Staphylococcus aureus is a widely recognized pathogen responsible for many serious diseases in both humans and animals. It is also one of the major causative agents of bovine mastitis. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), although relatively rare in this pathology, has been increasingly reported in livestock animals, mainly in pigs, but also cattle, sheep, and poultry. The recent emergence of livestock-associated (LA-)MRSA is cause for an immediate public health concern due to the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans, and is of particular concern for people who work in animal husbandry or have prolonged contact with livestock animals. This study reports on the first LA-MRSA outbreak in dairy cattle and the first probable case of MRSA transmission between humans and cows in Poland. A single dairy farm located in Eastern Poland was monitored on a regular basis for the occurrence of mastitis. Over a 1-yr study period, 717 quarter-milk samples from 583 cows were collected and examined microbiologically. A total of 5 MRSA isolates from as many cows with subclinical mastitis were cultured. They all belonged to the same outbreak, given a 2-mo time window in which they were identified. During the outbreak, 24 oral and nasal swabs were voluntarily taken from 6 people: a milker, a veterinarian, and 4 members of the veterinarian's family. Eight swabs from a milker, veterinarian, and 2 family members yielded positive MRSA cultures. All MRSA isolates were genotyped with a combination of multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis, multilocus sequence typing, and staphylococcal protein A gene (spa) typing. Eleven bovine (n = 5; 5 cases) and human (n = 6; 4 cases) isolates showed an identical drug-susceptibility profile and were indistinguishable upon multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (pattern A), multilocus sequence typing (ST398) and spa (t034) typing. The results of this study provide the evidence of transmission of MRSA between humans and cows, and between humans in the family setting. This work, despite being a preliminary investigation, underscores the risk of intra-and interspecies transmission of LA-MRSA and urges enhancement of the existing biosecurity measures aimed at preventing MRSA (and other milk pathogens) spread at both the farm-and household levels.

Livestock buildings are often contaminated with bacterial and fungal microflora. Animals living in the buildings, especially their excreta and secretions and their feed, can be a source of microorganisms, including pathogens. Significant microbial contamination occurs in pig houses, poultry houses and cowsheds. The microbes most frequently isolated from the air of these buildings are bacteria of the genera Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, and Clostridium and of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Among fungi, the most common are Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Alternaria. Microbes present in livestock buildings often pose a hazard to workers, in whom they can cause infectious and allergic diseases, especially respiratory disease. Bacterial endotoxins may also pose a threat to humans and animals. For this reason it is important to carry out microbiological monitoring and preventive measures on livestock farms and to maintain appropriate environmental conditions. This will reduce microbiological contamination of livestock buildings and improve both workers’ health and animal welfare.

Blood samples were collected from horses in four time points of the spring-winter training season, according to the difference in effort intensity characteristic for each period. Serum contents of glucose, cholesterol, and creatinine, as well as activity of creatine kinase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, and alkaline phosphatase were determined. Training did not cause muscle damage, and as a result of training, changes in the characteristics of both, contraction and biochemical properties of muscle tissue took place, which was confirmed by the conducted tests.

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that the incidence of various bovine mastitis pathogens is subject to change over time and across regions. The aim of the research was to determine the pathogen species that are currently the etiological agents of mastitis in Polish dairy herds. This comprehensive study was conducted in the period 2009-2017 and included all the Polish provinces, distinguishing between those with high and low numbers of dairy cattle. Over eight years 38,852 quarter milk samples were obtained from 22,587 cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis from herds located in all 16 provinces in Poland. Milk samples were cultured using standard microbiological methods. Most of them were positive for microorganisms but there was also part of bacteriologically negative and contaminated samples. Gram-positive catalase-negative cocci and staphylococci were the most prevalent pathogens. The growth of other microorganisms such as Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacilli, yeasts and algae was observed at lower frequencies. There were differences in the prevalence of microorganisms depending on the region. In the eastern part of the country a higher number of Streptococcus agalactiae infections than in other regions was observed. This paper provides the latest data on microbial species, frequency of their occurrence and regional location within Poland. The knowledge of mastitis pathogens enables appropriate treatment and to make prevention recommendations for the herds.

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