Diagnosis techniques and treatments for Escherichia coli mastitis in the dairy bovine were evaluated in two experiments. The first experiment evaluated eosin methylene blue agar as a method of distinguishing E.coli from other gram-negative mastitis pathogens. Escherichia coli will usually produce a green metallic sheen on eosin methylene blue agar. One hundred and twenty-nine milk samples or gram-negative isolates from milk samples were used to compare eosin methylene blue agar to a commercial biochemical test strip (the accepted standard). There was an intermethod agreement of 96.9% and a k-value of 93.7% indicating excellent agreement beyond chance between test methods. Eosin methylene blue agar is a reliable method for differentiation of E. coli from other gram-negative mastitis pathogens. The second experiment evaluated the efficacy of frequent milk-out as a treatment for E. coli mastitis. Sixteen Holstein dairy cows were divided into 2 blocks and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: 1) non-infected, not frequently milked-out, i.e. not treated (NI-NT), 2) experimentally infected with E. coli, not treated (EC-NT), 3) non-infected, frequently milked-out (NI-FMO), and 4) experimentally infected with E. coli, frequently milked-out (EC-FMO). Hours to bacterial, clinical and systemic cure were not different between the EC-NT and EC-FMO treatment groups. Serum a-lactalbumin concentrations were evaluated between treatment groups as a measure of udder health. Serum a-lactalbumin concentrations were higher in cows in the EC-NT treatment group than cows in the NI-NT, NI-FMO and EC-FMO treatment groups at 12 hours post-experimental challenge. Serum a-lactalbumin concentrations were higher in cows in the NI-FMO treatment group than in cows in the NI-NT, EC-NT and EC-FMO treatment groups at 36 hours post-experimental challenge. Results from this study do not support frequent milk-out as a treatment for E. coli mastitis. / Master of Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33584 |
| Date | 28 June 2001 |
| Creators | Leininger, Dagny Jayne |
| Contributors | Veterinary Medical Sciences, Roberson, Jerry R., Elvinger, Francois C., Akers, Robert Michael, Hovingh, Ernest P. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | LeiningerThesis.pdf |
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