engleski

Microbiological monitoring of mastitis pathogens in the control of udder health in dairy cows

The importance of systematic mastitis control in dairy herds is described through the presentation of data concerning mastitis occurrence and significance in modern milk production. Research was conducted during farm visits and by taking udder quarter samples from all lactating cows at the time of visit. Samples were taken before evening milking. Each sample was tested by the Zagreb mastitis test (ZMT) and examined bacteriologically by inoculation on aesculin blood agar. Identification of grown colonies was carried out using internationally accepted methodology. The obtained results were statistically analysed using the Stata 13.1 statistical package. Udder quarter samples from 385 cows were analysed. ZMT positive reactions were found in 13.7% of all quarters. Mastitis pathogens were isolated from 175 (13%) of quarter samples. One hundred and forty five of 385 cows (37.3%) included in the study had at least one ZMT positive quarter or permanently lost (dried off) quarter. Mastitis pathogens were isolated in 106 of 363 cows (29.8%) with all four functional quarters. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Trueperella pyogenes and Corynebacterium bovis. There was no statistical difference in mastitis occurrence between the front and rear mammary quarters. The ZMT results and microbiological examination were moderately correlated (Kappa index = 0.4662).

cow; mastitis; mastitis pathogens; Croatia

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