Introduction

Staphylococcus aureus causes one of the most common types of chronic mastitis. Though some cows may flare up with clinical mastitis (especially after calving), the infection is usually subclinical, causing elevated somatic cell counts (SCC) but no detectable changes in milk or the udder. The bacteria persist in mammary glands, teat canals, and teat lesions of infected cows and are contagious. The infection is spread at milking time, when S. aureus contaminated milk from an infected gland comes in contact with an uninfected gland, and the bacteria penetrate the teat canal. Once established, S. aureus infections do not respond well to antibiotic therapy. Some reports suggest that segregation and/or selective culling of infected animals are proper control practices. However, others have found that use of proper milking procedures is also an effective control plan. In some herds with SCC below 200,000/mL, dairy managers have not been able to eradicate S. aureus despite the use of standard milking time hygiene techniques (Roberson et al., 1994). Recently published work has shown that 3% of all animals are infected with S. aureus (Schukken et al., 2009). However, S. aureus represents 10 to 12% of all clinical mastitis infections (Tenhagen et al., 2009). Interestingly, cows infected with S. aureus do not necessarily have an elevated SCC. During 1978-1980, nearly 27,000 milk samples from 28 herds were aseptically collected. Culture results showed that 10% of cows were infected with S. aureus (Jones et al., 1984). Only 60% of the infections were found in cows producing milk with SCC greater than 200,000/mL.

Heifers are also a reservoir for S. aureus infections. In several research trials, 12 to 15% of first-lactation cows were found infected with S. aureus at calving (Boddie et al., 1987; Trinidad et al., 1990a; Trinidad et al., 1990b). Furthermore, infected heifers left untreated produce 10% less milk in early lactation compared with those who received dry cow antibiotic treatment prior to calving (Owens et al., 1991). Many animals remain infected throughout the first lactation and act as reservoirs for infecting other cows in the herd. Although as many as half of the cows with high SCC may be infected with S. aureus, SCC alone are not sensitive enough to positively diagnose S. aureus infections.

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Damage Caused by Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis

S. aureus bacteria produce toxins that destroy cell membranes and can directly damage milk-producing tissue. White blood cells (leukocytes) are attracted to the area of inflammation where they attempt to fight the infection. Initially, the bacteria damage the tissues lining the teat and gland cisterns within the quarter, which eventually leads to formation of scar tissue. The bacteria then move up into the duct system and establish deep-seated pockets of infection in the milk-secreting cells (alveoli). This is followed by the formation of abscesses that wall off the bacteria to prevent spread but allow the bacteria to avoid detection by the immune system. The abscesses prevent antibiotics from reaching the bacteria and are the primary reason why the response to treatment is poor. However, bacteria can also escape killing effects of some antibiotics by hiding within neutrophils (white blood cells) and other host cells. As these white blood cells attempt to remove bacteria, many organisms survive and become dormant within the neutrophil, preventing contact with antibiotics. When the white blood cells die (usually one to two days), the bacteria are released to resume the infection process.

During infection, destruction of alveolar and ductal cells reduces milk yield. These damaged cells may combine with leukocytes and clog the milk ducts that drain the alveolar areas, contributing to further scar tissue formation, occlusion of ducts, and decreased milk production. The ducts may reopen at a later time, but this usually results in a release of S. aureus organisms to other areas of the mammary gland. The spread of S. aureus within the gland results in the formation of additional abscesses that can become quite large and be detected as lumps within the udder.

Though most cases of S. aureus mastitis are subclinical, chronic cows usually have high SCC, abnormal mammary tissue, and recurrent cases of clinical mastitis. Clinically infected quarters often show moderate swelling and visible clots (chunks) in the milk, especially in forestrippings. Acute S. aureus infections generally develop late in the lactation. However, the clinical symptoms (udder swelling or hardness, changes in appearance of milk) do not show up until calving or early in the next lactation. It becomes difficult to successfully treat an infection because drugs are not able to penetrate to all infection sites and because the bacteria can avoid contact with antibiotics while residing inside of leukocytes. Many strains of S. aureus have acquired antibiotic resistance, the ability to produce an enzyme that inactivates penicillin-based and other antibiotics, rendering the treatment ineffective. The development of antibiotic resistance during treatment with some beta-lactam antibiotics (e.g., penicillin) is an additional reason for therapy failures.

Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus Infections

The major reservoirs of S. aureus are infected udders, teat canals, and teat lesions, but these bacteria also have been found on teat skin, muzzles, and nostrils. The bacteria are spread to uninfected quarters by teat cup liners, milkers’ hands, washcloths, and flies. Staphylococci do not persist on healthy teat skin but readily colonize damaged skin and teat lesions. The organisms multiply in infected lesions and result in increased chance of teat canal colonization and subsequent udder infection.

Heifers infected during gestation, which carry infections through calving, represent an important reservoir from which S. aureus can spread to uninfected herd mates. There is considerable debate surrounding the route of S. aureus infection in heifers prior to first calving, but calves fed colostrum from a S. aureus-infected dam is a likely source. Early work suggested S. aureus-infected colostrum was not a culprit for first calf heifers calving with the infection (Barto et al., 1982). However, later work did show a positive correlation between feeding S. aureus-infected colostrum to a calf and that calf then calving with S. aureus mastitis (Roberson et al., 1998). Though the data are limited, if a S. aureus problem exists on a farm, careful colostrum selection, e.g., pasteurization, is certainly one area to consider. Clearly, good mastitis control programs will address the presence of this disease in heifers.

Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis

Culture of bulk tank milk is easy, economical, and an important aid in monitoring bacterial counts in milk. However, this does not replace individual cow culture. Bulk tank cultures can be used to monitor the status within a herd. For example, in a herd with no history of contagious mastitis, a positive culture or series of cultures would warn the producer to examine individual cows. When troubleshooting a herd with a high SCC problem, the culturing of all high SCC cows (>400,000 cells/ml) is recommended. If that includes more than 20% of the herd, then it is best to culture the 20 to 30 cows with highest SCC. These results will indicate the type of mastitis problem in a given herd, which allows for more appropriate recommendations based on the individual farm results.

Alternatively, the producer can use the California Mastitis Test (CMT) on cows with elevated DHI SCC to determine which quarters may be infected and selectively culture positive quarters. Herds not on test can also use the CMT periodically on all cows to identify quarters for culturing. This is an excellent starting point for identifying positive cows and moving them to a separate group. It is important to identify infections early to prevent spread to other animals and increase chances of a successful treatment.

Control of Staphylococcus aureus Mastitis

The most effective ways to prevent new infections are to eliminate conditions that expose teat ends to bacteria and reduce the possibility of spread from cow to cow, many of which are discussed below.

A. Hygienic procedures

1. Milkers should always wear gloves and change them frequently, especially when dirty or after stripping an infected animal. It is recommended to forestrip five squirts of milk from each quarter and check for abnormal milk or flakes.
2. Dirt should be brushed off teats with the use of a dry, single-use towel. Water should not be used as part of any milking procedures, even if a sanitizing solution is added. Sanitizers do not maintain activity throughout a milking, and water can introduce pathogens that are very difficult to cure.
3. A commercially available pre-dip should be applied with a dipper or cup and given 30 seconds of contact time. Sprayers can be used, but proper coverage is difficult to attain, especially on the teats farthest from the milker. Foamers are also commonly used, but caution must be taken to ensure that adequate parts per million of the active ingredient reach the teat end and teat skin.
4. A separate paper or cloth towel should be used to dry teats and scrub teats five times or for 20 seconds (Rasmussen et al., 1992). Towels must not be used on more than one cow.
5. Milking units should be attached 90 seconds after first tactile stimulation (stripping or wiping, whichever comes first).
6. Teat ends should be examined for evidence of chapping, cracks, or lesions, which may harbor mastitis-causing bacteria.
7. An effective post-milking teat dip should be applied after milking, ensuring that the entire barrel of each teat is covered. At the end of each milking, any teat dip left in the dip cup should be discarded, and cups should be rinsed with water and allowed to dry.

