Cross-infection between cats and cows: origin and control of streptococcus canis mastitis in a dairy herd

Group G streptococci in animals usually belong to the species Streptococcus canis and are most commonly found in dogs and cats. Occasionally, Strep. canis is detected in milk from dairy cows. An outbreak of Strep. canis mastitis in a dairy herd is described. Based on results from bacterial culture and ribotyping, a cat with chronic sinusitis was the most likely source of the outbreak. Subsequent cow-to-cow transmission of Strep. canis was facilitated by poor udder health management, including use of a common udder cloth and failure to use postmilking teat disinfection. Infected cows had macroscopically normal udders and milk, but significantly higher somatic cell counts than Strep. canis-negative herd mates. The outbreak was controlled through antibiotic treatment of lactating cows, early dry-off with dry cow therapy, culling of infected animals, and implementation of standard mastitis prevention measures. Cure was significantly more likely in dry-treated cows (87.5%) and cows treated during lactation (67%) than in untreated cows (9%). Whereas mastitis due to group G streptococci or Strep. canis in dairy cows is usually limited to sporadic cases of environmental (canine or feline) origin, this case study shows that crossing of the host species barrier by Strep. canis may result in an outbreak of mastitis if management conditions are conducive to contagious transmission. In such a situation, measures that are successful in control of Strep. agalactiae can also be used to control Strep. canis mastitis

Ribotyping of streptococcus uberis from a dairy's environment, bovine feces and milk

Streptococcus uberis is a major cause of bovine mastitis and infections commonly result from environmental exposure to the pathogen. To identify specific sources of mastitis-causing S. uberis strains, samples were collected monthly from the environment and feces of dry cows in a grazing herd. Environmental and fecal strains of S. uberis were compared to those found in milk. S. uberis was detected in 63% of 94 environmental samples, including water, soil, plant matter, bedding material, flies, and hay, in 23% of 107 fecal samples, and in 4% of 787 milk samples. Automated PvuII ribotyping revealed 48 ribotypes among 266 isolates. Per sample, up to five ribotypes were detected. The distribution of ribotypes did not differ significantly among environmental, fecal and milk samples. Specific environmental sources or strains of udder-pathogenic S. uberis were not identified. Fecal shedding was not persistent and did not differ between dry-off and calving. The proportion of fecal samples containing S. uberis was highest during the summer grazing season. S. uberis was common in farm soil (31 of 35 samples) but not in non-farm soil (0 of 11 samples). We hypothesize that fecal shedding of S. uberis may play a role in maintenance of S. uberis populations in the dairy ecosystem

CNS mastitis: nothing to worry about?

In this paper, we analyzed a very large field data set on intramammary infections (IMI) and the associated somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy cows. The objective of the study was to analyze the impact of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) IMI on cow SCC, both mean and variability, and on the potential of these infections to have a major impact on the bulk milk SCC (BMSCC). Data and milk samples for bacterial culture were collected by Quality Milk Production Services (QMPS) between 1992 and March of 2007. The QMPS program services dairy farms in New York State and other states in the Northeastern USA and operates in conjunction with Cornell University. Only records from cows where SCC and milk production data were available, and where only one organism was isolated from bacterial cultures of milk samples (or where culture was negative) were used for this analysis. A total of 352,614 records from 4200 whole herd mastitis screening sampling qualified for this study. Within herds an average of 15% (S.D. 12%) of cows sampled were infected with CNS, ranging between 0 and 100%. Average within herd prevalence of cows with a CNS IMI and an SCC over 200,000 cells/ml was 2% (S.D. 4%) with a minimum of 0% and a maximum of 50%. Results of linear mixed models showed three distinct populations of IMI statuses: negative cultures with the lowest SCC; CNS and Corynebacterium bovis with a moderate increase in SCC, and Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus showing an important increase in SCC. Surprisingly, milk production was slightly but significantly higher in CNS infected cows compared to culture-negative cows, whereas it was strongly reduced in cows with a major pathogen IMI. The percentage contribution of CNS infections to the BMSCC was 17.9% in herds with a BMSCC less than 200,000 cells/ml. This value decreased to 11.9 and 7.9% in herds with bulk milk SCC between 200,000 and 400,000 and over 400,000 cells/ml, respectively. We concluded that very few herds with milk quality problems would have an important increase in BMSCC that could be mostly attributed to CNS infections. On the other hand, in herds with low BMSCC, CNS infections may be an important contributor to the total number of somatic cells in the bulk milk

Efeitos dos níveis de extrato etéreo no sucedâneo do leite sobre o desenvolvimento corporal de bezerros Jersey Effects of different ether extract levels of a milk replacer on body development of Jersey calves

Utilizaram-se 20 bezerros Jersey com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito dos níveis de extrato etéreo no sucedâneo comercial sobre o peso corporal, o ganho de peso médio diário, a altura na cernelha, o perímetro torácico e o consumo de concentrado, do 8º ao 90º dia de idade, visando determinar o melhor nível de extrato etéreo. Os animais foram distribuídos nos tratamentos, que consistiram de quatro dietas líquidas: leite integral (T1), sucedâneo lácteo comercial padronizado com gordura suína para 10 (T2), 15 (T3) e 20% (T4) de extrato etéreo (EE) na matéria seca, de acordo com a seqüência de nascimento. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com arranjo fatorial desbalanceado, em que os fatores foram a dieta (n=4) e o sexo (n=2). Os dados de desenvolvimento corporal e consumo de alimento foram submetidos à análise de variância. Aos 56 dias de idade, os bezerros alimentados com leite integral e sucedâneo a 10% EE apresentaram diferença significativa no peso corporal e no ganho de peso médio diário (8-56 dias). Os bezerros que receberam leite integral apresentaram maior perímetro torácico e, após o desaleitamento, medidas de peso corporal, ganhos de peso médio diário (57 a 89 dias), perímetro torácico e altura na cernelha superiores às dos que receberam o sucedâneo. Na fase de aleitamento, o sucedâneo a 10% EE promoveu ganho de peso superior ao sucedâneo a 15 e 20% de EE na matéria seca e ganho de peso similar ao leite integral.<br>Twenty Jersey calves were used to investigate the effects of different ether extract levels of a commercial milk replacer on body weight, average daily weight gain, height at withers, heart girth, and starter intake from the 8th to the 90th day after birth. It was of particular interest to determine the optimum milk replacer ether extract level. This trial was conducted at EMBRAPA Clima Temperado, CPACT, from October 2000 to May 2001. Animals were assigned, according to their birth date, to one of four liquid diets as follows: whole milk (T1) or milk replacer plus different proportions of lard to yield 10 (T2), 15 (T3) or 20% (T4) ether extract on dry matter basis. Statistical analysis was performed as a randomized complete block design with an unbalanced factorial arrangement and diets (n=4) and sex (n=2) as factors. Data from body development and starter intake were both submitted to analysis of variance. Body weight at 56 days of age and average daily weight gain from eight to 56 days post-calving were significantly higher for animals receiving T1 and T2 than for those fed T3 and T4 liquid diets. In addition, heart girth at 56 days of age was greater on calves fed whole milk than on those fed milk replacer with different proportions of lard. After weaning, calves on T1 diet had increased body weight, average daily weight gain (57-89 days), heart girth, and height at withers compared to calves on milk replacer diets. In the weaning phase, feeding T2 to calves resulted in higher body weight gain than those fed T3 and T4 diets while no difference was observed comparing T2 andT1