Mastitis microbiology simplified

Authors

  • K. H. Hoblet Herd Milk Quality Laboratory, The Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University
  • W. D. Hueston Herd Milk Quality Laboratory, The Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University
  • E. Angrick Herd Milk Quality Laboratory, The Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol0no21p77-78

Keywords:

coliform bacteria, Cows, differentiation, Mastitis, microorganisms

Abstract

A system for determining whether mastitis is due to contagious or environmental pathogens is described. The sampling format for herds with bulk milk somatic cell counts (SCC) >500 000/ml or Wisconsin mastitis test (WMT) score >15 is to test all cows with high SCC or WMT and a random sample of cows representative of the total herd with respect to age and lactation stage; for herds with clinical mastitis cases but bulk milk SCC <300 000 and WMT <10, samples are taken from cows with high SCC or WMT and from those with clinical mastitis. Bacterial culturing of the samples on sheep blood agar, thallium/crystal violet/ferric citrate agar and McConkey's agar allows determination of whether Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. or coliforms are present; catalase, coagulase and cAMP tests provide further classification of the mastitis pathogens present.

Cover image of the 21st Volume of the Bovine Practitioner: a photo of the Louisville skyline at sunset, the lights of the skyscrapers reflecting in the river. The sky is blue and purple and for a just moment the city seems still.

Downloads

Published

1986-11-01

How to Cite

Hoblet, K. H., Hueston, W. D., & Angrick, E. (1986). Mastitis microbiology simplified. The Bovine Practitioner, (21), 77–78. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol0no21p77-78

Issue

No. 21 (1986 November)

Section

Articles