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Animals
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The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis
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The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Cattle".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 35671

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Volker Krömker

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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Section for Production, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Interests: animal science; mastitis; staphylococcus aureus; bovine mastitis; antimicrobials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bovine mastitis is an inflammation that is related to microorganisms in many ways. Microorganisms colonize the teat skin and teat canal, they penetrate the mammary gland, adapt to the glandular epithelium, form biofilms there, interact with the microbiome, dissolve and stimulate inflammatory processes and destroy the glandular tissue and the blood-milk barrier and penetrate the blood vessel system. In all these processes, they compete with each other and interact with their environment in many ways. In doing so, they are influenced in their development by the conditions of the animal environment, the mammary gland and the milk. The further development of microbiological methods enables new insights that change the prophylaxis and therapy of mastitis. The planned issue is intended to make this diversity visible and thus open up new strategies for combating mastitis.  These protect the health and welfare of animals, the quality of milk and thus human health.

Prof. Volker Krömker
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Bovine mastitis
  • microorganism
  • microbiome
  • biofilm
  • environment,
  • contagious

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

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9 pages, 552 KiB  
Article
Molecular Characteristics of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium from Bulk Tank Milk in Korea
by Sunghyun Yoon and Young Ju Lee
Animals 2021, 11(3), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030661 - 2 Mar 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3140
Abstract
Enterococci are considered to be environmental mastitis-causing pathogens that can easily spread antimicrobial resistance or virulence genes via horizontal transfer. In this study, the molecular characteristics of enterococci from bulk tank milk were investigated to assess the importance of dairy herd management. A [...] Read more.
Enterococci are considered to be environmental mastitis-causing pathogens that can easily spread antimicrobial resistance or virulence genes via horizontal transfer. In this study, the molecular characteristics of enterococci from bulk tank milk were investigated to assess the importance of dairy herd management. A total of 338 enterococci (305 Enterococcus faecalis and 33 Enterococcus faecium) were isolated from 1584 batches of bulk tank milk samples from 396 farms affiliated with four dairy companies in Korea, and significant differences (40.6–79.7%) (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of enterococci were observed in the samples from different companies. Enterococci showed the highest resistance to tetracycline (TET) (73.4%), followed by doxycycline (DOX) (49.7%) and erythromycin (ERY) (46.2%), while two enterococci isolates showed resistance to vancomycin (VAN). Among 146 tetracycline (TET) and ERY-resistant enterococci, each 50 (19.4%) enterococci carried combination-resistance and transposon gene types erm(B) + tet(M) + IntTn and erm(B) + tet(L) + tet(M) + IntTn, respectively. The virulence genes such as ace (99.0%), efaA (97.7%), cad1 (95.7%), and gelE (85.9%) were highly conserved in E. faecalis and significantly predominated over E. faecium (p < 0.001). Our results indicate that pathogens from bulk tank milk can also become a reservoir for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors through cross-contamination processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
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9 pages, 253 KiB  
Article
Are Severe Mastitis Cases in Dairy Cows Associated with Bacteremia?
by Julia Brennecke, Ulrike Falkenberg, Nicole Wente and Volker Krömker
Animals 2021, 11(2), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020410 - 5 Feb 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3719
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of bacteremia in dairy cows with severe mastitis. Milk samples were collected from affected udder quarters, and corresponding blood samples were collected from dairy cows with severe mastitis at the time of diagnosis [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of bacteremia in dairy cows with severe mastitis. Milk samples were collected from affected udder quarters, and corresponding blood samples were collected from dairy cows with severe mastitis at the time of diagnosis before any therapeutic measures were undertaken. The cultural detection of pathogens in blood classified a bacteremia. Further diagnostic tests were performed to provide evidence of bacteremia. This was realized by PCR with regard to S. aureus, E. coli and S. uberis and the Limulus test. Detection of culturable pathogens in the blood of cows with severe clinical mastitis was rare and occurred in only one of 70 (1.4%) cases. Overall, bacterial growth was detected in 53 of 70 (75.7%) milk samples. S. uberis (22/70), E. coli (12/70) and S. aureus (4/70) were the most frequently isolated pathogens from milk of cows with severe mastitis. PCR was performed in 38 of 70 (54.3%) blood samples. PCR was positive in eight of 38 cases. S. uberis was found most frequently in six blood samples (8.6%). E. coli was found on PCR in one blood sample (1.4%). S. aureus was identified in one blood sample (1.4%). When Coliforms were detected in the quarter milk sample, a Limulus test was performed in the corresponding blood sample. In three of 15 cases, the Limulus test was positive (4.3% of samples). Further studies are needed to investigate the occurrence of bacteremia in cows with severe mastitis in a higher population size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
10 pages, 835 KiB  
Article
Tracing Mastitis Pathogens—Epidemiological Investigations of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Mastitis Outbreak in an Austrian Dairy Herd
by Bernhard Schauer, Regina Wald, Verena Urbantke, Igor Loncaric and Martina Baumgartner
Animals 2021, 11(2), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020279 - 22 Jan 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3631
Abstract
The present study describes an outbreak of Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa mastitis in a 20-cow dairy herd where throughout genotyping of isolates reusable udder towels were identified as the source of infection. Sampling of cows during three herd surveys and bacteriological culturing showed that [...] Read more.
