalence of CNS is not proven and for some factors not even likely, knowledge of the associations found may be helpful when approaching CNS problems on dairy farms.