Effect of somatic cell count and mastitis pathogens on milk composition in Gyr cows

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud \ud Gyr cows are well adapted to tropical conditions, resistant to some tropical diseases and have satisfactory milk production. However, Gyr dairy herds have a high prevalence of subclinical mastitis, which negatively affects their milk yield and composition. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the effects of seasonality, mammary quarter location (rear x front), mastitis-causing pathogen species, and somatic cell count (SCC) on milk composition in Gyr cows with mammary quarters as the experimental units and (ii) to evaluate the effects of seasonality and somatic cell count (SCC) on milk composition in Gyr cows with cows as the experimental units. A total of 221 lactating Gyr cows from three commercial dairy farms were selected for this study. Individual foremilk quarter samples and composite milk samples were collected once a month over one year from all lactating cows for analysis of SCC, milk composition, and bacteriological culture.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud Subclinical mastitis reduced lactose, nonfat solids and total solids content, but no difference was found in the protein and fat content between infected and uninfected quarters. Seasonality influenced milk composition both in mammary quarters and composite milk samples. Nevertheless, there was no effect of mammary quarter position on milk composition. Mastitis-causing pathogens affected protein, lactose, nonfat solids, and total solids content, but not milk fat content. Somatic cell count levels affected milk composition in both mammary quarters and composite samples of milk.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud Intramammary infections in Gyr cows alter milk composition; however, the degree of change depends on the mastitis-causing pathogen. Somatic cell count is negatively associated with reduced lactose and nonfat solids content in milk. Seasonality significantly affects milk composition, in which the concentration of lactose, fat, protein, nonfat solids and total solids differs between dry and wet seasons in Gyr cows.We are grateful to the São Paulo State Science Foundation – FAPESP for funding (Proc. 08/52525-1)

Teores de proteína bruta e fontes nitrogenadas em dietas com cana-de-açúcar na alimentação de vacas leiteiras

Objetivou-se nesta revisão de literatura apresentar informações recentes de pesquisas sobre teores de proteína bruta e fontes nitrogenadas na alimentação de vacas leiteiras. O Brasil é atualmente o maior produtor de cana-de-açúcar do mundo, e este volumoso tem grande destaque para a alimentação animal, pois apresenta vantagens como facilidade de cultivo, alta produtividade em condições de clima tropical, manutenção do seu valor nutritivo, possibilidade de colheita no período de escassez de forragens, e menor custo por unidade de matéria seca. A suplementação proteica de vacas leiteiras é um dos tópicos mais estudados na área de nutrição de ruminantes. Atualmente, busca-se maximizar o desempenho animal por meio de avaliações relacionadas a fontes proteicas, teores de proteína na dieta, degradabilidade ruminal da proteína e perfil de aminoácidos, o que pode possibilitar maior síntese de proteína microbiana no rúmen, adequada quantidade e qualidade da proteína metabolizável para o animal. Adequar a concentração e o tipo de fonte de proteína bruta (PB) dietética para vacas leiteiras pode ser uma alternativa para diminuir os custos de produção e as perdas de compostos nitrogenados para o ambiente. Neste sentido, pesquisas recentes sugerem que vacas leiteiras em final de lactação podem ser alimentadas com dietas com < 15% de PB sem alterações na produção e composição do leiteOs organizadores autorizam a reprodução total ou parcial deste trabalho, para qualquer meio convencional ou eletrônico, para fins de estudo e pesquisa, desde que citada a fonte