The present study describes an outbreak of Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa mastitis in a 20-cow dairy herd where throughout genotyping of isolates reusable udder towels were identified as the source of infection. Sampling of cows during three herd surveys and bacteriological culturing showed that P. aeruginosa was isolated from nine cows with a total of 13 infected quarters. Mastitis occurred as mild clinical or subclinical infection. P. aeruginosa was additionally isolated from a teat disinfectant solution, containing N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-dodécylpropane-1,3-diamine 1 as active component, and microfiber towels used for pre-milking teat preparation. Disc diffusion antimicrobial resistance testing revealed that all isolates were susceptible to piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, aztreonam, imipenem, meropenem, tobramycin, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. Thirty-two isolates of milk samples and 22 randomly selected isolates of one udder towel and of the teat disinfectant solution were confirmed as P. aeruginosa with matrix-assisted laser desorption, ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI Tof MS). Isolates were further characterized with rep-PCR and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) as well as with multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Results obtained in this study suggested that one single strain was responsible for the whole outbreak. The transmission occurred throughout a contaminated teat cleaning solution as a source of infection. The farmer was advised to change udder-preparing routine and to cull infected cows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
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14 pages, 8120 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Resistance of Major Bacterial Pathogens from Dairy Cows with High Somatic Cell Count and Clinical Mastitis
by Reta D. Abdi, Barbara E. Gillespie, Susan Ivey, Gina M. Pighetti, Raul A. Almeida and Oudessa Kerro Dego
Animals 2021, 11(1), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010131 - 8 Jan 2021
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5733
Abstract
Mastitis is the most prevalent and economically important disease caused by different etiological agents, which leads to increased somatic cell count (SCC) and low milk quality. Treating mastitis cases with antimicrobials is essential to reduce SCC and improve milk quality. Non-prudent use of [...] Read more.
Mastitis is the most prevalent and economically important disease caused by different etiological agents, which leads to increased somatic cell count (SCC) and low milk quality. Treating mastitis cases with antimicrobials is essential to reduce SCC and improve milk quality. Non-prudent use of antimicrobials in dairy farms increased the development of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. This study’s objectives were (1) to isolate and identify etiological agents of mastitis and (2) to determine antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial isolates. A total of 174 quarter milk samples from 151 cows with high SCC and clinical mastitis from 34 dairy farms in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi were collected. Bacterial causative agents were determined by bacteriological and biochemical tests. The antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates against 10 commonly used antimicrobials was tested. A total of 193 bacteria consisting of six bacterial species, which include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant isolate followed by Strep. spp., E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. Results of this study showed that Gram-negatives (E. coli and Klebsiella spp.) were more resistant than Gram-positives (Staph. aureus and Streptococcus spp.). Continuous antimicrobial resistance testing and identification of reservoirs of resistance traits in dairy farms are essential to implement proper mitigation measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
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7 pages, 232 KiB  
Communication
Streptococcus dysgalactiae—Contagious or Environmental?
by Nicole Wente and Volker Krömker
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2185; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112185 - 22 Nov 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3629
Abstract
Streptococcus dysgalactiae is among the most important pathogens causing bovine mastitis. Unfortunately, there is presently a lack of clear knowledge about the mode of transmission—contagious or environmental—of this pathogen. To obtain more information on this, knowledge of the genetic diversity of the isolated [...] Read more.
Streptococcus dysgalactiae is among the most important pathogens causing bovine mastitis. Unfortunately, there is presently a lack of clear knowledge about the mode of transmission—contagious or environmental—of this pathogen. To obtain more information on this, knowledge of the genetic diversity of the isolated microorganisms at the farm level can be useful. To observe the strain variety in different herds of cattle, isolates of Strep. dysgalactiae were collected from clinical mastitis samples at different farms, and the strains were typed using the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method. Overall, we performed strain typing on 93 isolates from 16 farms in Germany and used an index to describe the degree of contagiosity of Strep. dysgalactiae at each farm. This index (CI) represents the number of isolates divided by the number of strains found in mastitis milk of clinical cases within a period of 14 months. The results differed between the farms. In one farm, all six Strep. dysgalactiae cases that occurred during the study period were caused by a single strain (CI = 6), while in another farm the six cases that occurred were caused by five different strains (CI = 1.2). All other farms fell between these two extremes. This indicates that Strep. dysgalactiae infections can occur via several routes of transmission. At the farm level, strain comparisons are necessary to determine the routes of transmission. Two strains were able to survive on the farm for a minimum of 14 months. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
9 pages, 946 KiB  
Communication
Molecular Typing and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Recovered from Bovine Mastitis and Nasal Samples
by Renata P. Santos, Fernando N. Souza, Ana Claudia D. Oliveira, Antônio F. de Souza Filho, Juliana Aizawa, Luisa Z. Moreno, Adriano F. da Cunha, Adriana Cortez, Alice M.M.P. Della Libera, Marcos B. Heinemann and Mônica M.O.P. Cerqueira
Animals 2020, 10(11), 2143; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112143 - 18 Nov 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2571
Abstract
In the present study, we aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance and molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus recovered from transient and persistent intramammary infections and nares/muzzles in dairy cows. We investigated the antimicrobial resistance of 189 S. aureus strains using a broad antimicrobial [...] Read more.