B. Milk S. aureus-infected cows separately and last

Cows with clinical mastitis, S. aureus infections, or those that have been treated with antibiotics, should be milked last, or be milked with separate milkers. Segregation of S. aureus-infected cows has proven to significantly reduce the prevalence of S. aureus mastitis and bulk tank SCC (Wilson et al., 1995). In many instances, if the animals cannot be culled, they must be separated to prevent the spread of contagious pathogens and a rapid and negative impact on bulk tank SCC. In the odd case in which a separate group absolutely cannot be made, it is best to identify these animals with a leg band to ensure proper care in the parlor, such as changing gloves after prepping.

Uninfected first-lactation cows should be milked before older cows carrying subclinical mastitis infections. Since heifers may be infected at calving and because cure rates are highest in younger animals, aseptic milk samples should be collected and cultured shortly after calving.

C. Milking equipment

S. aureus infections can occur during milking when organisms penetrate the teat canal. Irregular vacuum fluctuations caused by liner slips, flooded lines, etc., may cause a backflow of milk against the teat end. With sufficient force, bacteria can be propelled up into the teat canal and teat cistern. Therefore, properly functioning equipment is essential in preventing new infections.

Conditions that are associated with high impact force against the teat end, including liner slips, excessive temporary vacuum losses, low vacuum reserve, inefficient vacuum regulation, and abrupt milking unit removal should be minimized. Teat cups should not be removed from the cow until the vacuum has been shut off. Research has shown that slipping teat cup liners may cause 10 to 15% of new mastitis infections. Liner slippage early in milking often results from low vacuum level, blocked air vents, or restrictions in the short milk tube. Liner slippage late in milking is commonly caused by poor cluster alignment, uneven weight distribution in the cluster, or poor liner condition. Incomplete milking can be caused by poor type or condition of liner, mismatch between claw inlet and short milk tube, clusters too light, clusters that do not hang evenly under the udder, or high milking vacuum levels (Halleron, 1997).

Regular, preventive maintenance is essential for milk quality and mastitis prevention. Vacuum controllers (regulators), pulsators, and air filters need to be cleaned monthly. All rubber components must be changed according to manufacturer’s instructions. Rubber that is cracked, flattened, or otherwise deteriorated should be replaced even if the recommended life of the product has not been reached. The milking system should be evaluated every three months or 500 hours of operation, to include the following tests: vacuum reserve, vacuum level, vacuum recovery time, vacuum regulator response, pulsator graphs, and stray voltage. Many of these tests need to be conducted during milking time and not between milkings.

D. Antibiotic treatment of S. aureus cows

Antibiotic treatment will not control this disease, but it may, in certain cases, shorten the duration of the infection. Treatment effectiveness decreases as the cow becomes older and even as the first lactation progresses. Cure rates were 34% when 89 cows in 10 Dutch herds were treated for subclinical S. aureus mastitis (Sol et al., 1997). The results showed that probability of cure was lower in older cows with high SCC, and in cows infected in hindquarters during early and mid-lactation. S. aureus infections were found in 36% of clinical mastitis cases in Finnish herds (Pyorala and Pyorala, 1997). Of these, 39% responded to treatment. Cows with a SCC of less than one million were more likely to cure an infection compared with those over the cut-off point.

Successful treatment during lactation is greater if detected and treated early, whereas the response is lower when treating chronic infections. Use of a strip cup or similar device is strongly recommended for detecting abnormal milk. New clinical infections should be treated promptly and appropriately, especially in first-lactation cows. Tissue damage can be minimized if animals are treated during early stages of infection. As always, consult a veterinarian regarding off-label treatment options. The use of Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) SCC records in addition to visual observation of forestripped milk and milk culture results will indicate effectiveness of treatment.