Direct identification of microorganisms causing mastitis by mass spectrometry

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a técnica de espectrometria de massas por ionização/dessorção a laser assistida por matriz tempo-de-vôo (MALDI-TOF) para a identificação direta em amostras de leite (sem cultivo microbiológico) de bactérias causadoras de mastite. Para tanto foram realizados dois experimentos (1 e 2). No experimento 1, o objetivo foi determinar a sensibilidade diagnóstica da técnica MALDI-TOF MS para a identificação direta em amostras de leite de Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae e Escherichia coli. Foram realizadas contaminações experimentais de S. aureus, S. uberis, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae e E. coli em amostras de leite, para a obtenção de contagens de 103 a 109 ufc/mL. As amostras de leite contaminadas foram processadas com o uso do kit Maldi Sepsityper&reg; (Bruker Daltonics) e submetidas ao protocolo de lise bacteriana para posterior análise por MALDI-TOF MS. Espectros de massas foram coletados na faixa de massas de 2.000-20.000 m/z e foram analisados pelo programa MALDI Biotyper 3.0 (Bruker Daltonics) com as configurações padrão para obtenção da identificação bacteriana. A identificação direta de patógenos causadores de mastite a partir de amostras de leite foi possível em contagem &ge;106 ufc/mL para S. aureus, &ge;107 ufc/mL para E. coli, e &ge;108 ufc/mL para S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae e S. uberis. No experimento 2, o objetivo foi avaliar o efeito da pré-incubação de amostras de leite de quartos mamários com mastite subclínica sobre a eficácia da identificação sem cultivo de patógenos causadores de mastite por MALDI-TOF MS. Foram selecionados 2 rebanhos leiteiros para coletas de leite de quartos mamários de todas as vacas em lactação. As amostras de leite foram submetidas às análises de: a) cultura microbiológica; b) pré-incubação seguida de identificação por espectrometria de massas diretamente do leite; c) contagem bacteriana total (CBT). Para a realização da CBT, as amostras de leite foram submetidas à citometria de fluxo; e para a identificação direta de patógenos causadores de mastite a partir do leite, as amostras foram submetidas ao desnate por centrifugação (10.000 Xg por 10 minutos), e pré-incubação a 37&ordm;C por 12 horas. Posteriormente, as amostras foram processadas com o uso do kit Maldi Sepsityper&reg; (Bruker Daltonics) e submetidas ao protocolo de lise bacteriana para posterior análise por MALDI-TOF MS. Do total de 810 amostras de leite analisadas por cultura microbiológica (método referência), 347 apresentaram crescimento bacteriano, sendo 305 identificadas como agentes de interesse na identificação direta pelo método MALDI-TOF MS: Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (n=191), S. aureus (n=31), S. agalactiae (n=42), S. uberis (n=37), S. dysgalactiae (n= 4). Sendo assim, 305 amostras foram analisadas pelo método de idenfificação direta MALDI-TOF MS, a qual apresentou baixa sensibilidade quando comparado com a cultura microbiológica (método referência): Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (14,08%), S. agalactiae (15,25%), S. uberis (1,69%) S. aureus (6,12%) e S. dysgalactiae (0%). A pré-incubação de amostras de leite não aumentou a sensibilidade de identificação direta de microrganismos causadores de mastite pelo método MALDI-TOF MS.The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the technique of mass spectrometry by desorption / ionization assisted laser array time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF MS) for the direct identification in milk samples (no microbiological culture) of mastitis causing bacteria. Therefore, we carried out two experiments (1 and 2). In experiment 1, we determined the diagnostic sensitivity of MALDI-TOF MS technique for the direct identification in milk samples of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Escherichia coli. Experimental contamination of S. aureus, S. uberis, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae and E. coli in samples of milk to a concentration of 103-109 cfu/mL were performed. The contaminated milk samples were processed using kit Maldi Sepsityper&reg; (Bruker Daltonics) and subjected to bacterial lysis protocol for analysis by MALDI-TOF MS. Mass spectra were collected in the mass range of 2000-20000 m/z and were analyzed by MALDI Biotyper 3.0 software (Bruker Daltonics) with default settings to obtain bacterial identification. Direct identification of mastitis causing pathogens from milk samples was possible at &ge;106 cfu/mL for S. aureus, &ge;107 cfu/mL for E. coli and &ge;108 cfu/mL for S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae and S. uberis. In experiment 2, the objective was to evaluate the effect of pre-incubation of milk samples from mammary quarters with subclinical mastitis on the effectiveness of identification without cultivation, of mastitis-causing pathogens by MALDI-TOF MS. We selected mammary quarter milk samples from all lactating cows on two dairy herds. The milk samples were subjected to analyzes of: a) microbiological culture; b) pre-incubation followed by identification by mass spectrometry directly from milk; c) total bacterial count (TBC). Flow cytometry was used to determine TBC and; to directly identify the mastitis-causing pathogens from milk, fat was separated by centrifugation (10,000 Xg for 10 minutes) and; samples were pre-incubated at 37°C for 12 hours. Subsequently, the skim milk samples were submitted to kit Maldi Sepsityper&reg; (Bruker Daltonics) and to the bacterial lysis protocol for analysis by MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 810 milk samples were analyzed by microbiological culture (reference method), of which 347 showed bacterial growth. Considering all culture positive samples 305 were identified as agents of interest in the direct identification by MALDI-TOF MS method: coagulase negative staphylococci (n = 191), S. aureus (n = 31), S. agalactiae (n = 42), S. uberis (n = 37) and S. dysgalactiae (n = 4). Therefore, 305 samples were directly identified by MALDI-TOF MS, which presented low sensitivity when compared to microbiological culture (Reference method): coagulase-negative staphylococci (14.08%), S. agalactiae (15.25 %), S. uberis (1.69%), S. aureus (6.12%) and S. dysgalactiae (0%). Pre-incubation of milk samples did not increase the sensitivity of the MALDI-TOF MS method directly identify mastitis-causing microorganisms

