Case report
Herd investigation into the role of Pasteurella multocida in an outbreak of mastitis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol37no2p108-112Keywords:
bovine mastitis, case reports, clinical aspects, cows, diagnosis, disease control, disease transmission, mastitis, milk, milk hygiene, milking, outbreaks, somatic cell countAbstract
An epizootic of clinical mastitis was investigated on a dairy farm consisting of 225 cows in Wisconsin, Madison, USA (September 2001). The authors were called to the farm because of a rising bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) and an increased number of clinical mastitis cases refractory to treatment. The BTSCC had peaked at 974?000 in the month preceding the visit. During an initial herd visit, the investigators were able to obtain a herd history, had inspected the facilities, and observed the milking procedure. Management deficiencies were identified which could be contributing to the herd outbreak. Composite culturing of cows experiencing clinical mastitis indicated that Pasteurella multocida was present in 11 of 23 samples. Environmental sampling was unsuccessful in identifying a source for the outbreak. Recommendations for controlling mastitis were adopted and were found to be successful in reducing the spread of mastitis and lowering the BTSCC.