In the present study, we aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance and molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus recovered from transient and persistent intramammary infections and nares/muzzles in dairy cows. We investigated the antimicrobial resistance of 189 S. aureus strains using a broad antimicrobial susceptibility profile. Furthermore, 107 S. aureus isolates were strain-typed using staphylococcal protein-A (spa) typing. A large proportion of strains exhibited multidrug resistance to antimicrobials, including resistance to critically important antimicrobials, although no methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains were found. Our study did not strengthen the idea that extramammary niches (i.e., nares/muzzles) are an important source of S. aureus for bovine mastitis. A discrepancy in the antimicrobial resistance between S. aureus strains isolated from nares/muzzles and milk samples was observed. Furthermore, S. aureus isolates from transient and persistent intramammary infections (IMIs) did not differ by spa typing, suggesting that the persistence of bovine IMIs was determined by cow factors. Thus, the high level of multidrug-resistant S. aureus found in the two herds, considered together with the predominance of a well udder-adapted S. aureus strain, may contribute to our knowledge of the history of the high prevalence of mastitis caused by S. aureus, which is of great concern for animal and public health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
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19 pages, 273 KiB  
Article
Bacterial Load of the Teat Apex Skin and Associated Factors at Herd Level
by Maria-Franziska Hohmann, Nicole Wente, Yanchao Zhang and Volker Krömker
Animals 2020, 10(9), 1647; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091647 - 14 Sep 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2480
Abstract
In order to reduce antimicrobial treatment and prevent environmental mastitis, the aim of the present study was to investigate associations between herd level factors and microbial load on teat ends with environmental mastitis pathogens. Quarterly farm visits of 31 dairy farms over a [...] Read more.
In order to reduce antimicrobial treatment and prevent environmental mastitis, the aim of the present study was to investigate associations between herd level factors and microbial load on teat ends with environmental mastitis pathogens. Quarterly farm visits of 31 dairy farms over a one-year period were used for statistical analysis. During each farm visit, teat-skin swabs, bedding and air samples were taken and management practices and herd parameters were documented. Total mesophilic bacteria, esculin-positive streptococci and coliform bacteria were examined in the laboratory procedures from teat skin and environmental samples. Esculin-positive streptococci and coliform bacteria on teat ends increased with high temperature–humidity indices (THI) in the barn during the spring and summer. Significantly more coliform bacteria on teat ends were found in herds with an increased percentage of normal or slightly rough teat ends. Cleaning cubicles more frequently, pre-cleaning teats before milking as well as post-dipping them after milking had a decreasing effect of teat-skin load with total mesophilic and coliform bacteria at the herd level. To conclude, teat-skin bacterial load with environmental pathogens is subject to fluctuations and can be influenced by aspects of farm hygiene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
16 pages, 680 KiB  
Article
Internal Teat Sealant Administered at Drying off Reduces Intramammary Infections during the Dry and Early Lactation Periods of Dairy Cows
by Gustavo Freu, Tiago Tomazi, Camylla Pedrosa Monteiro, Melina Melo Barcelos, Bruna Gomes Alves and Marcos Veiga dos Santos
Animals 2020, 10(9), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091522 - 28 Aug 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4406
Abstract
The effect of an internal teat sealant (ITS) on subsequent infection of the mammary gland was evaluated on the following mammary gland health indicators: (a) bacteriological cure of preexisting intramammary infections at drying off, (b) risk of postpartum new intramammary infections (NIMI), (c) [...] Read more.