Identification of subclinical mastitis pathogens causing by mass spectrometry

O diagnóstico rápido e eficiente da mastite subclínica é importante para reduzir a persistência da doença e os prejuízos decorrentes. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a técnica de espectrometria de massas (MS) por ionização e dessorção a laser assistida por matriz - tempo-de-vôo (MALDI-TOF) para identificação de bactérias causadoras de mastite subclínica bovina por dois métodos: 1) a partir de bactérias isoladas por cultivo icrobiológico; 2) a partir da recuperação de bactérias diretamente do leite, visando eliminar completamente a necessidade de cultivo microbiológico para identificação dos patógenos. O estudo foi composto por dois experimentos (1 e 2), no experimento 1 foram utilizadas 33 amostras de leite provenientes de animais das raças Gir e Holandesa de quatro fazendas leiteiras para a identificação icrobiológica e MALDI-TOF MS. As amostras com resultados conflitantes foram confirmadas por sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA. Os resultados de cultura microbiológica foram Staphylococcus aureus (n = 13), Streptococcus agalactiae (n = 10) e Estafilococos coagulase negativo (ECN) (n = 10). Para todas as amostras de Streptococcus agalactiae, resultados similares foram observados para a identificação microbiológica e por MALDI-TOF MS. De 13 isolados de Staphylococcus aureus, 11 foram igualmente identificados por MALDITOF, 1 isolado foi identificado como Staphylococcus haemolyticus por sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA, e o outro isolado isolado com resultado conflitante foi caracterizado como cultura mista de Staphylococcus aureus e Enterococcus faecalis. Em relação às amostras de ECN, todas as amostras do grupo foram identificadas por MALDI-TOF em nível de gênero (S. simulans, S. epidermidis, S. Haemolyticus, S. Chromogens e S. aureus coagulase negativa). No experimento 2 foi avaliado o método de recuperação de bactérias presentes em leite e sua identificação por MALDI-TOF MS utilizando o método de contaminação experimental de leite com Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis e Staphylococcus aureus. A identificação de patógenos recuperados diretamente do leite foi possível quando a concentração de E. faecalis e S. aureus foi de 106 ufc/mL, e de 107 ufc/mL para E.coli. Concluímos que o uso de MALDI-TOF MS pode acelerar a identificação de patógenos causadores de mastite subclínica bovina podendo contribuir para a adoção de medidas de controle e tratamento mais adequado.Rapid and efficient diagnosis of subclinical mastitis is important to reduce the persistence of the disease and its losses. This study aimed to evaluate the technique of mass spectrometry (MS) and desorption ionization by matrix assisted laser time-offlight (MALDI-TOF) for identification of bacteria causing bovine subclinical mastitis by two methods: 1) from bacteria isolated by microbiological culture, 2) from bacteria recovered directly from milk, to eliminate completely the need for microbiological culture for identification of pathogens. The study consisted of two experiments (1 and 2).In experiment 1, 33 milk samples from Gir and Holstein animals collected in four dairy farms were used for microbiological identification and MALDI-TOF MS. The samples with different results were confirmed by sequencing the 16S rRNA. These samples were identified by microbiological culture as Staphylococcus aureus (n = 13), Streptococcus agalactiae (n = 10) and Staphylococcus coagulase negative (SCN) (n = 10). For all strains of Streptococcus agalactiae, similar results were observed for microbiological identification and MALDI-TOF MS. From 13 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, 11 were also identified by MALDI-TOF, one isolate was identified as Staphylococcus haemolyticus by 16S rRNA sequencing , and the other discrepant sample was charactezided a mixed culture of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Regarding the SCN samples, all samples of this group were identified by MALDI-TOF at gender level (S. simulans, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. Chromogens and S. aureus coagulase negative). In experiment 2, we evaluated the method of recovery of bacteria present in milk and their identification by MALDI-TOF MS using experimental method of contamination of milk with Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The identification of pathogens recovered directly from milk was possible when the concentration of E. faecalis and S. aureus was 106 ufc/mL and 107 ufc/mL for E.coli. We conclude that the use of MALDI-TOF MS can accelerate the identification of pathogens causing bovine subclinical mastitis may contribute to the adoption of control measures and appropriate treatment

