Bovine Mycotic Mastitis

Isolation of Candida spp. from mastitic bovine milk in Brazil

The purpose of this study was to isolate yeast (Candida) from the quarter milk of cow udders from 37 dairy farms in Brazil and to identify the different species involved in mastitis. The samples were collected between October 2002 and February 2003. Two-hundred-and-sixty milk samples from cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis were examined. Milk samples were plated onto Blood agar, Mac Conkey agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. Forty-five (17.3%) samples were positive for the genus Candida. The Candida species isolated were C. krusei (44.5%), C. rugosa (24.5%), C. albicans (8.9%), C. guilliermondii (8.9%), and others (13.2%). We also isolated Escherichia coli (26.5%), coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (25.0%), Streptococcus spp. (8.1%), Enterobacter spp. (8.1%), and other fungi (8.1%), among others.

Outbreaks of clinical mastitis caused by Trichosporon beigelii in dairy herds

Trichosporon beigelii is widely distributed in nature and is classically associated with white piedra, a mycosis that may involve the hair of the human body. Intramammary infections caused by T beigelii may be fatal in cows; the prevalence in affected dairy herds may be high. Affected cows may have hyperthermia, swelling of the udder, and substantially decreased milk production or agalactia. Intramammary infections caused by yeast, including T beigelii, may also be associated with high bacterial counts in bulk-tank milk.

Relationship between cell counts in bovine milk and the presence of mastitis pathogens (yeasts and bacteria)

Bovine mastitis is an economically important disease in dairy industry and a variety of pathogen microorganisms are involved. The AA carried out a study to investigate the prevalence of yeasts and bacteria in milk samples (794) from dairy cows of Umbria (Central Italy), belonging to 19 herds, and the relationship between cell counts in bovine milk and the presence of these pathogens. 29.7% milk samples were positive for pathogen microorganisms, of those 4.9% were positive for yeasts and bacteria, 4.4% for yeasts and 20.4% for bacteria. The species of yeasts and bacteria most frequently encountered were Trichosporon capitatum (31.2%), T. beigelii (18.72%) and Candida albicans (12.48%), C. guillermondii (12.48%), C. tropicalis (12.48%); with regard to bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (34.3%) and S. albo (19.8%). The presence of yeasts and bacteria in milk samples are correlated to an increase of somatic cell counts even if with different degree. Epidemiological and sanitary correlation were carried out.

Mycotic and algal bovine mastitis in Denmark

A one-year examination of mammary secretions (n = 2,896) from Danish cattle with clinical or subclinical mastitis revealed 45 strains of fungi and algae. The strains originated from 44 mammary secretions of 42 cows in 40 herds. The following species of fungi were identified: Candida catenulata (n = 2), Candida kefyr (n = 6), Candida krusei (n = 17), Candida rugosa (n = 6), Candida tropicalis (n = 3), Candida valida (n = 1), Geotrichum capitatum (n = 5). The algal species Prototheca zopfii was demonstrated in five samples.