Evaluation of microbiological, cellular and risk factors associated with subclinical mastitis in female buffaloes.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological and cellular milk profile for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in female buffaloes and to assess risk factors for predisposition of the disease.


METHODS
Analyses were carried out by standard plate count (SPC), identification of species and antibiotic resistance, somatic cell count (SCC), electrical electrical conductivity of milk (ECM), and lactoferrin content in milk. Teat cups were swabbed to evaluate risk factors, observing hyperkeratosis, milking vacuum pressure and cleanliness of the site. Hence, 30 female buffaloes were randomly selected (15 from a group in early lactation and 15 in late lactation).


RESULTS
The most common bacteria in the microbiological examination wereStaphylococcusspp.,Streptococcusspp. andCorynebacteriumsp. In the antibiotic sensitivity test, 10 (58.82%) of the 17 antibiotics tested were sensitive to all isolates, and resistant bacteria wereStreptococcus uberis,Streptococcus dysgalactiae,Streptococcus haemolyticus, andEscherichia coli. It was observed that positive samples in the microbiological examination showed total bacterial count between 9.10×103to 6.94×106colony forming units/mL, SCC between 42,000 to 4,320,000 cells/mL and ECM ranging from 1.85 to 7.40 mS/cm. It was also found that the teat cups had high microbial counts indicating poor hygiene, and even faults in the cleanliness of the animals' waiting room were observed. It is concluded that values of SCC above 537,000 cells/mL and ECM above 3.0 mS/mL are indications of mammary gland infection for this herd; however, the association of these values with a microbiological analysis is necessary to more accurately evaluate the health status of mammary glands with subclinical mastitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Through phenotypic characterization of bacteria involved in the samples, the generaStaphylococcusspp.,Streptococcusspp., andCorynebacterimum boviswere the most prevalent in this study. Faults in environment and equipment hygienization are factors that are directly associated with mastitis.
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Unidade Acadêmica Especializada em Ciências Agrárias, Macaíba, RN 59280-000, Brazil.
Emmanuella
E
de Oliveira Moura
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Unidade Acadêmica Especializada em Ciências Agrárias, Macaíba, RN 59280-000, Brazil.
Adriano Henrique
AH
do Nascimento Rangel
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Natal, RN 59078-970, Brazil.
Maria Celeste Nunes
MCN
de Melo
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Unidade Acadêmica Especializada em Ciências Agrárias, Macaíba, RN 59280-000, Brazil.
Luiz Henrique Fernandes
LHF
Borba
Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus Arapiraca, Arapiraca, AL 57309-005, Brazil.
Dorgival Morais
DM
de Lima Júnior
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Unidade Acadêmica Especializada em Ciências Agrárias, Macaíba, RN 59280-000, Brazil.
Luciano Patto
LP
Novaes
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Unidade Acadêmica Especializada em Ciências Agrárias, Macaíba, RN 59280-000, Brazil.
Stela Antas
SA
Urbano
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Unidade Acadêmica Especializada em Ciências Agrárias, Macaíba, RN 59280-000, Brazil.
Júlio César
JC
de Andrade Neto
Bubaline; Production; Quality; Somatic Cell Count (SCC)