Validação em métodos cromatográficos para análises de pequenas moléculas em matrizes biológicas Chromatographic methods validation for analysis of small molecules in biological matrices

<abstract language="eng">Chromatographic methods are commonly used for analysis of small molecules in different biological matrices. An important step to be considered upon a bioanalytical method's development is the capacity to yield reliable and reproducible results. This review discusses validation procedures adopted by different governmental agencies, such as Food and Drug Administration (USA), European Union (EU) and Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (BR) for quantification of small molecules by bioanalytical chromatographic methods. The main parameters addressed in this review are: selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, quantification and detection limits, recovery, dilution integrity, stability and robustness. Also, the acceptance criterions are clearly specified

Non-culture-based identification of mastitis-causing bacteria by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detection limit of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for direct identification, without previous microbiological culture, of bovine mastitis-causing bacteria from milk samples. Milk samples (n = 15) were experimentally contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and Escherichia coli to have bacterial counts ranging from 103 to 106 cfu/mL. These contaminated milk samples were subjected to a preparation protocol for bacterial ribosomal protein extraction using the MALDI Sepsityper kit (Bruker Daltonik, Bremen, Germany), which allowed MALDI-TOF MS coupled with Biotyper software (Bruker Daltonik) to identify bacterial fingerprints based on intact ribosomal proteins. The ability of MALDI-TOF MS to correctly identify bacterial strains from experimentally contaminated milk (without previous microbiological culture) depended on the bacterial count of the samples and on the species of the bacteria evaluated. Adequate identification at the bacterial species level (score >= 2.0) directly from milk samples required bacterial counts in the following ranges: >= 10(6) cfu/mL of Staph. aureus, >= 10(7) cfu/mL of E. coli, and >= 10(8) cfu/mL of Strep. agalactiae, Strep. dysgalactiae, and Strep. uberis. We concluded that direct identification of mastitis-causing pathogens is possible for Staph. aureus, E. coli, Strep. agalactiae, Strep. dysgalactiae, and Strep. uberis, but correct identification depended on the bacterial count in the milk samples.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detection limit of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for direct identification, without previous microbiological culture, of bovine mastitis-causing ba100429282934FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)2011/14456-0; 2011/15815-

