Microbiology and pathology of the mammary gland Flashcards
What are the high costs of mastitis associated with?
direct and indirect costs
When do most cases of mastitis occur?
In the lactating gland although Trueperella pyogenes also causes disease in the non-lactating/dry cow and immature glands
How might microorganisms enter the mammary gland? 3
GALACTOGENIC route - organisms gain entry via teat canal
HAEMATOGENOUS - e.g. Tb and Brucellosis
Percutaneous - due to wounds
How is the udder adapted to resist infection? 3
Teat canal has the PRIMARY role:
1.) Smooth muscle sphincter
2.) Keratin from epithelium containign FAs (bactericidal, absorbing bacteria, desquamating when coated with bacteria, dessicating)
3.) Furstenberg’s Rosette (prevents physical entry of organisms to canal, FAs and cationic proteins e.g. ubiquitin., subepithelial plasma cells producing immunoglobulin).
ALSO
INNATE IMMUNITY - physical factors, soluble factors, cellular factors
ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY - lymphocytes and immunoglobulins
What are the physical aspects of innate immunity?
sphincter and keratin of teat, flushing action of milk
What are the soluble factors of innate immunity? 4
Lactoferrin (from secretory epithelium and in neutrophil granules - an iron binding prtein which inhibits bacteria but is more effective in the non-lactating gland.
Lysozyme
Complement
Cytokines
What cellular factors make up innate immunity 3
Mainly blood derived in an infection: neutrophils - acute inflammation macrophages - later, ingest bacteria BOTH of ABOVE detected by CMT Also Natural Killer Cells
what are the 2 aspects of adaptive immunity?
lymphocytes
immunoglobulins (IgG mainly, also IgM and IgA)
What are the 3 clinical pathological presentations of mastitis?
PERACUTE - potentially life-threatening (especially around parturition)
ACUTE - with or without accompanying systemic signs - if unchecked may lead to chronic mastitis
SUBCLINICAL CHRONIC - progressive loss of secretory ability
What is another name for peracute masittis?
toxic mastitsi
What can cause peracute mastitis?
Coliforms
Gangrenous mastitis - especially S. aureus
Mostly occur around parturition and death can occur within hours
Gross appearance of peracute masitis
swollen painful quarter rapid progression to moist gangrene dark-blue to black blistering and oozing serum becomes cold to the touch on cut surface, a variable number of dark haemorrhagic lobules ventral abdominal oedema animal may be comatose due to TOXAEMIA
Microscopy of acute mastitis
initially extensive interstitial oedema with neutrophilic infiltration of both interstitium and glandular acini. Vacuolation and desquamation of acinar and ductal epithelium.
Describe what happens in chronic mastitis
fibrosis with obliteration of acini
obstruction of ducts by polyps
subsequent retention cysts anterior to the blocked ducts
all stages of above may be present simultaneously
also abscess formation depending on pathogen
What is the sequel to chronic mastitis? 2
INVOLUTION - temporary loss of secretory function due to obstruction
FIBROSIS - permanent loss of secretory tissue due to progressive destruction
What is botryomycosis?
An infection of the skin caused by S.aureus usually or a few other spp too. The pathology has a granulomatous-like structure and the lesion is similar to actinomyces and mycetoma.
Describe a botryomycosis lesion
- ) neutrolphils and bacteria int eh centre
2. ) thick layer of fibrous tissue around the above (ABs won’t penetrate)
How common is subclinical mastitis?
10-40 times more prevalent than clinical mastitis
Describe features of subclinical mastitis
no gross inflammation or changes in milk
detection of subclinical mastitis by estimating SCC (<200,000 cell/mL for whole udder denotes absence of infection).
What are the 4 phases of subclinical mastitis?
Initial flare up –> repair by fibrosis –> further flare-ups –> progressive fibrosis
Describe gross appearance of chronic subclinical mastitis
in chronic stages, the gland is hard (fibrosed) and atrophic (undergoes involution due to bloackage of secretion and acinar stagnation)
Describe the microscopy of chronic subclinical mastitis.
similar to chronic mastitis following acute mastitis. permanent loss of secretory tissue due to progressive destruction
What are normal colonising bacteria of the milk/udder?
Lactobacillus spp and lactic streptococci