Mastitis (pets)
In medicine, mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland . It is mostly caused by bacteria and is of particular importance for human health in domestic animals used for milk production ( cattle , sheep , goats ). In addition, it is of great economic importance due to milk losses, treatment costs and as a cause for the removal of animals from a dairy farm (cause of loss). For dairy cows alone, the annual economic damage from udder infections in Germany is estimated at 255 million euros.
Mastitis is part of the MMA complex in domestic pigs . In other pets, e.g. B. dogs and cats , mastitis occurs less often.
Pathogenesis
The infection occurs primarily as an ascending bacterial colonization of the mammary gland via the teat canal ( galactogenic ) . Penetration by blood ( hematogenous ) is also possible. The pathogens multiply in the cavity system of the mammary gland and attack the glandular tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction. In most cases, even mild mastitis leads to atrophy of the milk-producing glandular epithelium and thus to a decrease in milk yield.
Pathogen
In dairy cows, for example, specific germs such as Streptococcus agalactiae (pathogen causing so-called GALT mastitis), Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus or environmental germs such as coliforms , Pseudomonas spp. and Streptococcus uberis causes mastitis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis and their excretion in milk played a major role in the epidemiology of tuberculosis in humans in the past . Occasionally green algae from the Prototheca genus are also involved.
In sheep and goats, Staphylococcus aureus and Pasteurella haemolytica dominate , in pigs mastitis is mainly caused by coliforms.
Forms of mastitis in cattle
Catarrhal mastitis
Catarrhal mastitis (syn. Catarrhal mastitis) is characterized by inflammatory secretions in the area of the glandular mucosa ( exudation ). The main pathogens are gram-positive , less often gram-negative germs and yeasts. According to the course of the disease , a distinction is made between subclinical, chronic and acute catarrhal mastitis.
Catarrhal mastitis subclinica
In subclinical catarrhal mastitis, neither obvious changes in the udder secretions nor typical palpation findings on the udder are found. Suspicious cows are usually only noticed when the cell content is determined as part of the milk performance test (> 250,000 cells / ml in total milk ). A cytobacteriological examination can be used to distinguish it from a pure secretion disorder (increased cell count without the simultaneous presence of pathogens) and from latent mastitis (pathogen detection with normal cytological findings).
Chronic catarrhal mastitis
The chronic form can result from subclinical mastitis or follow on from acute catarrhal mastitis (see below) that has not been treated or has not been treated successfully. The connective tissue palpable changes in the glandular tissue are typical. The udder secretion retains the character of milk, but contains fine or coarse pus flakes. Affected animals show an undisturbed general condition.
Acute catarrhal mastitis
Typical signs of inflammation such as warmth, redness and pain can be seen on the diseased udder quarter. The animal shows a fever with an otherwise rather undisturbed general condition. The secretion retains milk character, but also contains yellowish pus and / or whitish fibrin flakes .
Mastitis apostematosa
This mastitis is synonymous with abscessing mastitis, pyogenesis mastitis or Holstein udder disease.
Pyogenesis mastitis in cows
Pyogenesis mastitis is usually the result of severe catarrhal mastitis or a late complication of udder or teat injuries. It is caused by a secondary infection with Trueperella pyogenes (formerly Arcanobacterium pyogenes ) . The disease is usually chronic, without disturbance of the general condition and is accompanied by abscess formation. In the final phase it turns into phlegmonous mastitis (see below) and leads to fever, loss of appetite and fatigue. The pathogens can spread through the blood ( metastasis ), for example in the liver, lungs or kidneys. The udder secretion has a typical putrid smell and, depending on the stage of the disease, is mushy or watery with purulent-bloody flakes and necrotic tissue fragments.
Summer mastitis of young cattle and heifers
This form of mastitis is etiologically and pathogenetically different from pyogenetic mastitis in cows. It occurs especially in summer during the main flight time of certain insects ( Hydrotaea irritans ). The pathogens that enter the udder through small skin lesions after insect bites are not only Arcanobacterium pyogenes but also other bacteria. A hypersensitivity reaction in the form of the Arthus phenomenon is held responsible for the acute and severe course of the disease . The diseased udder quarter melts completely within a few days and is detectable as a pea-like secretion. The animals show a high fever and pain.
