Mastitis in Dairy Species: Identification, Control, Prevention, and Milk Quality

Introduction

The constant growth of dairy products consumption world-wide, turn the dairy sector into an essential choice to supply the nutritional demands of the population and justifies the intensification of milk production, with emphasis on bovine (cows and buffalos), goats, and sheep milk. The nutritional characteristics of milk and dairy products largely depend on the herd's health, which directly reflects on the quality of the milk produced. Thus, the efficiency in detecting diseases in the dairy herd becomes crucial to minimize economic losses, while ensuring milk and dairy products quality, and preventing risks to consumers health (Puppel et al., 2020). Mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland, is a primary disease of dairy herds. Mastitis promotes adverse effects on agricultural economies, mainly associated with reduced milk production, poor milk quality, treatment costs, discarded milk, and reduced longevity of animals (Kim et al., 2019). In this scenario, significant research is carried out to identify the main etiological agents involved in the disease, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus spp. (Silva et al., 2022; Merz et al., 2016) Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Corynebacterium bovis, Escherichia. Coli and others (Vakkamäki et al., 2017).

Clinical and Recently subclinical mastitis have become much more prevalent than clinical mastitis in herds while it is difficult to detect (Krishnamoorthy et al., 2021). Consequently, early detection and diagnosis of mastitis allows producers to provide quick remediation and control, like timely medical treatment of animals, avoiding severe damage. The diagnostic methods can be subdivided into direct and indirect tests, that are considered faster and cheaper. Diagnostic methods can be done during the initial stages of milking, such as California Mastitis Test (CMT), Wisconsin Mastitis Test (WMT), and black bottom mug test, or they can be more accurate using Somatic Cell Count (SCC), and detection of biomarkers such as lactate dehydrogenase, lactose, and proteins associated with inflammation (Antanaitis et al., 2021; Boora et al., 2021; Dore et al., 2016; Holko et al., 2019; Gómez-Gascón et al., 2022). Bacterial culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and Matrix Associated Laser Desorption-Ionization - Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) are direct tests that are usually slower and more expensive. However, these tests present more detailed information at the bacterial strain level, such as virulence factors, circulating antibiotic resistance genes, antibiogram, and new species involved in the occurrence of mastitis (Aragão et al., 2021; Gelasakis et al., 2016; Oliveira et al., 2022a; Oliveira et al., 2022b).

Advancement in research alert to the spread of bacterial strains resistant to antibiotic therapy, and the risks of this phenomenon increasing the probability of finding antibiotic residues in dairy products have been taken seriously. The development of nanoparticles and the effectiveness of natural products used in homeopathy and phytotherapy are presented as healthier and secure alternatives since they are effective in the treatment of diseases and reduce the use of antibiotics, also reducing antibiotic residues in products and in the environment (Kala et al., 2022; Mimoune et al., 2021; Silva et al., 2020; Sousa et al., 2020). Training workers for hygienic dairy management, data organization, periodic herd testing, and appropriate veterinary treatment procedures are fundamental measures of prevention and control to minimize losses in the production and quality of milk offered to the population (Mimoune et al., 2021; Silva et al., 2020). Therefore, this chapter aims to present recent scientific data on clinical and subclinical mastitis in different dairy species approaching detection methods, etiological agents, primary and new therapies, control trends, and prevention methods. Moreover, we also report how and which anatomical, physiological, and behavioral differences inherent to each species can influence the occurrence, treatment, and prevention of mastitis.