MASTITIS CONTROL,
PREVENTION, AND
TREATMENT IN GOATS
Leo Timms
Iowa State University
Dairy Science Extension
GOAT MASTITIS
• Basic mastitis facts
• Mastitis detection
• Mastitis control
• Prevention
• Treatment
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
• Occurs in every herd
• Decreased doe performance
(milk)
• Milk discard costs
• Doe/ kid mortality and morbidity
• Doe replacement costs
• Labor costs
• Veterinary costs
• Feed costs (orphans)
MASTITIS
% infected
patho
% infected
species giving birth genecity wean/dry
Dairy cow 40-50
+++
40-60
Beef
40
++
30-40
Goats
30-40
+
20(W)- 70 M
Sheep
30-40
+
20-30
Pigs
60-70%
++++
0
Horse
0?
--0
Human
0
--higher
than Birth
Inflammation: part of innate immunity
BSA, Ig
Nagase
Na,Cl
Alpha-lactalbumin
lactose
NaCl
BSA
Ig
Nagase
?
Plasmin
Casein
protein
% same
Fat % same
Poor membrane
More rancidity
MASTITIS
• Inflammation of the mammary gland where
inflammation is the reaction to tissue injury
• Redness
• Swelling
• Heat
• Pain
• Loss of function
• 99% of inflammation results from
infection
TYPES OF MASTITIS
• Clinical: visual abnormalities (milk/udder/doe)
- fever - loss of appetite - depression - death
• Chronic: - long duration - variable signs
- contagious? - fibrosis (nodules): udder palpation
•Subclinical: * No visible signs *Special tests * Loss of function
• Mastitis types are correlated to organisms!!!
WEANING
KIDDING
?
Reasons for heifer mastitis (calving):
• Increased mammary pressure
distends the teat, making it easier
for bacterial penetration.
** 20-30% of heifer teats open
prior to calving!!!
• Milk is no longer being flushed
from the gland.
• Immunological factors are
suppressed locally/systemically.
Inflammation: part of innate immunity
BSA, Ig
Nagase
Na,Cl
HOW DO WE
FIND IT IN
MY
HERD?
MASTITIS DIAGNOSTICS
“How do I look for (find mastitis)?”
-Milk
• Clinical :
- udder
- systemic
• Udder Palpation
• Subclinical
* Cultures: Know your organisms
* SCC: CMT / Electronic
UDDER PALPATION
• < 5% with clinical mastitis
• Take a sample for culture
KNOW
YOUR
ENEMY
(germ warfare)
Mastitis:
Detection and Interpretation
April 15, 2004
April Boll
Mastitis Organisms
• Contagious
– Spreads cow-to-cow
– Fomites – milker’s hands, equipment
– Survive poorly in environment
• Enviromental
– Found in feces, soil, bedding, etc.
– Cannot eliminate source of infection
Contagious Organisms
Streptococcus agalactiae:
-Organism-
Staphylococcus aureus:
Infected Cows
-Source-
Infected Cows / Wounds & Cuts
Milking Time
-Spread-
Milking Time
Subclinical / Chronic
-Status-
Subclinical / Chronic
Very High, little self cure
-Immune Cells-
High, little self cure
Easy, most abx work
-Treatment-
Difficult, resistance & abcesses
Contagious Organisms
Respiratory
Tract
Blood
Organism-
Mycoplasma
Source-
Initially from the lungs; then from infected cows
Spread-
Milking Time
Status-
Clinical / Acute
Immune Cells-
Medium High, some self cure
Treatment-
No treatment / vaccine, Cull & hope for self cure
Environmental Organisms
Environmental Streps:
-Organism-
Coliforms, E. coli & Klebsiella:
Environment
-Source-
Environment
Environment
-Spread-
Environment
Clinical / Acute (few chronic)
-Status-
Clinical / Acute
High, Self cure daily
-Immune Cells-
High, Easily killed by WBC
Usually effective, chronics hard
-Treatment-
Opportunistic / Environmental
Organisms
Organism-
Skin Staphs
Source-
Skin
Spread-
Skin
Status-
May be chronic
Immune Cells-
Low, 50% self cure
Treatment-
Very susceptible to abx