Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Bovine Mammary Microbiota: Potential Allies against Bovine Mastitis

Abstract

Bovine mastitis is a costly disease in dairy cattle worldwide. As of yet, the control of bovine mastitis is mostly based on prevention by thorough hygienic procedures during milking. Additional strategies include vaccination and utilization of antibiotics. Despite these measures, mastitis is not fully under control, thus prompting the need for alternative strategies. The goal of this study was to isolate autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from bovine mammary microbiota that exhibit beneficial properties that could be used for mastitis prevention and/or treatment. Sampling of the teat canal led to the isolation of 165 isolates, among which a selection of ten non-redundant LAB strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Lactococcus were further characterized with regard to several properties: surface properties (hydrophobicity, autoaggregation); inhibition potential of three main mastitis pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus uberis; colonization capacities of bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMEC); and immunomodulation properties. Three strains, Lactobacillus brevis 1595 and 1597 and Lactobacillus plantarum 1610, showed high colonization capacities and a medium surface hydrophobicity. These strains are good candidates to compete with pathogens for mammary gland colonization. Moreover, nine strains exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, as illustrated by the lower IL-8 secretion by E. coli-stimulated bMEC in the presence of these LAB. Full genome sequencing of five candidate strains allowed to check for undesirable genetic elements such as antibiotic resistance genes and to identify potential bacterial determinants involved in the beneficial properties. This large screening of beneficial properties while checking for undesirable genetic markers allowed the selection of promising candidate LAB strains from bovine mammary microbiota for the prevention and/or treatment of bovine mastitis.

No evidence for a bovine mastitisEscherichia colipathotype

“…Several studies have shown a dramatic decrease in the bovine udder microbiome during mastitis, even after recovery [115][116][117]. It might be worthwhile to consider alternative prevention strategies like strengthening the natural udder microbiota that competes with pathogens [118].…”

Mastitis treatment—Reduction in antibiotic usage in dairy cows

“…Although some approaches show great promise for future treatment methods or at least for complemental therapy, there is no contemporary alternative available for in vivo administration (Gomes & Henriques, ). Several studies investigated the application of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as mammary probiotics to inhibit in vitro growth of MCP, prevent or compete MCP biofilm formation or reduce IMI (Armas, Camperio, & Marianelli, ; Assis et al., ; Bouchard, Rault, Berkova, Le Loir, & Even, ; Bouchard et al., ; Piccart, Vásquez, Piepers, De Vliegher, & Olofsson, ).…”

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes on Ready-to-Eat Meats Using Bacteriocin Mixtures Based on Mode-of-Action

“…Enumeration of LAB from either Bac + LAB- L. monocytogenes hotdog challenge studies, or as LAB contaminants in Bac + CFS- Listeria challenge studies, was done using MRS agar adjusted with HCl to pH 5.4–5.5 prior to autoclaving (the pH was found to be ~pH 5.5–5.7 after autoclaving) [24]. Acidified MRS agar inhibited growth of L. monocytogenes 39-2 but allowed the growth of LAB as determined from prior studies.…”