Harnessing Nanominerals for Managing Subclinical Mastitis in Cattle: An Innovative Approach

Abstract

Mastitis is a problem associated with mammary gland and results in drop in milk production. The significance is more in milch animals as milk is the primary product. Use of antibiotics for treating mastitis is not only adds to expenses but also raises the concern of antimicrobial resistance among the consumers. Use of nano-minerals may be a good alternative for treating mastitis in domestic animals. Nano-minerals can be defined as minerals of 1-100 nm range. The nano-minerals have unique properties as compared to their counterparts. Due to the biocidal properties, mineral nanoparticles of Ag, Au, Se, Cu, Zn, etc., in the diet as feed additive can control or reduce the subclinical mastitis, and thus can be a potential alternative of antibiotics. The nano-minerals act efficiently against mastitis causing agents, thanks to their anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Though the results are encouraging, use of nano-minerals as a preventive and curative to subclinical mastitis is in its infancy. Further studies are warranted to validate the route of administration and evaluate its efficacy in long-term use in varied animal species. Moreover, the side effects of application of nano-minerals have to be studied before recommending in commercial scale.