Recognizing the "itis" part of mastitis can save producers time and money

              

     The standard practice on dairies has been to treat mastitis until the inflammation is gone, which is why some five-day treatment regimens have become common. However, treating all cases of mastitis the same way can be expensive in time, milk and money. 
A dairy cow’s udder has a great ability to fight infection. When bacteria are introduced into the udder, the immune system responds with inflammation, indicated by the somatic cell count. These somatic cells are mostly white blood cells that go to work eliminating the bacterial infection. 
“A mastitis infection is caused by a pathogen, and what ensues is the signs of inflammation — whether that be simply abnormal milk or swelling of the cow’s teats and udder,” said David Festa, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “The infection is usually eliminated within two days, and quite often before that.” 
While the initial infection is resolved quickly either on its own or due to treatment, the clinical signs of mastitis may take four to six days to disappear. During this period, the body is eliminating the dead bacteria and the infection. Continuing to milk cows during this period will aid in flushing out dead bacteria and help reduce the clinical signs of inflammation. 
     “The ‘itis’ part of mastitis is the inflammation,” explained Dr. Festa. “It’s important for producers to recognize the difference between infection and inflammation; once we identify the pathogen and treat the infection, we don’t need to continue treating the signs of inflammation.” 
Gram-positive bacteria are most likely to respond successfully to mastitis treatment, but in many cases, treatment may not be required at all. To determine the most appropriate response to a mastitis event in your herd, Dr. Festa recommends producers take the following into consideration: 
1. The type of pathogen 
      Contagious pathogens like Mycoplasmas or Staphylococcus aureus are likely not to respond to treatment very well.2,3 It is also important to note that studies have shown that most mild to moderate Gram-negative mastitis cases, including those caused by E. coli, will self-cure without antibiotic treatment.4
“Knowing your pathogen and knowing what type of mastitis you’re dealing with are critical to selecting effective treatment protocols,” Dr. Festa stated. 
He recommends producers work closely with a local veterinarian or a milk quality lab that is able to return results in a timely manner. An on-farm culturing system could also be implemented to determine the types of pathogens affecting your herd. Subsequently, protocols can be developed to reduce the amount of antibiotics being used, and to increase milk quality and profitability.
Of course, there are cases of mastitis that do require treatment. With targeted treatment, producers will see a better response to infections caused by Gram-positive or environmental pathogens like staphylococci and streptococci. When dealing with an infection likely to respond well to treatment, or if culturing is not a viable option, Dr. Festa recommends using short-duration mastitis therapy to eliminate the infection and reduce the length of time cows spend in the hospital pen. 
     2. The severity of the infection 
Giving prompt attention to the health status of your cows always pays off. The mastitis grading chart (Figure 1) is an effective tool to help determine the level of mastitis severity. 
     There are several people involved on a dairy, so it’s important that the milkers, those charged with identifying mastitis, are also able to recognize the grades of mastitis. By using the chart, milkers can determine the proper steps to take. In a mild or moderate case, they can take a sample for culture diagnosis. With a severe case of mastitis, they should immediately notify the herdsman. 
      “About 15 percent of cows dealing with a mastitis infection will show systemic signs and become sick,” said Dr. Festa.1 “We need milkers to be able to identify a severe mastitis case, because a cow that is sick is going to require further treatment, supportive care and the consultation of a veterinarian.”  
      3. The history of the cow 
Is the cow in her first lactation or her fourth? Is this her first mastitis event, or is it her second or third? It may not make economic sense to treat a cow that is not productive or has other chronic conditions. 
      While visible abnormalities in the milk are often the first sign of mastitis, they do not determine the length of treatment. The next time a cow shows signs of mastitis, work with your local veterinarian to ensure you have protocols in place to respond to the infection with appropriately targeted therapy. 
About Boehringer Ingelheim
      Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world, with net sales of almost $4.7 billion (3.9 billion euros) worldwide in 2018, about 10,000 employees and a presence in more than 150 markets. We have pioneered advancements in vaccines, parasite-control products and therapeutics that limit pain and slow disease, and we aim to create the future of animal wellbeing for pets, horses and livestock by focusing on prevention.
 Boehringer Ingelheim’s Animal Health Business has a significant presence in the United States, with more than 3,000 employees in places that include Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.us, or
      About Boehringer Ingelheim
      Improving the health of humans and animals is the goal of the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The focus in doing so is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company therefore concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention.
      Family-owned since it was established in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the pharmaceutical industry’s top 20 companies. Some 50,000 employees create value through innovation daily for the three business areas: human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceuticals. In 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around $20.7 billion (17.5 billion euros). R&D expenditure of about $3.8 billion (3.2 billion euros), corresponded to 18.1 per cent of net sales.
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     References: 
1 Oliveira L, Hulland C, Ruegg PL. Characterization of clinical mastitis occurring in cows on 50 large dairy herds in Wisconsin. J Dairy Sci 2013;96(12):7538–7549. 
2 Petersson-Wolfe CS, Mullarky IK, Jones GM. Staphyococcus aureus mastitis: cause, detection and control. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Publications and Educational Resources. 2010. Available at: Accessed May 9, 2019.
3 Mastitis Pathogen Factsheet #8: Mycoplasma mastitis. University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine. 2014. Available at: Accessed May 9, 2019.  
4 Hess JL, Neuder LM, Sears PM. Rethinking clinical mastitis therapy, in Proceedings. 42nd Annu Meet Nat’l Mastitis Council 2003:372–373.