Mastitis Flashcards
Define mastitis
non-specific inflammation of 1 or more quarters of the mammary gland
What is the primary cause of mastitis?
bacterial invasion & replication within mammary tissues
List the 4 defense mechanisms of the mammary glands
- teat sphincter muscle
- keratin lining of teat canal
- mucosal folds of teat canal
- phagocytic cells that populate the teat epithelium & can also enter milk
How does subclinical mastitis present?
presence of pathogenic bacteria within the mammary gland and milk and the absence of mammary gland or milk changes
How does clinical mastitis present?
ranges from clot or flake formation in the milk w/ abnormal color and normal to mildly swollen affected quarter(s) OR firm, swollen, hot quarter(s) with significant changes in character of the milk including obvious clots and hemorrhage; endotoxemia and death possible
Define somatic cell count
indicator of number of epithelial and inflammatory cells within the milk (of the herd)
Define California Mastitis Test (CMT)
a dish for each teat with reagent added to milk and evaluated for reaction
What is a contagious pathogen? How is it transferred?
- Dz causing microorganisms transferred from animal to anima or via fomite l that don’t survive well or live long in enviro.
- Transferred via hands, paper towels, teat dip containers, milking equipment
Examples of Dz causing pathogens
Strep. agalactiae
Staph. aureus
Other Staph species
Corynebacterium bovis
What is an environmental pathogen? How is it spread?
- Dz causing microorganisms that survive and thrive within the environment but also have the ability to proliferate within animal tissue
- Live in bedding, milking machines, teat dip containers
Examples of environmental pathogens
Strep. species (other than Strep. agalactiae) Pseudomonas E. coli Klebsiella Enterobacter
How does one collect sterile milk for culture and sensitivity testing?
- Teat cleaned w/ disinfectant
- Teat end scrubbed w/ alcohol
- Sample collection tube sterile
- Hold tube near end of teat, almost horizontal
- Remove and hold cap sterilely
- Hand milk stream of milk into tube
- Replace cap
- Apply teat dip
- Refrigerate until submission
Which two bacteria can be economical to treat if infection caught early in lactation cycle?
Strep. agalactia and Strep. uberis
What is a big consideration for the farmer over whether to treat?
- Milk producing cows on antibiotics must have milk discarded = loss of $$$
- Antibiotic therapy usually initiated in dry cow formula when lactation has stopped
How long does the teat tip remain open after milking?
several hours
Management practices to consider to decrease the chances of getting mastitis
- Clean teat on entrance to milking parlor with disinfectant teat dip
- Dry each teat with its own individual, single-use paper towel
- Do not spray udder w/ water b/c it will drip down to the teat tip and cause contam.
- Machine applying suction beyond time that milk if slowing appropriately can increase pressure on teat and cause teat trauma
- Linings of teat cups should fit well and not slip; if slip, can damage teat or allow for air to be blown up the open teat canal
- Do a post-milking teat dip and let teats air dry
- Make sure to clean teat dip containers and milking equipment
- Provide adequate water source and food source immediately following milking
- Minimize amount of time cow has to stand before milking
- Avoid straw and wood chip bedding b/c it allows certain bacteria to grow
- Adequate housing to avoid overcrowding that can cause cows to stand for longer and results in a continually contaminate environment w/ urine and feces
- Stalls should be designed to minimize contact with feces and urine
- House should be cleaned routinely