The effect of an internal teat sealant (ITS) on subsequent infection of the mammary gland was evaluated on the following mammary gland health indicators: (a) bacteriological cure of preexisting intramammary infections at drying off, (b) risk of postpartum new intramammary infections (NIMI), (c) cure and risk of new cases of subclinical mastitis (SCM), and (d) risk of postpartum clinical mastitis (CM). A total of 553 cows during late gestation were randomly assigned into two treatment protocols at drying off: (a) Dry cow therapy with 0.25 g of intramammary anhydrous cefalonium (ADCT; Cepravin®, MSD Animal Health); or (b) ADCT combined with ITS (SDCT; 4 g bismuth subnitrate; Masti-Seal®, MSD Animal Health, São Paulo, Brazil). Mammary quarter (MQ) milk samples were collected for microbiological culture and somatic cell count (SCC) at drying off and early lactation, and data from 1756 MQ were used in the multivariate logistic regression. There was no effect on the risk of bacteriological cure, SCM cure, and new cases of postpartum SCM. Still, SDCT reduced the risk of CM up to 60 days postpartum (DPP), overall NIMI risk, and the NIMI caused by major pathogens compared to ADCT. Thus, the DCT combined with ITS at drying off is effective for preventing NIMI during the dry period and CM up to 60 DPP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
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17 pages, 323 KiB  
Article
Intramammary Infections in Heifers—Time of Onset and Associated Risk Factors
by Julia Nitz, Volker Krömker, Doris Klocke, Nicole Wente, Yanchao Zhang and Martin tho Seeth
Animals 2020, 10(6), 1053; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061053 - 18 Jun 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2686
Abstract
To reduce the negative effects of mastitis in dairy heifers in early lactation on the future milking performance, the aim of this study was to define the time-related period of intramammary infections and to relate this to risk factors at heifer and quarter [...] Read more.
To reduce the negative effects of mastitis in dairy heifers in early lactation on the future milking performance, the aim of this study was to define the time-related period of intramammary infections and to relate this to risk factors at heifer and quarter level for intramammary infections and subclinical mastitis. In total, 279 German Holstein Frisian heifers in three farms in Northern and Eastern Germany were included in this study. Quarter milk samples for cytomicrobiological examination were collected 3 ± 1 days after calving and 17 ± 3 days after calving, and risk factors at heifer and quarter level associated with intramammary infections and clinical mastitis were recorded during the trial period. Data were analyzed using logistic regression procedures and odds ratios were calculated. Calving at older ages increased the odds of intramammary infections with non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) and coryneforms 17 ± 3 days after calving compared to heifers calving at a younger age. Detaching of milking cups during milking is a risk factor for new infections between day 3 ± 1 and 17 ± 3 postpartum. The milk yield after calving is associated with a decrease in intramammary infections with environmental pathogens and clinical mastitis. A high milk yield assists the development of udder edema with an increased risk of intramammary infections with NAS and coryneforms. An increased somatic cell count (SCC) after calving increased the odds of intramammary infections with contagious pathogens 17 ± 3 days postpartum. The early lactation has an important influence on udder health and intramammary infections postpartum in dairy heifers. Udder quarters eliminated pathogens during early lactation by 6.9% for cases in this study. New infections manifest themselves up until 17 ± 3 days postpartum, especially with Corynebacterium spp. and NAS. In total, 82.9% of the infected quarters showed new infections with another pathogen species 17 ± 3 days postpartum than 3 ± 1 days postpartum. In conclusion, the early lactation has an important influence on udder health and intramammary infections postpartum in heifers with the possibility that udder quarters eliminate pathogens, but also the danger that new infections manifest themselves. Thus, the prevention of new infections by minimizing the associated risk factors is of great importance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)

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12 pages, 962 KiB  
Case Report
An Outbreak of Subclinical Mastitis in a Dairy Herd Caused by a Novel Streptococcus canis Sequence Type (ST55)
by Cassandra Eibl, Martina Baumgartner, Verena Urbantke, Michael Sigmund, Katharina Lichtmannsperger, Thomas Wittek and Joachim Spergser
Animals 2021, 11(2), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020550 - 20 Feb 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2664
Abstract
The present case report provides data on the phenotypic and genotypic properties of S. canis isolated from nine dairy cows with subclinical mastitis (SCC greater than 200,000 cells/mL in the quarter milk sample, no clinical signs) and from a cat living in the [...] Read more.
The present case report provides data on the phenotypic and genotypic properties of S. canis isolated from nine dairy cows with subclinical mastitis (SCC greater than 200,000 cells/mL in the quarter milk sample, no clinical signs) and from a cat living in the barn and reports the eradication of the pathogen from the herd with an automatic milking system. The isolates were identified using conventional bacteriology, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and genetic relationships were investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Udder health management and hygiene instructions comprised the removal of the carnivores from the barn, strict monitoring of milking hygiene and techniques to avoid new infections via the milking robot, with simultaneous therapy for all infected cows. Phenotypic and genotypic properties of all isolates were identical. MLST revealed a unique sequence type (ST55) and a farmyard cat was identified as the most likely source of the S. canis infection in cows. The simultaneous treatment of all infected cows and management and hygiene improvements lead to a decreased SCC within four weeks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Microorganism in Bovine Mastitis)
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