Efficacy of a polyvalent mastitis vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus on a dairy Mediterranean buffalo farm: results of two clinical field trials

Abstract

BackgroundIn the last years the knowledges on Mediterranean Buffalo (MB) mastitis is remarkably improving, nevertheless the attention has been never focused on vaccination as preventive strategy for the control of mastitis in these ruminates. The aim of the current study was to assess clinical efficacy over time of two different preventive vaccination protocols against S. aureus mastitis, in primiparous MB.Vaccinated (VG) and not-vaccinated (N-VG) groups, of 30 MB each one, were selected from two different herds (herd A: VG1 and N-VG1; herd B: VG2 and N-VG2) of the same farm. Herd A received a double vaccination (Startvac®, 45 and 10 days before calving, protocol A), while in herd B an additional administration was performed (52 days after calving, protocol B). Bacteriological milk culture and assessment of somatic cell count (SCC) were performed at 10, 30, 60 and 90 days in milk (DIM) from composite milk samples. After 90 DIM, daily milk yields and SCC values were monthly detected until dry-off.ResultsThe overall incidence of positive MB for S. aureus was 40.8% (49/120) in VG1 and 43.3% (52/120) in N-VG1 (Protocol A), while 45.8% (55/120) and 50.8% (61/120) in VG2 and N-VG2 (Protocol B). The latter was associated with a significant decreased in prevalence (at 90 DIM) and incidence of mastitis (animals positive for S. aureus, SCC > 200^103, with or without clinical signs) in the vaccinated MB, while no difference occurred in protocol A. Moreover, herd B showed a significant reduction in prevalence of intramammary infection (animals positive for S. aureus, SCC < 200^103, no clinical signs) in the vaccinated MB at 60 DIM while no differences were detected in herd A, at any sampling time; N-VG2 had significantly higher overall SCC values than VG2 (4.97 ± 4.75 and 4.84 ± 4.60 Log10 cells/mL ± standard deviation, respectively), while no differences were recorded in herd A.ConclusionsThe current investigation explores for the first time the clinical efficacy of vaccinations against S. aureus infections in MB, showing encouraging results regarding reduction in mastitis and somatic cell count; the polyvalent mastitis vaccine may be considered an additional tool for in-herd S aureus infection and should be associated to other control procedures to maximize its properties.

Clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in Mediterranean buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

“…To the best of the authors’ knowledge, in this paper the clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetics of meloxicam is investigated for the first time in buffalo calves. The legal inclusion of buffalo within the bovine specie by the EU since 2009 [ 42 ], promoted the use of drugs manufactured for bovine in these ruminants without scientific proves of their efficacy; for this reason, the authors used a careful and methodical approach for the evaluation of the outcomes of a drug originally produced for dairy cows, as performed in previous studies [ 43 , 44 ].…”

Changes in ionized calcium concentration in the blood of dairy cows with peracute coliform mastitis

“…The vaccine was injected intramuscularly 45 days prior to, 10 days prior to, and days after parturition [7]. The numbers of treated cows were as follows: two cows within 7 weeks after parturition, and three cows from 7 to…”

Antibiotic dry buffalo therapy: effect of intramammary administration of benzathine cloxacillin against Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in dairy water buffalo

“…Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci, Streptococcus pluranimalium) bacteria were recognized as mastitis-causing in MB [3][4][5]. Although recent studies show a decrease of milk yield in buffalo herd affected by mastitis-causing bacteria and a consequent farm's gain reduction, information on their epidemiology within the herd, clinical findings related, and strategies for integrated problem management are still rare and incomplete compared to cow medicine [5][6][7]. According to our previous studies, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can be considered one of the most representative gram-positive bacteria causing in-udder disorders and alterations of mammary secretion in MB.…”

“…According to our previous studies, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can be considered one of the most representative gram-positive bacteria causing in-udder disorders and alterations of mammary secretion in MB. Indeed, S. aureus has been associated with a high dry period new infection rate within the herd (up to 55.5%), a significant increase of SCC values, a decrease of milk yields, quality, and farm's economic incomes when it causes subclinical (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM) [2,5,6,8].…”

“…Unfortunately, MB's medicine suffers from poor scientific knowledge compared to the bovine one, regarding this relevant topic [5], and at the best of the authors' knowledge, no studies investigated the antibiotic's clinical efficacy in MB at drying-off, so far. Even though some MB's farms perform antibiotic dry buffalo therapy (aDBT), there is no evidence proving the effectiveness of this strategy for bacteria control in these ruminants characterized by a dry-off period even longer than cows (~4 months) [5].…”