10 + 11: Mastitis Flashcards
What is the usual cause of mastitis?
Bacteria
What does subclinical mastitis present as?
No changes to milk, see as somatic cell count
Which kind of mastitis cases can cause significant hyperalgesia?
Even mild cases
What is the most common cause of death in adult cattle?
Clinical mastitis
What four factors can mastitis adversely affect?
Fertility, milk yield, milk quality, somatic cell count
Through which stages can mastitis cycle?
Clinical to subclinical to chronic
Why can contagious mastitis be controlled?
Because transmission is linked to the milking process so there is a reservoir of infection
Which kind of mastitis is impossible to eradicate?
Environmental
What is the most common mastitis bacteria?
Strep uberis
How long does E Coli mastitis tend to last?
Transient
What does Strep agalactiae mastitis usually present as?
Subclinical
Which bacteria produce the most persistent infection?
Gram +ves
Which kind of mastitis is the 5-point control plan good for?
Contagious
What is the 5 point control plan?
Machine maintenance, teat disinfection post-milking, antibiotic dry cow therapy, prompt treatment and recording, culling if chronic or recurrent
What are clinical signs of systemic mastitis?
Fever, anorexia, toxaemia
Why is it useful to grade mastitis severity?
To find the causative agents and select a therapy
What is grade 1 mastitis?
Changes to secretion only
What is grade 2 mastitis?
Changes to secretion and udder
What is grade 3 mastitis?
Systemically ill cow
Which bacteria especially causes grade 3 mastitis?
Coliform
How do you culture your milk samples?
24 hour culture on blood agar
What are 5 ways of detecting subclinical mastitis?
Increased somatic cell count, sterile milk culture, electrical conductivity, lactate dehydrogenase, NAGase
Which cells make up the somatic cell count?
Epithelial and white blood cells
What is somatic cell count a measure of?
Udder stress, damage or irritation
Over what somatic cell count shows infection?
200,000
What is the legal EC somatic cell count limit?
400,000 per ml
What other factors affect somatic cell count?
Age, stage of lactation, season, stress, breed
How do you avoid seasonality in somatic cell count penalties?
13 weeks geometric mean
Which cells show infection in milk
Neutrophils
Which cells are in healthy milk?
Mainly macrophage
What % of UK cows have individual somatic cell levels measured?
50%
Which quarters are measured for somatic cell counts?
Composite of all quarters
What is the usual somatic cell count cutoff in the UK?
200,000/ml
How does a CMT work?
Detergent with indicator to break down cell membranes so becomes gelatinous and acid release causes colour change
What do bactoscans measure?
Bacteria in bulk milk
Which levels determine milk quality payments?
Bactoscans milk levels
What does optimal milk let down require?
Oxytocin and pre-stimulation
How does stress affect oxytocin release?
Inhibits
What is an advantage of massaging teats while wiping?
Stimulates oxytocin release and causes milk ejection
How soon after disinfection should you apply to machine?
90 seconds
How can you measure teat cleanliness?
From 1-4, or swab for bacteria
How quickly will most cows milk out?
5-7 minutes
How can you avoid teat damage when taking off the milking machine?
Turn off the vacuum first
How long do the streak canals stay open after milking?
1 hour
How can you keep cows standing for 1 hour after milking?
Give food
What must you make sure if using a spray to disinfect?
Must ensure full coverage
What’s a problem with cracked teat liners?
Allows milk to remain
What are signs of damage to the teat from the milking machine?
Red teats, swollen, orifice remains open, hard, cyanotic