This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. were determined using microdilution. Isolates were from a nation wide survey employing strict inclusion criteria. 20Presence of acquired resistance was evaluated by species-specific epidemiological cut-off values issued by 21EUCAST. Penicillin or methicillin resistance in staphylococci were however evaluated by β-lactamase 22 production or presence of the mecA gene, respectively. 23 24 Staphylococci were mostly susceptible to antimicrobials tested but 7.1% of S. aureus and 12.5% of CNS were 25 resistant to penicillin by β-lactamase production. Methicillin resistance was not found in S. aureus. All 26Streptococcus dysgalactiae and S. agalactiae were susceptible to penicillin. Bimodal MIC distributions for 27 tetracycline in S dysgalactiae and S. uberis indicate acquired resistance in some isolates. Among E. coli 12.3 % 28 of isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobials. Resistance to streptomycin (11.0%), sulphametoxazole 29 (8.6%), ampicillin (7.4%), or tetracycline (4.9%) were the most common traits. Klebsiella spp. were resistant to 30 ampicillin and some isolates also to tetracycline (7.1%) or sulphonamide (9.5%). 31 32The study shows that in Sweden bacteria associated with acute clinical mastitis for the most part are susceptible 33 to antimicrobials used in therapy but resistance to penicillin in S. aureus is not uncommon. Penicillin is 34 recommended for treatment of mastitis caused by gram-positive pathogens and regular monitoring of β-35 lactamase production in S. aureus is therefore recommended in herds with udder health problems. 36 37

A nation wide study on the microbial aetiology of cases of acute clinical mastitis in Swedish dairy cows was conducted with the aim to investigate changes in the microbial panorama compared to a previous study performed 1994-1995. Another aim was to investigate some agent-specific environmental and individual risk factors. Milk samples were collected from 987 udder quarter cases from 829 cows during six 2-month periods from May 2002 to April 2003, and data on risk factors and demography were collected at sampling by means of a questionnaire. In total, 1056 bacteriological diagnoses were made. The most frequently isolated bacterial species was Staphylococcus aureus constituting 21.3% of the diagnoses, followed by Escherichia coli (15.9%), Streptococcus dysgalactiae (15.6%), Streptococcus uberis (11.1%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (6.2%), Arcanobacterium pyogenes (6.1%) and Klebsiella spp. (4.2%). Samples with no growth or contamination constituted 10.6% and 4.5% of the diagnoses, respectively. A major shift in the panorama of udder pathogens was not observed compared to the survey in 1994-1995. Isolation of Klebsiella spp. was strongly associated with the use of sawdust as bedding material. On the other hand, using sawdust as bedding reduced the risk of isolating S. uberis relative to using straw or peat. The risk of isolating E. coli increased with increasing milk yield and was higher in loose housing systems than in tie stalls. Isolation of S. aureus was associated with tie stalls, and A. pyogenes with low yielding cows and teat lesions. S. dysgalactiae infections were also associated with teat lesions.

By studying carcass quality, expressed as affection, pathological findings, slaughter-weight and evaluation, a picture of an animal's health and potential as high quality food is achieved. This study compares the carcass quality in Swedish certified organic meat production with that of conventional meat production slaughtered during 1997. The study involves 3.9 million pigs, about 570,000 cattle and 190,000 sheep, all reared conventionally and 3483 pigs 4949 cattle and 4997 sheep reared according to organic standards. Pathological and additional findings are registered by meat inspectors from the Swedish National Food Administration at the post-mortem inspection. There was a significant difference at the post-mortem inspection of growing-fattening pigs; 28% of conventionally and 17% of the organically reared pigs had one or more registered lesion. The carcass evaluation of swine shows a higher meat percentage in conventional swine production. The total rate of registered abnormalities in cattle was systems around 28% from organic and 27% from conventionally reared herds. Carcass evaluation of cattle from organic herds gave higher classification in the EUROP system, whereas the fat content was lower than that of conventionally reared cattle. Sheep, reared both organically and conventionally, showed a lower rate of registered abnormalities than swine and cattle.

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Summary Eleven Swedish postpartum cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM) were studied to determine the intrauterine bacterial flora. Bacteriological examination was performed from twice weekly uterine biopsies. A total of 161 biopsies were collected during the first 8 weeks postpartum of which 82 (50.9 %) were found with bacterial growth. Seventy‐one of the 82 bacteria‐positive biopsies (86.6 %) showed mixed infections whereas the remaining 11 (13.4 %) were pure cultures. Generally, a total of 322 isolates belonging to 12 different genera of bacteria, 6 facultative and 6 obligate anaerobic pathogens were identified. Mixed infections were most frequent for Actinomyces pyogenes together with obligate anaerobic bacteria, especially Bacteroides levii/spp. and Fusobacterium necrophorum. All of the studied cows had an infection that involved the first two genera of bacteria, whereas F. necrophorum was found in 8 of the 11 animals. The present work suggests that a possible pathogenic synergism between A. pyogenes and the two main Gram‐negative anaerobes might have caused early endometritis and/or persistent infection.