title: Bovine mastitis disease/pathogenicity: evidence of the potential role of microbial biofilms.
abstract: Bovine mastitis (BM) is a disease with high incidence worldwide and one of the most relevant bovine pathologies and the most costly to the dairy industry. BM is an inflammation of the udder and represents one of the most difficult veterinary diseases to control. Biofilm formation is considered a selective advantage for pathogens causing mastitis, facilitating bacterial persistence in the udder. In fact, recently some authors drew attention to the biofilm formation ability presented by several mastitis causing pathogens and to its possible relation with recurrent mastitis infections and with the increased resistance to antimicrobial agents and host immune defence system. Actually, up to now, several researchers reported the potential role of cells in this mode of growth in the previous facts mentioned. As a consequence of the presence of biofilms, the infection here focused is more difficult to treat and eradicate, making this problem a more relevant pressing issue. Thus, we believe that a deeper knowledge of these structures in mastitis can help to determine the best control strategy to be used in veterinary practice in order to reduce losses in the dairy industry and to ensure milk safety and quality. The aim of this paper was to review the existing research and consequently to provide an overview of the role of biofilms in BM infections.
authors.affiliation: CEB, Center of Biological Engineering, LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal fernandaisabel@deb.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: CECAV- Veterinary and Animal Science Research Center, Veterinary Science Department, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Apartado 1013, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.affiliation: CEB, Center of Biological Engineering, LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henriques
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003611:Dairy Products; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005260:Female; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: antimicrobial resistance; biofilms; bovine mastitis; causative agents