bovine 2 Flashcards
True or False: Only clinical mastitis causes losses for dairy farmers
False. A huge proportion of losses is from subclinical mastitis and not just clinical cases.
How do cows become infected by contagious mastitis causing pathogens?
Most commonly they will get transmitted from contaminated milking equipment, the milker’s hands, or contaminated wash cloths.
How do cows become infected with environmental mastitis causing pathogens?
The forced entry of the teat canal from manure, bedding, soil, plant material, and water.
What are five contagious mastitis causing pathogens?
- Streptococcus agalactiae
- Streptococcus dysgalactiae
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Mycoplasma bovis
- Coagulase-negative Staphylococci
What are four environmental mastitis causing pathogens?
- Streptococcus uberis
- Trueperella pyogenes
- Coliforms (E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter)
- Coagulase-negative Staphylococci
What is clinical mastitis?
The production of abnormal milk with or without secondary signs such as swollen quarters, elevated body temperature, and/or other systemic signs.
What is subclinical mastitis?
A type of mastitis that is difficult to detect because milk appears normal but the somatic cell count is elevated and bacteria may be present.
What defines subclinical mastitis?
A SCC of >200,000 in a quarter milk sample.
Which is harder to eradicate, Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus agalacticae?
Staphylococcus aureus.
Streptococcus agalactiae primarily infects the _________________________ of the mammary gland
Cisterns and ductal system.
Where on the cow does Staphylococcus aureus colonize?
Teat skin lesions and the teat canal.
High bacteria counts in bulk milk are generally not seen with mastitis caused by which bacterial agent?
Staphylococcus aureus.
What are the milk characteristics with a Mycoplasma bovis mastitis infection?
- Abnormal secretions with tan or brownish discoloration
- Sandy or flakey sediments in watery or serous fluid.
True or False: Mycoplasma mastitis can affect a cow in any stage of the production cycle
True.
What husbandry practices increases rates of Klebsiella mastitis?
- It is more common in free stall than in tie stall operations
- More common in cattle housed on sawdust or wood shaving bedding.
What type of cows are at greater risk for environmental mastitis, housed cows or cows on pasture?
Housed cows.
_______________ is a major source of environmental pathogens
Bedding.
What is the five point plan all dairy producers should follow?
- Hygienic teat management combined with sound housing management
- Prompt treatment of clinical mastitis
- Dry cow therapy
- Culling chronically affected cows
- Correct maintenance of the milking machine.
When do most cases of clinical mastitis occur and why?
Right after calving. This is because:
- Cows in dry period have decreased milk production, therefore decreased pressure in mammary gland so teat canal can close up, trapping bacteria inside.
- Hormonal changes can weaken immune system.
- Transitioning from lactating to dry period can be stressful.
Why is it important to identify the bacterial cause of mastitis?
- Targeted treatment: Different types of bacteria may require different treatments. Helps you pick the best one.
- Prevention and control: Identifying the specific bacteria causing mastitis can help farmers determine the source of infection and take steps to prevent and control further spread.
- Monitoring antibiotic resistance: Identifying the bacteria causing mastitis can help farmers monitor the resistance of bacteria to different antibiotics.
What is the treatment for Mycoplasma spp.?
There is no effective treatment.
What are eight ways to control contagious mastitis?
- Prepare teats properly prior to milking
- Use adequately sized, properly functioning milking equipment
- Disinfect teats
- Assess clinical cases for treatment decisions
- Use dry cow therapy
- Consider culling chronically infected cows
- Maintain a closed herd
- Establish an active milk quality program with the herd veterinarian.
What are six ways to control environmental mastitis?
- Keep herd environments as clean and dry as possible
- Pre and post dipping teats
- Only put milking machine on clean, dry udders
- Make sure milking machine is in working order
- Proper nutrition
- Dry cow therapy.
What is dry cow therapy?
Management practice in dairy farming where antibiotics are administered to dairy cows during the dry period.
