Epidemiology of bovine mastitis in cows in Transylvania during 2014-2019

Abstract

Bovine mastitis is still a problem, both in terms of economic losses, animal health and welfare the increased risk of human health. Based on these affirmations, the purpose of the study was to establish the prevalence of the main etiological agents involved in the pathogenesis of bovine mastitis, while also evaluating their antimicrobial susceptibility and choosing the most effective antibiotic regarding epidemiological control. This study was based on a retrospective analysis of bovine mastitis cases registered at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca, during five years (2014 - 2019). A total of 347 mastitis milk samples from Transylvanian dairy farms and private owners were registered within the laboratory. For the total number of examined samples, a percentage of 89% were represented by Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus spp., 53% (183 samples), Streptococcus spp., 24% (84 samples), Bacillus spp. 12% (42 samples) , and a percentage of 11% were represented by Gram negative bacteria E.coli 7% (23 samples) and Klebsiella spp., 4% (15 samples). After the isolation and identification of the pathogens, antibiotics susceptibility testing was performed by the Kirby Bauer disk-diffusion method, using the following antibiotics: Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid, Ceftiofur, Florfenicol, Mastidiscs, Enrofloxacin, Penicillin and Cloxacillin. Antimicrobial susceptibility test for the total isolates revealed good sensitivity to Florfenicol, Enrofloxacin and Mast discs. Resistance was observed for Penicillin and Cloxacillin.