Assessment of udder health in lame cows

Abstract

<jats:p>The objective of this study was to assess the udder health in lame dairy cows. The study was performed on 35 dairy cows which were admitted to the Clinic of Ruminants. The most frequent claw diseases were white line abscess (28.6%) and toe necrosis (28.6%), followed by digital dermatitis (17.1%), toe ulcers (14.3%), and sole ulcers (11.4%). The prevalence of mastitis in lame cows was 74.3% (26); clinical mastitis was detected in 5 (19.2%) and subclinical mastitis in 21 (80.8%) dairy cows. Distribution of mastitis was similar in terms of front (52.54%) and rear quarters (47.46%). For statistical analyses of mastitis grade in lame dairy cows, a six-point Mastitis Score was created based on physical examination of the mammary gland and results of California Mastitis Test. The Mastitis Score tended to be higher in cows with corium inflammation than in those with digital dermatitis (10.0 and 6.5, respectively). Microbiological culture of 24 positive milk samples was performed and intra-mammary pathogens were isolated in 18 (75%) samples. The most prevalent bacteria were coagulase negative staphylococci (50%), followed by <jats:italic>Enterococcus</jats:italic> spp. (16.7%), <jats:italic>Proteus</jats:italic> spp. (11.1%), and <jats:italic>Aerococcus viridians</jats:italic> (11.1%). Of the total bacteria, contagious pathogens were determined in two milk samples (11.1%). In conclusion, high prevalence of mastitis was detected in lame cows suffering from claw diseases without a significant effect of the type of claw diseases on the mastitis grade. Moreover, the dominating isolation of environmental pathogens may be a result of longer lying period of animals affected with lameness.</jats:p>

Unprocessed milk as a source of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains

“…In terms of risk to the consumer, these counts are of no concern because only a population above 10 5 CFU/ml can synthesize enterotoxins and cause food poisoning (Heidinger et al 2009). The composition of the raw milk microbiota depends on several factors, such as farm management, milking procedures, udder health and medical treatment, environmental hygiene, as well as lameness (Hisira et al 2020). Animal health, welfare (e.g.…”

Effects of non- aureus staphylococci on colostrum composition, properties and fatty acid profile in cow – a preliminary study

“…The most common microorganisms isolated from cow milk are non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) -a group of commensal microorganisms present on the skin and mucous membranes of animals and humans. They have been regarded as nonpathogenic or "minor pathogens" to livestock which do not impact the milk yield (Sukur andEsenda 2020, Toledo-Silva et al 2022); however their connection with spontaneous abortions and mastitis is established as well (Hisira et al 2020). Depending on the species NAS may be both infectious agents and contaminants in milk (Hamel et al 2020).…”

Effect of coagulase-negative staphylococci on colostrum composition, properties and fatty acid profile

“…The most common microorganisms isolated from cows' milk are coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) -a group of commensal microorganisms present on the skin and mucous membranes of animals and humans. Previously they have been regarded as non-pathogenic to livestock but now their connection with spontaneous abortions and mastitis is established [9,10]. CNS are associated with subclinical mastitis and persistent increases in the bulk milk somatic cell count (SCC), resistance to antimicrobials, as well as bio lm production [11,12].…”