Efficiency evaluation of a bivalent vaccine in the prophylaxis of mastitis in cows

Abstract

Mastitis in cows represents one of the most actual problems in intensive dairy production. The longtime different approaches to the treatment of mastitis have not offered a suitable solution, and the problem of mastitis is still present and acute. Prevention of pathogen penetration into the mammary gland, its colonization and multiplication impose a constant need for regular inspections of milk, as well as preventive and therapeutic measures to reduce the incidence of mastitis. Studies in the field of vaccination of ruminants against mastitis pathogens suggest a limited success in obtaining significant results in immunoprophylaxis. Considering the results of other researchers and our own research, and bearing in mind the problems mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae represent, the aim of this study was the preparation and testing of an indigenous vaccine prepared with two stable strains, SAU 7 (S. aureus) and SAG 3 (Str.agalactiae). The dose was 5 mL/cow and consisted of inactivated bacterial S. aureus SAU 7 cells in a concentration of 1x1010 cfu/mL and Str. agalactiae SAG 3 in a concentration of 4 x 109 cfu/mL. The number of somatic cells in the milk samples during the whole study period was higher in vaccinated cows in both groups compared with the control, but this difference was not statistically significant. The concentration of immunoglobulin IgG in the milk of vaccinated cows was significantly higher than the concentration of this class of proteins in the milk of unvaccinated cows.

Upala mlečne žlezde ili mastitis krava, predstavlja jedan od najaktuelnijih problema u intenzivnoj proizvodnji mleka. Dugogodišnji različiti pristupi lečenju mastitisa nisu dali odgovarajuće rešenje, pa je problem mastitisa i dalje prisutan i aktuelan. Sprečavanje prodora patogenog uzročnika u mlečnu žlezdu, njegovo naseljavanje i razmnožavanje, nameću stalnu potrebu za redovnom kontrolom mleka, kao i preduzimanje preventivnih i terapijskih mera u cilju smanjenja pojave nastanka mastitisa. Preventivna mera je i terapija krava u zasušenju koja podrazumeva lokalnu aplikaciju antibiotika nakon poslednje muže. Terapija krava u zasušenju treba u narednoj laktaciji da obezbedi što duži period neinficiranosti vimena, a obavezna je kod dijagnostikovanih subkliničkih mastitisa izazvanih sa Staphylococcus aureus i Streptococcus agalactiae. Radovi iz oblasti vakcinisanja preživara protiv uzročnika mastitisa ukazuju na ograničen uspeh u dobijanju značajnijih rezultata imunoprofilakse. S obzirom na rezultate drugih istraživača i sopstvenih preliminarnih istraživanja, a imajuću u vidu problem koji predstavljaju mastitisi uzrokovani Staphylococcus aureusom i Streptococcus agalactiae, cilj istraživanja je bio priprema i ispitavanje autohtone vakcine pripremljene od dva štalska soja SAU 7 (S. aureus) i SAG 3 (Str. agalactiae). Broj somatskih ćelija u uzorcima mleka tokom celog trajanja ogleda je bio viši u obe ispitivane vakcinisane grupe, u odnosu na kontrolnu, ali nema statističke značajnosti. Koncentracija imunoglobulina IgG u mleku vakcinisanih krava je bila značajno povećana u odnosu na koncentraciju imunoglobulina nevakcinisane grupe.