Mastitis

Introduction

Mastitis—inflammation of the mammary gland—is almost always due to the effects of infection by bacterial or fungal pathogens. Leading to changes in the milk secretion, losses may continue into further lactations, which impairs productivity and profit. Although most infections are relatively mild clinical or subclinical, more severe cases can lead to milk drop or even profound systemic disease and death. Mastitis has a worldwide geographic distribution with variation dependent on climatic / seasonal conditions, density and housing of livestock populations, and husbandry practices.

Aetiology

Almost any bacterial or mycotic organism that can invade tissue and cause infection can cause mastitis. However, most infections are caused by various species of streptococci, staphylococci, and gram-negative rods, commonly environmentally derived coliforms such as E.coli.

Epidemiology

The source of infection may be regarded as contagious or environmental. Except for Mycoplasma spp , which may spread from cow to cow through aerosol transmission and invade the udder subsequent to bacteremia, contagious pathogens are spread during milking by surfaces in contact with the teats. Bacteria that use this mode of transmission include Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus agalactiae , and Corynebacterium bovis . Most other species are opportunistic invaders from the cow’s environment, although some other streptococci (eg. S. uberis) and staphylococci may also have a contagious component. The bedding used for housing cattle is the primary source of environmental pathogens, but contaminated teat dips, intramammary tubes, water hoses used for udder preparation during milking, skin lesions, teat trauma, and flies have all been incriminated as sources of infection.

Clinical Signs

Intramammary infections are often described as subclinical or clinical mastitis. Clinical mastitis often involves hardening, reddening and swelling of the affected quarter. Milk secretion is often abnormal containing pus, fibrin (clots), and occasionally blood. The milk may also carry a pungent odour. The animal may be systemically ill. Subclinical mastitis involves infection without apparent signs of disease. Although transient episodes of abnormal milk or udder inflammation may appear, these infections are for the most part asymptomatic and, if the infection persists for months are termed chronic. Occasionally these infections persist for entire lactations or the lifetime of the cow.

Diagnosis

Detection is best done by examination of milk for somatic cell counts (predominantly neutrophils) using either the California Mastitis Test or automated methods provided by some dairies. Somatic cell counts are positively correlated with the presence of infection. Although variable (especially if determined on a single analysis), cows with a somatic cell count of ≥ 200,000 cells/mL have a high chance of being infected. Likewise, the higher the somatic cell count in a herd bulk tank, the higher the prevalence of infection in the herd. Causative agents may be identified by bacterial culture or PCR analysis of milk.