Factors associated with microbiological and clinical cure of mastitis in dairy cows

Abstract

709 clinical mastitis cases were analyzed and treated with antimicrobial combination cephalexin-neomycin and the anti-inflammatory prednisolone. A sample of milk was collected to perform a microbiological culture before starting the treatment and 14 days later. Somatic cell count (SCC) was obtained from samples collected on the day of the clinical case (D0), 14 days after (D14) and 28 days after (D28). Of the total, 435 (61.4%) at the D0 exhibited growth of microorganisms. Of the isolated agents, 365 (84%) were Gram-positive, and 66 (16%) were Gram-negative. A clinical cure was achieved in 63% of cases. Bacteriological cure occurred in 75% of cases. Only at D28 after the clinical case a significant SCC reduction was verified. The logistic regression for clinical cure showed significant effects for days in milk and parity (P < 0.05). For bacteriological cure, there were significant effects of Log (SCC) D0; clinical cure and quarter affected (P < 0.05). In the principal component analysis, the Temperature-Humidity Index was associated with reduced clinical cure of clinical mastitis cases.