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

Abstract

Increased incidence of protothecal mastitis has been recorded in several countries in the past ten years. The main goal of this article is to draw the attention of scientific and professional community to the emerging issue of mammary protothecosis. The article collates currently known facts about infection reservoirs, predisposing factors for the development of mastitis, clinical manifestations of the disease, and potential transmission routes within the herd as well as the measures for control and eradication. We would like to point out that identification of protothecal mastitis on a dairy farm is associated with a range of problems. Early detection of infected animals can be difficult because of predominantly subclinical course of early-stage infection, which easily spreads between cows via the milking system. Spontaneous recovery has not been recorded and infected cows typically develop chronic mastitis with granulomatous infiltration and progressive loss of functional parenchyma of the mammary gland. Substantial economic losses and health damages associated with mammary protothecosis strongly emphasise the need for developing effective prevention strategies aimed at control of the infection.

A survey on the incidence of Prototheca mastitis in dairy herds in Lublin province, Poland

“…Finding Prototheca spp. in different environmental sites indicates their relatively wide distribution in nature, especially in humid and wet areas containing manure and decomposing plant material (Milanov et al, 2016). In this study, the algae were found mainly in drinking water and manure, and these sources have been their major environmental reservoir, as reported in previous studies (Pore et al, 1983;Enders and Weber, 1993;Costa et al, 1997;Scaccabarozzi et al, 2008).…”

Short communication: Cold atmospheric plasma inactivation of Prototheca zopfii isolated from bovine milk

“…Prototheca zopfii is a chlorophyllous algae belonging to the family Chlorellaceae, and it is a major cause of mastitis in dairy cows (Jánosi et al, 2001;Möller et al, 2007;Jagielski et al, 2011;Sobukawa et al, 2012). Mastitis contributes to large financial losses by dairy farmers because it substantially reduces the production and quality of milk (Milanov et al, 2016). The difficulty in treating cows is the resistance of P. zopfii to a majority of commonly used antibacterial and antifungal agents (Marques at al., 2006;Jagielski et al, 2012), which is attributed to the presence of sporopollenin in its cell walls (Atkinson at al., 1972;Puel et al, 1987).…”

MASTITE BOVINA POR Prototheca zopfii NA REGIÃO OESTE DO PARANÁ: RELATO DE CASOS

“…A Prototheca zopfii não é eliminada com antimicrobianos (COSTA et al, 1996 a e b;MILANOV et al, 2016). Esse fato, e o de que os animais deste relato não responderam à terapias prévias, reforça a importância do envio de amostras de leite de animais com mastite para cultura e antibiograma, especialmente quando não há uma resposta ao tratamento, uma atitude ainda pouco praticada por Médicos Veterinários autônomos no Oeste do Paraná e em outros locais do Brasil.…”

“…A orientação estabelecida para o proprietário de realizar o descarte dos animais foi em virtude de a afecção causada pela alga Prototheca zopfii, não ter tratamento eficaz e aos animais serem considerados portadores na propriedade, o que é importante fonte de disseminação (COSTA et al, 1996 a e b;MILANOV et al, 2016). Na propriedade onde estavam os animais deste relato eram realizadas práticas adequadas de manejo de ordenha e higienização de utensílios.…”

“…Como os animais afetados se tornam portadores, indica-se o descarte como o melhor método de controle da afecção. É fundamental o diagnóstico imediato, pois os meios de prevenção e controle devem ser implementados o mais rapidamente possível (COSTA et al, 1996 a e b;MILANOV et al, 2016). Além disso, a alga é resistente à pasteurização e possui potencial caráter zoonótico (GASPARETTO et al, 2015;MILANOV et al, 2016).…”