Therapeutic efficacy of Chymotrypsin in acute bovine mastitis

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a proteolytic drug "chymotrypsin" combined with beta-lactam antibiotics in cows with acute mastitis. Material and Methods. Fourteen cows with acute mastitis. Three cows were treated with a beta-latam antibiotic (BLA) and the other eleven cows were treated with chymotrypsin plus beta-lactam antibiotic (C+BLA). The response was evaluated according to the semiological findings, somatic cell count (SCC) and a microbiological culture. Results. There was a therapeutic efficacy comparing the pre and post treatment period (SCC reduction, p < 0.01) and a reduction of clinical signs in 84.7% of treated quarters in the first day of treatment (C+BLA) compared with (BLA). Conclusions. Chymotrypsin improves the treatment of acute mastitis when is combined with BLA, controlling the infected mammary glands, compared with the group treated only with amoxicilina and clavulanic acid.