Phlegmonous mastitis
Synonyms are mastitis acuta gravis and colimastitis . The latter is not entirely true, since in addition to coliforms, clostridia or pseudomonads are also possible pathogens. Phlegmonous mastitis is acute to peracute and is often life-threatening. The release of bacterial toxins damages vessel walls as well as tissue and cell membranes. Severe udder edema and / or death of glandular tissue quickly develops . The animals show a severe disturbance of their general condition with apathy , fever and severe pain. Paralysis of the hind quarters is possible in the final stage. Local symptoms include reddening, increased circumference, pain and lesions in the udder skin. The udder secretion no longer has the character of milk. It's serum-like or watery and may contain fibrin flakes. If the course is acute , the development of udder gangrene is possible.
Granulomatous mastitis
This form of the disease occurs less frequently and is caused by yeast , fungi, nocardia or algae ( Prototheca zopfii ). To granuloma formation occurs due to poor Phagozytierbarkeit the relatively large pathogens and their mycelium .
Forms of mastitis in sheep and goats
The infectious agalactia of sheep and goats is a mastitis caused by mycoplasma in which eyes or joints can be affected in addition to the udder. It leads to a drop in milk yield and thus to economic losses. In Switzerland it is one of the epidemics to be eradicated .
treatment
A milk sample for microbiological testing is generally recommended before starting therapy . This procedure ensures the diagnosis and enables targeted treatment against the causative pathogen.
In the case of local treatment ( intracisternal - into the teat cistern ), it is particularly important to carefully milk out the affected area before applying the medication. If the diagnosis is uncertain, a broad spectrum antibiotic is first used and, after the pathogen has been detected, a specific antibiotic is used.
A parenteral antibiotic therapy is due to the undisturbed -udder barrier blood in chronic mastitis with penethamate hydroiodide or macrolide antibiotics possible. In contrast, in acute mastitis, antibiotics can also be used due to the disturbed blood-udder barrier, which normally do not pass through this barrier. Furthermore, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy with NSAIDs can be carried out parenterally - this is also important for various pathogens (such as E. coli) in order to combat the toxins released by the bacteria.
The therapy of chronic mastitis can be supported with blood circulation-promoting (hyperaemic) ointments or warm udder showers. If the secretion changes are very strong, the affected udder quarters can be rinsed.
prophylaxis
The top priority is always hygiene . This principle applies not only to the milking process , but also to the keeping conditions. With regard to summer mastitis in heifers, the use of repellents is appropriate.
Mastitis in dogs
Bitches can develop an infectious inflammation of the udders during the suckling period , which requires immediate veterinary care. The bacteria involved sometimes invade through the milk ducts of the teats. Risk factors are inadequate hygiene in the area, a simultaneous metritis , small injuries from the sharp claws of the puppies, but also hematomas on the teats, as well as a blockage of the milk , for example if the puppy is lost or weaning too quickly . The disease is acute and can be life-threatening for the bitch. Antibiotics are available for treatment. Because the antibiotic is absorbed by the puppies through breast milk, tetracyclines , fluoroquinolones, and chloramphenicol are contraindicated during suckling . If the course is difficult, the puppies must be weaned and fed by hand-rearing . Broad spectrum antibiotics such as ampicillin , amoxicillin or cephalosporins in breast milk are more easily tolerated by the suckling puppies. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can complement antimicrobial treatment. In the case of a very mild course under treatment, the bitch can continue to suckle and be relieved by bottle feeding.
literature
Eberhard Grunert: Buiatrik, Vol. 1 : Udder diseases, obstetrics and gynecology, andrology and insemination. 5th edition. Verlag Schaper, Hannover 1996.
Web link
Individual evidence
- ^ AF Yassin, H. Hupfer, C. Siering, P. Schumann: Comparative chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic studies on the genus Arcanobacterium Collins et al. 1982 emend. Lehnen et al. 2006: proposal for Trueperella gen. Nov. and emended description of the genus Arcanobacterium . In: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology . tape 61 , no. 6 , 2011, p. 1265–1274 , doi : 10.1099 / ijs.0.020032-0 ( microbiologyresearch.org [accessed January 22, 2018]).
- ^ Yvonne Eichner: Pregnancy, birth and puerperium in the bitch, pages 50–51, PDF, pages 56–57
- ^ Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction: ' Mastitis in lactating bitches '