Bovine mastitis

Bovine mastitis

1. Risk Factors

   • Milking machines
   • Climate
   • Housing
   • Hierarchy
   • Hygiene
   • Placenta retention
   • Somatic cell count
   • Nonpathogenic bacteria
   • Bedding
   • Pathogenic Bacteria
   • Feeding stress
   • Calving
   • Genetic
   • Age
   • Lactation
   • Race

2. Definition: It is inflammation of the mammary gland, as a result of infections caused by different microorganisms, especially and less often due to trauma, injury and irritations of chemical origin

3. Causes

   • Microorganims
     • Bacteria
       • Facultative anaerobic gram positive cocci
         • Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus
   • Environmental Conditions
   • Characteristics of the cow

4. Types of Mastitis

   • Contagious mastitis
     • It originates from microorganisms that live in the mammary gland (Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus mainly).
     • Routes of transmission
       • Contaminated milking machine
       • Calf
       • Incorrect handling of workers (rags, no gloves).
     • There are three subtypes of contagious mastitis: clinical, subclinical and chronic mastitis.
   • Environmental Mastitis
     • It originates from environmental microorganisms (environmental streptococci and coliforms).
       • This mastitis rarely exceeds 10% of the total cases in the herd.

5. Symptoms

   • Symptoms of mastitis are associated with contagious mastitis and the degree of bacterial infection of the disease.
     • Clinical mastitis: Visible signs of inflammation (enlargement, warmth, redness and pain).
       • There are three subtypes of clinical mastitis: mastitis overacute, acute and subacute.
         • Overacute mastitis: Severe inflammation, altered function of the gland, reduced milk production, changes in milk composition, and systemic signs such as: fever, depression, tremors, anorexia, and weight loss.
         • Acute mastitis: Similar to overacute mastitis but the systemic signs are less severe.
         • Subacute mastitis: Minimal inflammation of the mammary gland and no systemic clinical signs.
     • Subclinical mastitis: changes in the composition of milk without signs of inflammation, is related to a low milk production, changes in its consistency and decrease in protein.
     • Chronic mastitis: Inflammation present for months and can continue from one lactation to another. It remains subclinical but there are periods in which it manifests as subacute or acute with a short duration.

6. Treatment

   • Treatment will depend on the causative organism
   • Good management practices
   • Use of sealants
   • Treatment during the dry period of the animals
   • Slaughter of animals with chronic disease

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