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    Streptococcus Agalactiae

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    tammamalkdati
    Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive bacterium that causes mastitis in dairy cattle. It resides in the udder and is transmitted from cow to cow during milking through contaminated milk and equipment. S. agalactiae typically causes subclinical mastitis but can result in clinical episodes. Infected cows have increased somatic cell counts and decreased milk production. Treatment involves antibiotics, but prevention is focused on milking hygiene, equipment sanitation, and identification and culling of infected cows. Long-term prevention programs can eliminate S. agalactiae from dairy herds over two to three years.

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    Streptococcus Agalactiae

    Uploaded by

    tammamalkdati
    12 views2 pages
    Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive bacterium that causes mastitis in dairy cattle. It resides in the udder and is transmitted from cow to cow during milking through contaminated milk and equipment. S. agalactiae typically causes subclinical mastitis but can result in clinical episodes. Infected cows have increased somatic cell counts and decreased milk production. Treatment involves antibiotics, but prevention is focused on milking hygiene, equipment sanitation, and identification and culling of infected cows. Long-term prevention programs can eliminate S. agalactiae from dairy herds over two to three years.

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    Streptococcus-agalactiae (1)

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    Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive bacterium that causes mastitis in dairy cattle. It resides in the udder and is transmitted from cow to cow during milking through contaminated milk and equipment. S. agalactiae typically causes subclinical mastitis but can result in clinical episodes. Infected cows have increased somatic cell counts and decreased milk production. Treatment involves antibiotics, but prevention is focused on milking hygiene, equipment sanitation, and identification and culling of infected cows. Long-term prevention programs can eliminate S. agalactiae from dairy herds over two to three years.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    12 views2 pages

    Streptococcus Agalactiae

    Uploaded by

    tammamalkdati
    Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive bacterium that causes mastitis in dairy cattle. It resides in the udder and is transmitted from cow to cow during milking through contaminated milk and equipment. S. agalactiae typically causes subclinical mastitis but can result in clinical episodes. Infected cows have increased somatic cell counts and decreased milk production. Treatment involves antibiotics, but prevention is focused on milking hygiene, equipment sanitation, and identification and culling of infected cows. Long-term prevention programs can eliminate S. agalactiae from dairy herds over two to three years.

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    Streptococcus agalactiae

    Background

    Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive, chained coccus bacterium and the reservoir in which it
    is found is infected udders. Strep. ag. is an obligate pathogen of the udder of dairy cattle. The
    presence of Strep. ag. infections has been reduced by modern milking technologies. This
    bacterium still is a threat for all dairies that do not have a closed herd. Strep. ag. cannot persist
    very long outside of the mammary gland. Cattle infected by Strep. ag. often have more than one
    quarter infected.

    Source and Transmission

    Strep. ag. is a contagious pathogen that is transmitted primarily from cow-to-cow through
    contaminated milk present on milking equipment. Heifers become infected as calves due to the use
    of non-pasteurized waste milk containing Strep. ag. When non-salable/waste milk is fed it cross-
    contaminates the mammary gland of these heifers. These animals may then freshen with blind or
    infected quarters. Purchasing Strep. ag.-infected cows or heifers can introduce the pathogen,
    which can spread quickly throughout the herd when little or no mastitis control/biosecurity
    programs are in place. Employees can transfer the pathogen from one place of employment to
    another if good hygiene is not practiced.

    Disease

    Strep. ag. usually causes subclinical disease with periodic clinical flare-ups from mild to moderate
    clinical mastitis episodes. Strep. ag. infections cause mild udder swelling and irritation that leads to
    damage of the gland causing reduced milk production and elevated somatic cell counts (SCC). A
    reduction in milk solids may lead to income loss. A decrease in milk production from one quarter
    can be as high as 40% without apparent clinical signs of mastitis. Additionally, some infected
    quarters will cease production of milk all together.
    Bacteria may be shed in high concentrations, which can lead to increased bulk tank bacterial
    counts. Very high SCC levels (greater than 1,000,000) can be seen despite low rates of clinical
    mastitis. This can be attributed to an infection with Strep. ag. Isolating Strep. ag. from 30 to 40
    percent or more of milk samples indicates a significant non-clinical mastitis problem. Therefore,
    each cow with a SCC greater than 200,000 should be considered infected. Cows with SCC higher
    than 500,000, but the milk was culture negative for Strep. ag. does not indicate the cow is not
    infected with Strep. ag.. Culturing at several time points will help delineate the problem.

    CL-RES-65 In Use: 3/22/22


    Treatment

    Overall, Strep. ag. is susceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics. Treatment with intramammary beta-
    lactams, either in a lactating or dry cow formulations, is the most effective means to control and
    clear infections. Rarely, cows will fail to respond to antibiotic treatment and because of the high risk
    of transmission, the animal should be culled. Consult a veterinarian before starting antibiotic
    therapy.

    Prevention and Control

    There are several options to choose from when managing a Strep. ag.-infected herd. The urgency
    of the situation dictates the method used. Emergency Program is necessary if the two of the last
    four consecutive bulk tank somatic cell counts were greater than 750,000, which is a result of a
    confirmed Strep. ag.-infected cow. This treatment plan is also called a ‘blitz’ approach. Treating all
    cows and all quarters is required. Make sure to inform your milk cooperative and local veterinarian
    of this issue. Follow a prescribed treatment schedule and do not introduce new heifers or cows
    during this time, without culturing negative. A Short-Term Program is necessary when 50 percent
    or less of your herd is infected and/or your herd’s bulk tank weighted SCC is ranging between
    300,000 and 600,000, and there are confirmed cases of Strep. ag. Cull cows that have a long-term
    history of mastitis and have high SCC. Additionally, dry off and dry treat all cows that are within 80
    days of calving. Segregate treated cows and milk them last. Treat infected cows and implement a
    long-term control program. A Long-Term Prevention and Control Program is necessary if there
    are several confirmed cases of Strep. ag.-infected cows, but few clinical cases and the weighted
    SCC is between 200,000 to 400,000. If implemented, Strep. ag. infections can be eliminated over a
    two- to three-year period without extensive antibiotic therapy.
    A good Long-Term Prevention and Control Program is necessary to address Strep. ag.
    infection, as it is possible to eradicate this pathogen, since it only resides in the udders. Excellent
    pre- and post-milking teat sanitation, excellent milking hygiene including glove wearing, using
    single-use towels and maintaining milking equipment are necessary for reducing transmission of
    this and other pathogens. Segregate all cows and develop a plan for housing and milking. Stop
    purchasing animals until prevention practices are in place. Purchased animals should be tested for
    contagious pathogens and quarantined until tests are received. Regular bulk tank culturing is an
    effective way to monitor for the presence of Strep. ag.
    References

    J Hogan, R Gonzalez, R Harmon, S Nickerson, S Oliver, J Pankey, and K Smith. Laboratory Field
    Handbook of Bovine Mastitis. National Mastitis Council, Inc. Revised 1999.

    Mastitis Pathogen Factsheet #4 Staphylococcus aureus. (2014)

    R Mellenberger and J Kirk. (2001) Mastitis Control Program for Staph. aureus Infected Dairy Cows.
    Using Bulk tank Milk Cultures in a Dairy Practice. National Mastitis Council, Inc.

    CL-RES-65 In Use: 3/22/22

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