Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of the First Outbreak of Bovine Mastitis Caused by Prototheca zopfii in Goiás State, Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this survey was to describe the occurrence of bovine mastitis caused by Prototheca zopfii in Goiás State, Brazil. Samples of milk, environment and udder were taken from a herd of 120 Holstein cows. Sabourauds dextrose agar plates were incubated under aerobic conditions at 37 degrees C/96 h, for microbiological analysis. Somatic cell count and milk composition were also determined. Histological sections from two udders were stained with HE and PAS. Prototheca zopfii was identified in six cows whose milk had a watery appearance. They also showed a pronounced decrease in milk yield, fat and lactose. Pronounced infiltration of mononuclear cells, atrophy of alveoli and fibrosis were observed. The presence of this agent in other herds in the State is highly likely.

Experimental Infection of Bovine Mammary Gland with Prototheca zopfii Genotype 1

“…Prototheca mastitis is most frequently recognized as a chronic and symptom-less disease with a very high somatic cell count (SCC) and low milk yield [8]. In the present study, the only clinical sign of the cow was slight swelling of the back right quarter that was not found in the front right quarter of the udder.…”

Mastitis associated with Prototheca zopfii - an emerging health and economic problem on dairy farms

“…As the diet of dairy cattle is based on feed of plant origin, the algae may be a transient flora in the gastrointestinal tract of cows and as such are excreted intact (17). As a consequence of recent global climate changes, high temperatures, often combined with high humidity, enhance the multiplication of the algae in the environment (4,7,13,31). P. zopfii is a unicellular alga that reproduces asexually by formation of 2-16 daughter cells (endospores) inside the mother cell (sporangia) (25).…”

“…The infection becomes chronic and P. zopfii persists inside the macrophages in the udder through several lactating and dry periods (13). In turn, milk production decreases while the SCC increases (4,31,32). Local immune response results in granulomatous proliferation and irreversible atrophy of functional parenchyma (13,20,31).…”

Cutaneous and Nasal Protothecosis in a Goat

“…were isolated from cases of mastitis in cows in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Sã o Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná , Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Pernambuco and Goiás. [2][3][4][5] Human cases were also reported. 14 The objective of this article is to report a case of protothecosis in a goat in northeastern Brazil.…”