by-DR. RAJESH KUMAR SINGH, (LIVESTOCK & POULTRY CONSULTANT), JAMSHEDPUR, JHARKHAND,INDIA 9431309542, rajeshsinghvet@gmail.com
Bovine mastitis has been defined as an inflammation of the mammary gland resulting in reductions of milk yield and quality. A wide variety of microorganisms have been implicated as causative agents of bovine mastitis including bacteria and fungi . Mastitis is caused by multi etiological agent includes bacteria, mycoplasmas, viruses, fungi and algae. According to literature data, fungal infections account for 2%–13% of all cases of mastitis in cows .Sometimes, their incidence is much higher or they are enzootic. It is widely prevalent in organized as well as un organized dairy herds and associated with a significant loss of milk yield resulting in increased costs of production and treatment, which also deteriorated quality of milk and milk products .Amongst fungal mastitis Candida is the most common species isolated from cases of mastitis in bovines .Many a times mycotic mastitis is unnoticed by clinician in first attempt of treatment and administration of antibiotics may aggravate fungal mastitis as some of the antibiotics like penicillin and tetracycline act as a source of nitrogen for various species of fungi .There for treatment of fungal mastitis is a challenge as many of these fungi do not respond to the antibiotics rather they use some of the antibiotic like tetracycline as their source of energy. Due to this reason most of the mastitis cases remains incurable and source of infection for other adjoining animals.
Bovine mycotic mastitis is usually caused by yeasts, but mastitis due to filamentous fungi mostly Aspergillus fumigatus has been reported. It occurs as sporadic cases affecting a small percentage of cows, or as outbreaks affecting the majority of animals. In both situations, however, the seriousness of infection depends on the number of organisms present in the glands and the species of yeast involved .The most frequent isolated organisms among the Mycotic mastitis are the Candida species which are a group of unicellular opportunistic organisms, ever present in the natural surroundings of dairy cattle (milker’s hands, milking machines, treatment instruments, floor, straw, feed, dust, soil, drug mixtures, and sanitizing solutions) and are normal inhabitants of the skin of the udder and teats, in which they exist in low numbers . They can invade mammary glands and cause clinical mastitis characterized by pain, prolonged fever, tenderness, inflammatory reaction in the mammary gland and associated lymph nodes and reductions of milk yield and quality in animals. Some intramammary fungal infections such as A. fumigatus and Candida Spp may result in death of affected animals. Outbreaks of Mycotic mastitis are generally believed to result from an ascending infection subsequent to incorrect administration of antibiotic preparations during drying-off period .Contamination of the teat end or cannulas by environmental yeasts and fungi associated with lack of hygiene during the milking and poor equipment cleaning leads could favor further penetration into the mammary gland .The large doses of antibiotics may cause a reduction in the vitamin A, leading to injury to the udder’s epithelium and affecting the microflora of the mammary glands, which acts as an animal natural defense, thus facilitating the invasion of fungi and yeasts .The clinical signs are non-specific and, in some cases, their development may be masked by symptoms of an underlying disease. Therefore, these diseases are generally diagnosed by demonstrating and identifying the aetiological agent histopathologically and in culture, respectively.
The increasing incidence of mycotic infection, the increasing resistance of mycotic spp. to antifungal agents and the rise in mortality associated with infections by Candida spp. demand a safe way to prevent and treat infections such as mycotic mastitis caused by opportunistic yeasts and fungi.
Clinical symptoms——–
• Swelling of udder as a hard mass.
• Swollen udder with hot and pain while touching it.
• Animal will not allow touching the udder and will kick while touching it.
• Swollen and reddening of teats.
• Milk mixed with blood.
• Milk mixed with yellow or brown fluid with flakes or clots with foul smelling.
• Reduced milk yield.•
LINE OF TREATMENT—————-
Administration of antibiotics may aggravate fungal mastitis as Candida spp. utilize penicillin and tetracyclines as a source of nitrogen .