Many researchers have looked at the efficacy of pirlimycin treatment both in heifers prior to calving and in all animals as an extended therapy treatment during lactation. According to the manufacturer, pirlimycin is one of the most effective compounds against S. aureus because its chemical nature allows it to penetrate mammary tissues. In heifers, a single tube of pirlimycin treatment in each quarter six to 12 days prior to calving significantly reduced S. aureus infections at calving (Roy et al., 2007). Furthermore, mastitis data presented to the FDA suggest that two tubes, administered 24 hours apart to infected quarters of cows during lactation, result in a cure rate of 36.6%, whereas only 1.1% of non-treated controls recovered spontaneously. In field cases, the cow cure during lactation rate increased to 49.4%. However, trials using the same treatment scheme at Louisiana State University and Iowa State University found cure rates of only 12% or less for chronically infected S. aureus cows during lactation.

Single quarter extended therapy with repeated label doses of pirlimycin has been examined as a means of providing drug levels beyond the expected life of the leukocytes that naturally fight off this infection. This protocol has been widely adopted for new intramammary infections with S. aureus as it increases cure rates. Four-quarter extended treatment with repeated label doses will provide adequate therapeutic concentrations for many S. aureus bacteria. A cure rate of 50% at four weeks after treatment was found in more than 100 treated cows (Belschner et al., 1996). Whether these cure rates justify the additional expenses and effort and increased risk of spread to other animals in the herd, not to mention the potential risk of extra-label use and antibiotic residue, is unknown.

E. Dry cow therapy

Dry cow therapy (DCT) is more effective in eliminating infections than lactating treatment. However, DCT is not effective if the infections have become chronic by the end of lactation. When cows are not given DCT, spontaneous cures have been very low. DCT is cost effective (Kirk et al., 1997). When a cow is dried off, it is recommended to treat all quarters with a commercially available DCT. Follow these steps when dry treating:

1. Cows must be milked out completely, teats dipped in post-milking teat dip, and blotted dry after 30 seconds contact time.
2. Teat ends should be scrubbed with alcohol pads before partially inserting the antibiotic tube into the teat (1/8th inch). Although internal teat sealants do not prevent the spread of S. aureus infections, the commercially available product does help to reduce new environmental infections. Internal teat sealants are especially useful during the first two weeks and the last seven to 10 days of the dry period when cows are most susceptible to mastitis pathogens. This increase in susceptibility is in part due to the stress associated with drying and the pre-calving period.
3. Teats should be dipped again after treatment prior to turning the cows out into clean, dry environment.

F. Pregnant heifers

New infections are commonly found in heifers, either at calving or in early lactation. Up to one-third of these infections are caused by S. aureus. Often these S. aureus infections, if untreated, become clinical and recur throughout the first lactation and into the second lactation. Furthermore, these infections increase the chance of contagious spread to other animals in the herd. Several management practices can be used on heifers prior to calving to eliminate infections before the start of lactation.

Administration of dry cow therapy to heifers has been evaluated in several Louisiana studies. A dry cow product containing penicillin and dihydrostreptomycin was administered during the first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy in 35 bred heifers from four herds. Although prevalence of infection and SCC were reduced by treatment in all three groups of heifers, heifers dry-treated during the second trimester of pregnancy demonstrated greatest reduction in mastitis and SCC at calving (Nickerson et al., 1995). It is recommended that heifers be treated with dry cow treatment at 60 days before expected calving date. Teat ends should be properly cleaned and disinfected before and after treatment. It is important to check milk for presence of antibiotic residue at three to five days after calving or before the milk is allowed in the bulk tank.

In Tennessee, a lactating cow antibiotic treatment containing either cloxacillin or cephapirin was administered to heifers at seven to 10 days before expected calving (Oliver et al., 1992). Cephapirin gave better treatment results than cloxacillin but resulted in antibiotic residue in milk at three days after calving. Treating heifers with cephapirin 14 days before expected calving eliminated residue problem. Therefore, if a lactating cow treatment is administered to heifers prior to calving, it should be done 14 days prior to expected calving (using the same precautions indicated under the preceding DCT section). This practice is not recommended for all herds but instead should be used in herds with a significant heifer mastitis problem, particularly a high portion calving with S. aureus mastitis.

