Gram-negative, culture-negative, Staphylococcus aureus, Prototheca…did you reach for your mastitis notes from vet school yet? With more than 200 known mastitis-causing pathogens1 and the multifactorial nature of intramammary infections, mastitis discussions can become complex in a hurry, even for veterinarians. For your dairy producer clients, keeping up with the latest in mastitis research and treatment guidance is likely overwhelming. We've made tremendous strides in mastitis research, but our next task is to transfer this knowledge into practical on-farm protocols.
Mastitis can be classified based on its presentation into clinical and subclinical forms. Subclinical mastitis is characterized by an inflammatory process in the mammary gland, typically caused by an infection but without visually evident clinical signs of disease. In contrast, clinical mastitis presents with visible signs of inflammation in the milk, udder, and, in severe cases, systemically (Figure 1).
Treating subclinical mastitis during lactation is often not economically justifiable, except in specific scenarios involving contagious bacteria. Therefore, this article will primarily focus on strategies for treating clinical mastitis.