The line of treatment depend upon conditions and on the discretion of the concerened vet , here I am giving 2 lines of treatment which are successful in such cases.
Here are 2 lines of treatment after which we got the fungal mastitis treated successfully .
FIRST THERAPY—-
Animals are treated with fluconazole inj. (@ 5 mg/kg body weight, IV) for three days followed by DNS (500ml, I.V. for two days), Maxxitol inj. (2ml, IM for three days), chlorpheniramine maleate inj. (1.5ml, IM for three days). The gradual clinical improvement may be seen by the reduction in the size of the, hardness with normal pH. Restoration of the normal milk is generally noticed after 5 to 9 days of therapy. But, complete reduction in the size of the udder is observed after days of therapy. Due to unhygienic conditions of the animal sheds, there is a chance of increase fungal spores and hyphae in lactating animals. Teat injuries may predispose to the establishment of a yeast infection . The use of such antibiotics encourages the establishment of the infection by damaging the mammary epithelium. it is observed that initially, the use of antibiotics worsen the condition of clinical mastitis . Yeast infections of the udder are highly associated with simultaneous effects of favourable triggering factors, e.g. irritation of the milk alveoli and ducts, as well as the milk sinus due to injuries, bacterial infections or intra-udder administration of various drugs, especially longterm use of antibiotics. Immediate prompt treatment and hygienic conditions in the animal environment will prevent the damage to the udder and complications from the environmental pathogens.
2ND THERAPY————
The cows are administered 10 ml of 5% povidone-iodine solution (0.5% iodine, povindone solution) mixed with 500 ml 25% dextrose intravenously slowly 3 times on alternate days, and along with this, lavage of affected quarters is carried out by infusing 10% of providoneiodine (Betadine) dissolved in distilled water, slightly massaging the udder, and then draining the debris in the udder tissue twice a day. We get the affected cows successfully recovered within 4 days post treatment .
Preventive measures———–
• Cow should be allowed in soft bedding following parturition.
• Concrete floor should be avoided especially in case of high yielder. Bedding should be done with straw, saw dust or sand. Sand is the ideal bedding material since it has lower bacterial count.
• Infusion should be used in each cow at dried off.
• Always the animal sheds should be clean.
• Washing the udder and hand of the milker with antiseptic lotion (4% Pottasium permanganate solution) before and after milking.
• The floor of the milking shed should be washed with running water.
• The milker’s hand should be free from nail.
• Cleaning and disinfecting milking machine and the teat cup, vessels after each milking.
• The healthy non-infected cows should be milked first and known infected cows should be milked at last.
• Newly introduced cow should be milked separately and should be screened through California Mastitis Test (CMT).
• The first strip of milk should not be allowed to fall on the floor; they may be stripped in separate container along with disinfectants in it.
• Dipping of all teats following each milking with iodophor solution containing 1% available iodine or hypochlorite solution and Chlorhexidine in 0.5% to 1% polyvenylpyrrolidine solution.
• Immediately after milking should not allow the animal to lie-down by engaging with fodder.
• The milking timings should be in a regular manner.
• The complete milking should be done at every time and milk should not be stored in teats.
• The udder and teats should be protected from any injuries.
• Hygienic measures at milking time, udder preparation before milking, post milking teat disinfections have been recommended as preventive measures.
• Control of fly population should be attempted, for these insecticides fly repellent sprays are to be made in the house and surroundings.
• The frequently affected animals should be removed from the herd.
Control measures———
• Immediately after detecting clinical signs, it should be consulted with qualified veterinarian for further antibiotic treatment.
• The infected animal should be kept separately from other animals.
• The calf should not be allowed to suck the infected teats.
• The milk from infected teat should be milked out daily three times and disposed properly without contaminate the environment.
• Mastitis milk should be properly disposed. 5% phenol may be added to the infected milk at the time of disposal.
• The healthy non-infected cows should be milked first and known infected cows should be milked at last.
• The non-responsive quarter should be permanently dried up
