The objective of this study was to perform a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of microbial contamination of harvested colostrum on 39 Czech dairy farms. The study identified the proportion of colostrum samples that met the recommended goals for total plate count (TPC), total coliform count (TCC), and gram-negative noncoliform count (NCC), and evaluated the effect of the farm, breed, parity, season of the year, time of calving, and colostrum volume on these 3 microbiological parameters. Colostrum samples from cows (n = 1,241; 57.6% from Czech Fleckvieh, and 42.4% from Holstein breed) were collected on dairy farms between autumn of 2015 and spring of 2017. The samples were collected after the first milking directly from milking buckets. In 155 out of 1,241 colostrum samples (26 farms, 6 samples each, except 1 farm), the species of microorganisms obtained by culture were determined, and the findings were classified into 4 groups according to the probable source of contamination as follows: (1) normal inhabitants of bovine skin and mucosa, (2) fecal contaminants, (3) environmental contaminants, and (4) potential gram-positive mammary pathogens. Our results showed heavy microbial contamination of collected colostrum samples (TPC median = 408,000 cfu/mL; TCC median = 200 cfu/mL; NCC median = 80 cfu/mL). Only 28.4% of samples met the requirement for TPC (<100,000 cfu/mL), 88.2% for TCC (<10,000 cfu/mL), and 86.0% for NCC (<5,000 cfu/mL). Among the tested factors, we found that farm had a significant effect on all 3 microbiological parameters, volume of colostrum had an effect on TPC (the highest TPC in <3.0 L of colostrum), and season had an effect on TCC and NCC (higher TCC in summer than in autumn and winter; the highest NCC in summer and higher in autumn than in spring and winter). Our results showed that most microbes isolated from colostrum belonged to normal inhabitants of bovine skin and mucosa, fecal, or environmental contaminants (i.e., 82.6%, 81.9%, and 75.5% of colostrum samples, respectively). Potential gram-positive mammary pathogens were found in 13.5% of samples. Escherichia coli was isolated from 9.0% of colostrum samples, and Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus parauberis were each isolated from 5.2% of samples. Our study showed high microbial contamination of colostrum collected on dairy farms. Therefore, better hygiene and sanitation around colostrum harvest should be addressed by farmers.

Streptococcus suis represents a primary health problem (such as meningitis, septicemia and arthritis in piglets and fatteners) in the swine industry worldwide and also an emerging zoonotic pathogen. In the Czech Republic, many pig farms repopulated their herds over the past decades to reduce morbidity and minimize treatment. The study analysed serotypes, sequence types and antimicrobial susceptibility in 39 S. suis isolates obtained from organs of diseased pigs from selected 16 repopulated farms with a history of S. suis-associated diseases and routine antimicrobial treatment with tulathromycin and/or amoxicillin. The analysis revealed diversity of collected isolates with regular occurrence of more than three serotypes per farm. The serotypes identified were 1/2 and 7, each in six isolates, followed by serotype 2 and 3 found in five isolates each, other serotypes were less frequent. Seven isolates were not typable by multiplex PCR and we also found sequence type of unknown type in thirteen isolates. The majority of S. suis isolates were resistant to clindamycin (n = 31), tetracycline (n = 29) and tilmicosin and tulathromycin (n = 28). On the other hand, with the exception of two isolates that were intermediately susceptible to penicillin and ampicillin, all isolates were susceptible to all three tested subgroups of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Occurrence of virulence-associated genes in Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus parauberis isolated from bovine mastitis | M Zouharova, K Nedbalcova, P Slama, J Bzdil, M Masarikova, J Matiasovic | Agricultural Journals

In this study, we focused analyzing γδ T cells during bovine mammary gland inflammation induced by Streptococcus uberis. A mammary gland cell suspension was obtained using lavage 24, 48, 72, and 168 h after intramammary-induced infection. The proportion of lymphocytes increased during the entire week in which inflammation was present. The γδ T cells were also elevated during inflammation, reaching their peak at 72 h following induced inflammation. The percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes continually increased, with the highest proportion occurring 168 h after S. uberis infection. The results show that γδ T cells may be involved in the resolution of inflammation in bovine mammary glands, with the apoptosis of those cells potentially playing an important role.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether apoptosis of lymphocytes is modulated by stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli or muramyl dipeptide (MDP). Cell populations were obtained by lavaging of the mammary glands 24, 48, 72, and 168 h following intramammary induced inflammation. The portion of apoptotic lymphocytes peaked at 48 h after treatment with LPS or MDP. The analysis of CD44 expression of the same cell populations showed a higher percentage of CD44-positive lymphocytes 24- and 48-h following induction of inflammation by LPS or MDP. The results demonstrate that during both experimental infection of bovine mammary glands with LPS or MDP, apoptosis of lymphocytes was induced in the initial phase of the inflammatory response and CD44 was also overexpressed at the beginning of inflammation. These data suggest a connection of lymphocyte apoptosis with the expression of CD44 receptors.

Diarrhoea in?newborn piglets represents a?significant challenge to?pig production. Controlled oral exposure, also known as?“feedback”, whereby sows are exposed at?least two weeks before farrowing to?pathogens that cause health prob...