Proteomic changes in the milk of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with subclinical mastitis due to intramammary infection by Staphylococcus aureus and by non-aureus staphylococci

Abstract

Subclinical mastitis by Staphylococcus aureus (SAU) and by non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) is a major issue in the water buffalo. To understand its impact on milk, 6 quarter samples with >3,000,000 cells/mL (3 SAU-positive and 3 NAS-positive) and 6 culture-negative quarter samples with <50,000 cells/mL were investigated by shotgun proteomics and label-free quantitation. A total of 1530 proteins were identified, of which 152 were significantly changed. SAU was more impacting, with 162 vs 127 differential proteins and higher abundance changes (P < 0.0005). The 119 increased proteins had mostly structural (n = 43, 28.29%) or innate immune defence functions (n = 39, 25.66%) and included vimentin, cathelicidins, histones, S100 and neutrophil granule proteins, haptoglobin, and lysozyme. The 33 decreased proteins were mainly involved in lipid metabolism (n = 13, 59.10%) and included butyrophilin, xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase, and lipid biosynthetic enzymes. The same biological processes were significantly affected also upon STRING analysis. Cathelicidins were the most increased family, as confirmed by western immunoblotting, with a stronger reactivity in SAU mastitis. S100A8 and haptoglobin were also validated by western immunoblotting. In conclusion, we generated a detailed buffalo milk protein dataset and defined the changes occurring in SAU and NAS mastitis, with potential for improving detection (ProteomeXchange identifier PXD012355).

Antibiotic dry buffalo therapy: effect of intramammary administration of benzathine cloxacillin against Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in dairy water buffalo

“…The present investigation has been focused on clinical outcomes originating from an aDBT against S. aureus. Indeed, in our previous studies, this microorganism has been detected as the most representative Gram-positive in-udder pathogens, related with high contagiousness, causing mastitis and economic losses due to its negative influence on milk quality and yield in dairy MB [2,5,6].…”

“…According to the authors' opinion, the lack of relevant knowledge may represent a strong point since the scientific community may look to bovine medicine as an example, avoiding to make analogous mistakes and taking only the best experiences and conclusions. Indeed, in the last years, the continuous transferring of knowledge from bovine herd management practices to MB is enabling the appearance of analogous pathologies [1,17] and herd problems [18], emphasizing the necessity to improve knowledge regarding animal health and farm profitability [2,19,20].…”

“…Mastitis can be considered one of the most expensive diseases for Mediterranean buffalo (MB) farmers and the resulting dairy food chain [1,2]. Based on what has been reported in the literature, several contagious, (e.g.…”

“…According to our previous studies, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can be considered one of the most representative gram-positive bacteria causing in-udder disorders and alterations of mammary secretion in MB. Indeed, S. aureus has been associated with a high dry period new infection rate within the herd (up to 55.5%), a significant increase of SCC values, a decrease of milk yields, quality, and farm's economic incomes when it causes subclinical (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM) [2,5,6,8].…”

Seroprevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) breeding system represents an important Italian economic resource and mozzarella cheese manufacturing is third-ranked as agricultural economy concerning sales volume [1]. Whereas water buffalo medicine suffers from poor clinical scientific knowledge if compared to cattle [2][3][4], estimation under field conditions of clinical findings associated to parasitic infections is an interesting challenge in this species where knowledge regarding the health consequences of the most common pathologies as well as their economic impact on the entire dairy food-chain are still almost rare [5][6][7]. In the recent years, increasing demand for dairy products and consequent maximizing productivity of buffalo herds have raised concerns regarding diseases that lower fertility or cause abortion in this livestock species but the attention has been focused mostly on infectious diseases [8].…”