How to Prevent and Control Coliform Mastitis
E. coli Is Everywhere
Escherichia coli, the pathogen primarily responsible for coliform mastitis, can be found
throughout the cow's environment. Coliform mastitis has become the predominant form of clinical
mastitis in well-managed herds that have effectively controlled contagious mastitis. The cow
typically affected:
- Is a high producer
- Has recently freshened or is in early lactation
- Has a somatic cell count (SCC) below 200,000
In a survey of low-SCC herds infected with clinical mastitis, 43.5 percent of cases were caused by
coliforms.(1)
Signs of Coliform Mastitis
After bacteria enter the mammary gland and cause infection, the pathogens release endotoxins that
result in serious - sometimes deadly - signs, including:
- Fever of 103°F or higher
- Abnormal milk (watery and/or blood tinged)
- Lack of appetite
- Excessive udder edema
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Dramatic drop in milk production (10 percent is common)
- Death (more common than with other forms of mastitis)
Treating Coliform Mastitis (Symptomatic Relief)
Relieving the systemic signs of coliform mastitis involves the following:
- Anti-inflammatory agents
- Frequent stripping is thought to be important, regardless of severity (some recent
research questions the value of this treatment in severe cases with heavy tissue and fluid loss)
- Fluid therapy seems to be very important, although oral
fluids may be ineffective in severely affected cows with significant gastrointestinal stasis. Intravenous
fluid therapy is one of the most effective treatments, if properly tailored to measured blood
values (for example, it is now believed that most coliform cows are hyperglycemic and tend
toward alkalosis). Administration of a small volume of hypertonic saline (7.5 percent sodium
chloride solution at 5 mL/kg) may be a reasonable alternative to administration of a large
volume of intravenous fluids (only if the cow is up, alert and has access to water and is capable of drinking).
- Systemic antibiotics
Treating Coliform Mastitis (Antibacterial Therapy)
Traditional approaches to antibiotic therapy for coliform mastitis were
based on three misconceptions.
- Misconception #1: Signs of acute coliform mastitis are primarily
due to the effects of endotoxin, and the bacteria have typically cleared the gland before clinical
signs appear.
- Misconception #2: Bacterial infection is restricted to the
mammary gland, and bacteremia is not an important sequela to coliform infection.
- Misconception #3: Coliform infections are acute and
self-limiting, and last no longer than a few days.
Recent research is proving that, while these notions may be true in experimental infection in healthy
cows with strong neutrophil response, they are not true in most natural infections.
- Current evidence #1: In fact, substantial numbers of
bacteria are consistently isolated from milk at least 48 hours after identification of mastitis
based on clinical signs (abnormal milk, gland firmness and size).(2)
- Current evidence #2: Studies have also demonstrated
significant bacteremia in a substantial number of cows as well as an increasing incidence of
bacteremia with increasing severity of disease. These studies suggest that the endotoxemia
associated with clinical mastitis may predispose cows to bacteremia. In addition to the mammary
gland, the source of these organisms may be other body organ systems.
Recent research using a scoring system to identify severity of coliform infections has shown that in
more severe cases, the occurrence of bacteremia with a significant pathogen increased from about four
percent to more than 40 percent between the mild and severe groups - and only 65 percent of cows with
a significant bacteremia survived.(3)
- Current evidence #3: Finally, repeated episodes of
clinical mastitis have been reported in glands where bacteria persist after experimental
infection when neutrophil counts within the gland decreased to low levels in the presence of
persisting organisms.(4) These findings suggest that low-SCC glands might be more at risk for
"chronic" coliform infection. As we strive for lower SCC cows, we may see an increase in the
incidence of clinical mastitis attributable to chronic coliform infection.
This growing body of evidence suggests that systemic antibiotic therapy may provide positive benefits
by controlling bacteremia and septicemia, as well as intramammary therapy for chronic infections in
the udder.
Preventing Coliform Mastitis With UPJOHN J-5 BACTERIN™
Fortunately, coliform mastitis can be controlled with effective vaccination and sound management
practices.
UPJOHN J-5 BACTERIN
(Escherichia Coli Bacterin J-5 Strain), the original breakthrough product for preventing and reducing the effects of
coliform mastitis, helps prevent losses due to coliform mastitis by stimulating an immune response
to E. coli and other gram-negative bacteria.
Trials in commercial herds prove that cows vaccinated with UPJOHN J-5 BACTERIN experience fewer and
milder cases of coliform mastitis. UPJOHN J-5 BACTERIN
vaccination is profitable even when less than one percent of cows in a herd contract coliform mastitis.
UPJOHN J-5 BACTERIN
has a unique two-phase adjuvant and three-dose regimen that initiate a strong
immune response (including cell-mediated immunity) and twice the protection of two-dose products.*
To get the most from any vaccination program, a dairyman needs to practice solid management and
hygiene, including:
- Work with your veterinarian to help identify problem areas.
- Maintain clean, dry freestalls and corrals.
- Select inorganic bedding - sand is best.
- Scrape alleyways two or three times per day.
- Keep the ratio of cows to freestalls near 1:1.
- Use properly functioning milking equipment.
- Minimize use of water to wash teats before milking.
- Use commercial pre-dip before milking.
- Forestrip cows.
- Dry teats completely with individual cloth towels prior to milking.
- Prevent inflation squawks; correct squawks promptly.
- Attach units within 60 seconds after stimulation.
- After milking, shut off vacuum and remove all four teat cups at once.
- Make fresh feed available after milking so cows remain standing at least 30 minutes to an
hour, allowing teat canals to close more completely before cows lie down.
- Ensure that selenium and vitamin E are at optimum levels in the lactating and dry-cow ration
for optimal function of the immune system.
- Use UPJOHN J-5 BACTERIN to help prevent E. coli
mastitis infections and reduce severity of the disease.
- Ask your veterinarian how to make UPJOHN J-5 BACTERIN part of a
100-Day ContractSM
Dairy Wellness Plan.
*Based on research data published and available.
1. Erskine RJ, et al. Incidence and Types of Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Herds with High and
Low Somatic Cell Counts, JAVMA, 192,6:761-765.
2. Wenz JR, et al. Characterization of naturally occurring coliform mastitis. J. Dairy Sci. 81, Suppl. 1:30;1998.
3. Garry F, et al. Proceedings, The Northeast Veterinary Dairy Symposium. August 29-31, 2000.
4. Carroll EJ. et al. Experimentally induced coliform mastitis; inoculation of udders with serum-sensitive
and serum-resistant organisms. Am J Vet Res. 34:1143-1146;1973.
entire article (printer friendly)
