Blitz therapy in control of Streptococcus agalactiae subclinical mastitis in dairy cows reduces somatic cells count of bulk milk tank in a dairy cattle herd

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the control feasibility of Streptococcus agalactiae subclinical mastitis and its impact in reducing somatic cell counts (SCC) of bulk milk tank. During the lactation, 33 cows positive for Streptococcus agalactiae in microbiological culture were treated with three applications of intramammary antimicrobial containing 100.000 UI of penicillin and 150 mg of novobiocin, in an interval of 12 hours. Individual and bulk tank milk samples were collected for somatic cell count (SCC) analysis and milk yield was measured before and after treatment. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS System, version 9.2. All cows treated against S. agalactiae had microbiological cure and reduction of SCC, indicating the effectiveness of treatment. SCC in bulk tank was reduced from 829,000 to 513,000 cells/ml.