Prevalence of contagious mastitis pathogens in bulk tank milk in Prince Edward Island.
The purpose of this study was to 1) estimate the herd prevalence of contagious mastitis pathogens in bulk milk from Prince Edward Island (PEI) dairy farms, 2) determine the association between bulk milk culture results and mean bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC), and 3) investigate the agreement of repeated bulk milk cultures. Three consecutive bulk milk samples were obtained at weekly intervals from all 258 PEI dairy herds and were cultured using routine laboratory methods. Cumulative prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Mycoplasma spp. (M. bovis and M. alkalescens) was 74%, 1.6%, and 1.9%, respectively. Bulk milk somatic cell count of Staph. aureus-positive herds was higher than that of negative herds. Agreement for Staph. aureus isolation between 3 consecutive tests was moderate (kappa = 0.46). Mycoplasma bovis and M. alkalescens in bulk milk are being reported for the 1st time in PEI ever and in Canada since 1972.
Olde Riekerink
Richard G M
RG
Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3. rolderiek@upei.ca
Barkema
Herman W
HW
Veenstra
Stefan
S
Poole
Doris E
DE
Dingwell
Randy T
RT
Keefe
Gregory P
GP
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D003612:Dairying / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D011325:Prince Edward Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary