Validation of commercial luminometry swabs for enumeration of total bacteria and coliform counts in colostrum feeding equipment

Authors

  • D. L. Renaud Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 Canada
  • D. F. Kelton Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 Canada
  • S. J. LeBlanc Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 Canada
  • D. B. Haley Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 Canada
  • A. Jalbert Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 Canada
  • T. F. Duffield Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1 Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20173364

Keywords:

Colostrum feeding, neonatal, passive transfer, contamination, swab testing, hygiene, bacteria

Abstract

Colostrum feeding is an integral component of neonatal calf care with many effects on calf health and productivity, yet failure of passive transfer remains common on many dairy farms. A sufficient quantity and quality colostrum must be fed quickly to the newborn calf while minimizing bacterial contamination. Colostrum with a total bacteria count (TBC) >100,000 cfu/ml may impair IgG absorption and contribute to disease. Adenosine triphosphate ATP bioluminescence swabs offer a potential rapid calf-side alternative to traditional bacterial culture. The reagents in the swabs produce a light-generating reaction when in contact with bacterial ade¬ nosine triphosphate, which is quantified in relative light units (RLU) with a luminometer. The objective of this study was to validate the HygienaTM AquaSnap (AS), SuperSnap(SS), PRO-Clean (PC) and MicroSnap (MS) swabs as well as visual hygiene assessment for detection of elevated bacterial counts in or on colostrum-feeding equipment.

Cover image of the 50th Conference Proceedings: Text of "AABP Annual Conference" with the AABP logo superimposed over an interlocking 50. Yellow background.

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Published

2017-09-14

Issue

2017

Section

Research Summaries

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