G. Precautions at calving

Many mastitis infections (not specifically S. aureus) originate in the peripartum period. A well-drained pasture is preferred as a calving area, with no access to ponds, swampy area, or drainage ditches. A clover-grass sod is desired, in contrast to fescue or muddy, “beaten-up” lots. Lots and pastures should be managed to prevent muddy areas where cattle lie down. Filthy, damp, or muddy pens, lots, or pastures continually expose the teat end to a barrage of bacteria. Pens should be well bedded, clean, dry, and comfortable. Selenium-vitamin E dietary supplementation or injections at two to three weeks before expected calving have been shown to reduce mastitis after calving. Vitamin E levels of 1,000 IU/day during the dry period and 500 IU/d during lactation are recommended by the National Research Council. Other minerals and vitamins shown to reduce incidence of mastitis include vitamin A/beta-carotene, copper, and zinc. By testing animals to identify micronutrient deficiencies, providing a balanced ration, avoiding poorly fermented silages, and including dietary supplementation of vitamin E and selenium, proper nutrition can be maintained to reduce incidence of mastitis.

Conclusions

The best treatment for S. aureus mastitis is prevention. Recommendations to prevent spread of contagious mastitis pathogens include:

1. Do not milk cows and heifers with the same teat cup/claw unit used to milk mastitis-problem cows.
2. Segregate S. aureus-infected cows into one group and milk them last. Another alternative is to sort out infected cows before each milking and restrain them in an isolation pen until all other cows have been milked. In a short period of time, these cows will become trained to sort.
3. If heifers or cows are purchased, segregate them until milk samples can be cultured and their mastitis pathogen status can be determined. If possible, examine DHI SCC of cows before agreeing to make the purchase.
4. Cull infected cows, especially those with additional problems. Often, it is not economically feasible to cull a S. aureus-positive cow that produces 80 to 90 lb of milk. However, any cow that has had clinical mastitis in the same quarter for three or more occasions or any cow whose milk has been withheld from shipment for more than 28 days during the current lactation should be considered for culling from the herd. It is important to keep mastitis records, including cows and quarters treated and treatment used.
5. Place S. aureus-infected cows on a do-not-breed list. Cull them when their milk is no longer needed (e.g., to make base) or they have been in milk 305 days.
6. Biting flies traumatize the teat end. Flies also carry a number of mastitis-causing organisms that can colonize these teat lesions. Elimination of fly-breeding sites is one aspect of fly control. Flies breed in decaying feed or manure that has accumulated in exercise yards, calf pens, and box stalls. Another option for control is use of back-rubbers, feed additives, and ear or tail tags with insecticide. In one trial, the use of tail tags containing insecticide resulted in only 1 of 100 tagged heifers with a mastitis infection compared to 18 of 100 untagged heifers.
7. It is unclear whether waste milk from S. aureus-infected cows is a problem. One study showed a positive association between feeding S. aureus-infected colostrum and heifers calving with S. aureus mastitis (Roberson et al., 1998). Therefore, not feeding contaminated waste milk is a simple precaution that will most likely eliminate a possible reservoir of bacteria.
8. Many S. aureus vaccines have been designed and tested over the years. One research study indicated little to no effect on new intramammary infections following vaccination with a commercial product (Middleton et al., 2009). However, another investigation demonstrated a 61% reduction in S. aureus mastitis using the same product (Nickerson et al., 2008). Future research endeavors may focus on alternative vaccine options that will successfully prevent S. aureus mastitis.

Summary

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) mastitis is extremely difficult to control by treatment alone. To date, successful control is gained only through prevention of new infections and culling of infected animals. S. aureus organisms colonize teat ends and/or teat lesions. Spread of infection can occur through milkers’ hands, washcloths, teat cup liners, and flies. During milking, irregular vacuum fluctuations can force bacteria up into the teat canal, leading to the potential for new infection. If not culled, it may be best to segregate infected cows from the milking herd and milk those cows last or have them milked with separate milking units. A backflush system may help reduce bacterial numbers within the liners, but rinsing units by hand is certainly not recommended.

Author Information

C. S. Petersson-Wolfe
I. K. Mullarky
G.M. Jones
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Selected References

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