Identification of coagulase-negative staphylococci from bovine intramammary infection by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are among the main pathogens causing bovine intramammary infection (IMI) in many countries. However, one of the limitations related to the specific diagnosis of CoNS is the lack of an accurate, rapid, and convenient method that can differentiate the bacterial species comprising this group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to accurately identify CoNS species in dairy cow IMI. In addition, the study aimed to determine the frequency of CoNS species causing bovine IMI. A total of 108 bacterial isolates were diagnosed as CoNS by microbiological cultures from two milk samples collected from 21 dairy herds; the first sample was collected at the cow level (i.e., 1,242 composite samples from all quarters), while the second sample was collected at the mammary quarter level (i.e., 1,140 mammary samples collected from 285 cows). After CoNS isolation was confirmed by microbiological culture for both samples, all CoNS isolates (n 108) were genotypically differentiated by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a partial groEL gene sequence and subjected to the MALDI-TOF MS identification procedure. MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified 103 (95.4%) of the CoNS isolates identified by PCR-RFLP at the species level. Eleven CoNS species isolated from bovine IMI were identified by PCR-RFLP, and the most prevalent species was Staphylococcus chromogenes (n 80; 74.1%). In conclusion, MALDI-TOF MS may be a reliable alternative method for differentiating CoNS species causing bovine IMI.We are grateful to the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Brazil, for a scholarship award (2011/04063-1) and research funding (2011/14284-5). We also thank Márcia Giambiagi de Marval and Elaine Menezes Barros (Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) for their assistance with the PCR-RFLP analysis.FAPESP - 2011/04063-1, 2011/14284-

Nonculture-based identification of bacteria in milk by protein fingerprinting

Traditional methods for bacterial identification include Gram staining, culturing, and biochemical assays for phenotypic characterization of the causative organism. These methods can be time-consuming because they require in vitro cultivation of the microorganisms. Recently, however, it has become possible to obtain chemical profiles for lipids, peptides, and proteins that are present in an intact organism, particularly now that new developments have been made for the efficient ionization of biomolecules. MS has therefore become the state-of-the-art technology for microorganism identification in microbiological clinical diagnosis. Here, we introduce an innovative sample preparation method for nonculture-based identification of bacteria in milk. The technique detects characteristic profiles of intact proteins (mostly ribosomal) with the recently introduced MALDI SepsityperTM Kit followed by MALDI-MS. In combination with a dedicated bioinformatics software tool for databank matching, the method allows for almost real-time and reliable genus and species identification. We demonstrate the sensitivity of this protocol by experimentally contaminating pasteurized and homogenized whole milk samples with bacterial loads of 10(3)-10(8) colony-forming units (cfu) of laboratory strains of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus. For milk samples contaminated with a lower bacterial load (104 cfu mL-1), bacterial identification could be performed after initial incubation at 37 degrees C for 4 h. The sensitivity of the method may be influenced by the bacterial species and count, and therefore, it must be optimized for the specific application. The proposed use of protein markers for nonculture-based bacterial identification allows for high-throughput detection of pathogens present in milk samples. This method could therefore be useful in the veterinary practice and in the dairy industry, such as for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis and for the sanitary monitoring of raw and processed milk products.Brazilian Science foundation CNPqBrazilian Science foundation CNPqFAPESPFAPESP [09/12751-5]FINEPFINE

Nonculture-based identification of bacteria in milk by protein fingerprinting

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Traditional methods for bacterial identification include Gram staining, culturing, and biochemical assays for phenotypic characterization of the causative organism. These methods can be time-consuming because they require in vitro cultivation of the microorganisms. Recently, however, it has become possible to obtain chemical profiles for lipids, peptides, and proteins that are present in an intact organism, particularly now that new developments have been made for the efficient ionization of biomolecules. MS has therefore become the state-of-the-art technology for microorganism identification in microbiological clinical diagnosis. Here, we introduce an innovative sample preparation method for nonculture-based identification of bacteria in milk. The technique detects characteristic profiles of intact proteins (mostly ribosomal) with the recently introduced MALDI SepsityperTM Kit followed by MALDI-MS. In combination with a dedicated bioinformatics software tool for databank matching, the method allows for almost real-time and reliable genus and species identification. We demonstrate the sensitivity of this protocol by experimentally contaminating pasteurized and homogenized whole milk samples with bacterial loads of 10(3)-10(8) colony-forming units (cfu) of laboratory strains of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus. For milk samples contaminated with a lower bacterial load (104 cfu mL-1), bacterial identification could be performed after initial incubation at 37 degrees C for 4 h. The sensitivity of the method may be influenced by the bacterial species and count, and therefore, it must be optimized for the specific application. The proposed use of protein markers for nonculture-based bacterial identification allows for high-throughput detection of pathogens present in milk samples. This method could therefore be useful in the veterinary practice and in the dairy industry, such as for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis and for the sanitary monitoring of raw and processed milk products.121727392745Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FINEPFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq