Outbreak of protothecal mastitis in a herd of dairy cows in Poland

Abstract

The study was carried out in a herd of 280 dairy cows in the North-Eastern part of Poland in the summer of 2011. During the period of 5-6 months before the study, mastitis cases resistant to routine antibiotic therapy were observed in this herd. Bacteriological examination of 280 milk samples collected from 70 cows with clinical or subclinical forms of mastitis was performed. Diagnosis of mastitis was made on the basis of anamnesis, clinical examination of the udder, macroscopic evaluation of secretion, California mastitis test (CMT), and results of bacteriological examination of milk. Protothecal mastitis was detected in 34 cows (12.6% of all cows in the herd). Algae belonging to Prototheca zopfii were isolated from 27 milk samples in pure cultures; in the remaining seven samples, mixed infections were identified (P. zopfii and Staphylococcus sp.). The acute form accompanied by elevated body temperature (40 C), pain and hot oedema of the udder, loss of appetite, and reluctance to move were observed in two cows immediately after delivery. The similar symptoms were also noted in three cows with mixed infections. The chronic form of protothecal mastitis was characterised by pasty oedema in the udder of slight painfulness and hard tissue consistency, as well as markedly reduced milk secretion. The macro-and microscopic changes in the mammary tissue was indicative of chronic, fusing microgranulomatous interstitial mastitis protothecosa.

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

“…Throughout the past few years, substantial increase in incidence of P. zopfii mastitis has been reported all over the world (3,9,10,16,26,29,31). Since 2006, P. zopfii has been isolated from milk on four dairy farms in the regions of Vojvodina and Central Serbia; however, its much wider prevalence is suspected in some regions of Serbia even though it has not yet been isolated.…”

“…Protothecal mastitis frequently affects primiparous cows, but can also develop during the dry periods. Cows in early lactation are particularly susceptible, which is due to energy imbalance and physiologically reduced immunity (13,20,31). An open teat sphincter as well as some small teat lesions caused by milking equipment constitute a potential portal of entry of the infection (11).…”

“…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).…”

“…Identification of relevant risk factors is of major importance in the control of the disease; however, causal relationships between various factors in each individual case are still difficult to establish. Poor hygiene practices, excessive antibiotic use, and inadequate milking hygiene are most commonly considered the major risk factors for mastitis development (10,13,17,24,26,31).…”

“…nov. (8,12,30). The species P. blaschkeae, P. wickerhamii, P. zopfii, and P. cutis are considered causal agents of local human and/or animal infections (18,21,28,30,31). Systemic infections associated with these organisms are relatively rare.…”