An increased incidence of mastitis caused by Prototheca species and Nocardia species on a farm in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Mastitis caused by Prototheca spp or Nocardia spp is considered to be difficult to treat. Both microorganisms are contaminants commonly found in soil. The occurrence of mastitis caused by these agents was studied in a particular dairy farm. In this herd, the animals were kept at pasture overnight and during daytime were brought to a pen where they were fed. This pen accumulated mud and faeces, particularly in the rainy season. During milking, pre-dipping of the teats was performed with an iodide solution, but they were not washed, so a layer of soil and faeces remained which may have contaminated the milking equipment. The herd comprised 91 lactating animals and 47 dry cows. For microbiological examination, 107 milk samples were collected from lactating cows and 186 samples of mammary secretions from the dry cows. Prototheca spp were isolated from 14.55% of the milk samples and Nocardia spp from 4.55%. Prototheca spp were isolated from 8.06% of the secretion samples from dry cows and Nocardia spp were isolated from 2.15% samples. The high occurrence of mastitis due to these environmental agents reflects the problem of keeping animals in muddy pastures and pens, and the defective pre-milking hygiene for the teats.

Mastitis associated with Prototheca zopfii - an emerging health and economic problem on dairy farms

“…zopfii was first identified as a causative agent of bovine mastitis in Germany in 1952 (17). So far, P. zopfii has been isolated worldwide from milk of cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis (1,2,6,17). In Serbia, protothecal mastitis has been first diagnosed in 2006 on a Holstein-Friesian dairy farm in Vojvodina (20).…”

Nocardiosis: an overview and additional report of 28 cases in cattle and dogs

“…Similar study evolving etiology of bovine mastitis evaluated 91 lactating and 47 dry cows, and revealed Nocardia spp. in 4.55% and 2.15% from lactating and dry cows, respectively 23 .…”

Fatores de risco associados à mastite bovina causada por Prototheca zopfii

“…O fechamento completo do esfíncter dos tetos não ocorre imediatamente após a ordenha, o que favorece a entrada de microrganismos no úbere. COSTA et al (1996a;1998) observaram uma elevada ocorrência de mastite causada por P. zopfii em rebanhos que não foram alimentados imediatamente após a ordenha. Segundo os autores, a oferta de alimentos no cocho, após a ordenha, estimula as vacas a se manterem em estação, favorecendo o fechamento do esfíncter do teto.…”

“…foram relatados em propriedades leiteiras dos Estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo, sendo que os estudos subseqüentes mostraram que a mastite causada por Prototheca spp. em rebanhos pode se manifestar sob forma de surtos e casos isolados (COSTA et al, 1995;1996a;1996b;1998). A doença é considerada emergente, pois a sua ocorrência tem aumentado consideravelmente (COSTA et al, 1996a).…”

“…em rebanhos pode se manifestar sob forma de surtos e casos isolados (COSTA et al, 1995;1996a;1996b;1998). A doença é considerada emergente, pois a sua ocorrência tem aumentado consideravelmente (COSTA et al, 1996a). Trabalhos recentes relatam a ocorrência de P. zopfii em rebanhos leiteiros de Santa Catarina e Goiás (VAZ et al, 2005;BUENO et al, 2006).Um aspecto importante relacionado às mastites causadas por P. zopfii é a inexistência de tratamento antimicrobiano eficaz, sendo recomendado internacionalmente o descarte dos animais acometidos (KIRK, 1991).…”