title: Field trials on the prophylaxis of intramammary infections in pregnant heifers.
abstract: The study was carried out in 5 farms on 174 pregnant heifers. Clinical examination of the udder and bacteriological tests of quarter secretion were performed between the 8th and 3rd week before parturition, and then the animals were divided into a control group (64 heifers) and 3 experimental groups and immediately treated. A group of 32 experimental heifers was injected once with antioxidants (Vitamin A--600,000 i.u.; Vitamin D3--200,000 i.u.; Vitamin E--1.5 mg/kg b.w., Selenium--0.022 mg/kg b.w., i.m.). The next group (26 heads) was intramammary infused with antibiotic DC product (cloxacillin). Heifers from last experimental group (52) were injected with lysosyme dimer in a single dose of 0.02 mg/kg b.w. Clinical and bacteriological examinations were made during the first week after calving. The presence of bacteria was found in secretion of 22.6-38.9% udder quarters in 56.2-71.2% of pregnant heifers. The number of infected quarters (cows) did not change distinctly in the first week after calving except the lysozyme dimer group, where a decrease by 30% was noted. The percentage of quarters with elevated somatic cell count was higher in antibiotic DC group and closely similar in the other groups. None of examined methods showed an acceptable prophylactic effect. Clinical mastitis cases during first week after parturition were mostly caused by Escherichia coli, Staph. chromogenes, Staph. simulans, Staph. aureus, Staph. hyicus, Str. uberis, Str. acidominimus and Enterococcus faecalis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology of Reproduction and Mammary Gland, National Veterinary Research Institute, Powstańców Wlkp. 10, 85-090 Bydgoszcz, Poland. vetri logonet.com.pl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Malinowski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kłossowska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaczmarowski
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuźma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Markiewicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002417:Cattle; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007267:Injections / Q000662:veterinary; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000382:microbiology*; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009113:Muramidase; D003023:Cloxacillin