STUDIES ON MASTITIS IN COWS AND BUFFALOES WITH REFERENCE TO MYCOTIC INFECTIONS OF UDDER

The following fungi were isolated from: udders of cows and buffaloes Aspergillus fumigatus (37.6%, 30%), A. niger (14.6%, 26.4%), A. flavus (11%, 17%), A. minor (11%, 13.4%), Candida albicans (40.2%, 52.8%), Candida tropicalis (19.5%, 24.5%), Candida vrusei (14.6%, 3.8%), Mucor
spp. (33%, 28.6%), Rhizopus spp < /p>
و%4:9) .
in buffaloes and cows (
5.7%
respectively. Penicillium. Clandosporium and Cephalosporium spp. were at lower percentages. The incidence of mycotic infection was assessed in both apparently healthy quarters and in milk samples from clinical cases.
In addition to mycotic flora there was an associated contamination of udders with gram positive and gram negative organisms in 21 buffaloes and 13 cows. the isolated bacteria included: Escherichia coli (20.7%,
*: Dept. of Med. & Infectious Deseases, Assiut University, Assiut Egypt. **: Animal Health Research Institute, Assiut. **: Dept. of Vet. Med., Assiut University.
Assiut Vet.Med.). Vol. 22, No. A, January, 1990.
52
MB. MORCOS et al.
20.7%), Staph. pyogenes (15.8%, 18.9%), Beta-hemolytic streptococci (11.0%, 17.0%), Pseudomonas pyocyanea (7.3%, 13.2%), Paracolon spp. (4.9%, 13.2%) and Corynebacterium spp. (7.3%, 3.7%) in buffaloes and cows respectively.
There was predominance of Gram negative over Gram positive organisms (1.0 : 0.9). The source of bacterial contamination was not determined and it might have occurred with opportunistic bacteria. The results have implications whenever successful treatment in the mixed infections are considered while cases of mycotic infection alone require an antimy cotic for optimal results.
Right half and hind quarters were found to be affected with either mycotic or bacterial mastitis at greater frequency than left half and fore quarters. The highest incidence of mastitis was seen during the second stage of lactation (3-5 months).
Study on mycoflora of food grains used for feeding the animals revealed infection with many toxic fungi like: Aspergillus spp. (66.6%), Rhizopus spp. (45%). There were similarities in flora types and colony characters between mycoflora isolated from mouldy food grains and udder secretions.
Mastitis was reproduced experimentally in normal udders of buffaloes and cows with mastitis secretions and with glucose broth cultures of fungi mouldy food grains. Clinical mastitis developed within few days in all infused quarters and mycoflora were recultured from their sec retions. Fungal broth cultures of mouldy grains proved toxic to rabbits and death occurred after intravenous injections with various dilutions. According to these observations the mouldy food grains would have acted as a source of mycotic mastitis. This finding would be of value at the present time to those in general practice and to breeders.