Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum Period

An outbreak of acute mastitis was investigated in a dairy sheep farm in Central Greece with a prevalence of 8.2%. Two animals were examined with symptoms of hyperacute inflammation in one of the two mammary glands. Affected glands presented swollen to grossly enlarged, warm and painful. In both anim...

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Main Authors: Dimitrios Gougoulis, Labrini V. Athanasiou, Natalia Gabriela Vasileiou, Nikolaos Voulgarakis, Konstantina Dimoveli, Vasiliki Mavrogianni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-05-01
Series:Ruminants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-933X/3/2/12
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author Dimitrios Gougoulis
Labrini V. Athanasiou
Natalia Gabriela Vasileiou
Nikolaos Voulgarakis
Konstantina Dimoveli
Vasiliki Mavrogianni
author_facet Dimitrios Gougoulis
Labrini V. Athanasiou
Natalia Gabriela Vasileiou
Nikolaos Voulgarakis
Konstantina Dimoveli
Vasiliki Mavrogianni
author_sort Dimitrios Gougoulis
collection DOAJ
description An outbreak of acute mastitis was investigated in a dairy sheep farm in Central Greece with a prevalence of 8.2%. Two animals were examined with symptoms of hyperacute inflammation in one of the two mammary glands. Affected glands presented swollen to grossly enlarged, warm and painful. In both animals, haematological examination revealed mild anaemia, increased leucocyte counts with mature neutropaenia and left shift, and marked thrombocytosis. Bacteriological examinations of mammary gland secretion yielded heavy growth of Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Escherichia coli from each of the two animals, respectively. Serological examination revealed a high percentage of positive samples for small ruminant lentivirus infection in both animals. The somatic cell count in the bulk-tank milk was 0.65 × 10<sup>6</sup> cells/mL. The housing conditions were inadequate with high levels of ammonia, intense stocking and muddy bedding. This pathological condition in nulliparous ewes was attributed to the extensive oedema of mammary gland and teat, the relaxation of immunity during the peri-parturient period and the heavily contaminated environment. These findings are in general agreement with corresponding incidents in heifers. Following our instructions for improving housing conditions, no other similar incidents were recorded.
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spelling doaj.art-75a6386a99df47a3acaee8ebfd6c93de2023-11-18T12:29:05ZengMDPI AGRuminants2673-933X2023-05-013213313910.3390/ruminants3020012Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum PeriodDimitrios Gougoulis0Labrini V. Athanasiou1Natalia Gabriela Vasileiou2Nikolaos Voulgarakis3Konstantina Dimoveli4Vasiliki Mavrogianni5Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceVeterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceFaculty of Animal Science, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, GreeceVeterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceVeterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceVeterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceAn outbreak of acute mastitis was investigated in a dairy sheep farm in Central Greece with a prevalence of 8.2%. Two animals were examined with symptoms of hyperacute inflammation in one of the two mammary glands. Affected glands presented swollen to grossly enlarged, warm and painful. In both animals, haematological examination revealed mild anaemia, increased leucocyte counts with mature neutropaenia and left shift, and marked thrombocytosis. Bacteriological examinations of mammary gland secretion yielded heavy growth of Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Escherichia coli from each of the two animals, respectively. Serological examination revealed a high percentage of positive samples for small ruminant lentivirus infection in both animals. The somatic cell count in the bulk-tank milk was 0.65 × 10<sup>6</sup> cells/mL. The housing conditions were inadequate with high levels of ammonia, intense stocking and muddy bedding. This pathological condition in nulliparous ewes was attributed to the extensive oedema of mammary gland and teat, the relaxation of immunity during the peri-parturient period and the heavily contaminated environment. These findings are in general agreement with corresponding incidents in heifers. Following our instructions for improving housing conditions, no other similar incidents were recorded.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-933X/3/2/12acute mastitisprimigravidae eweshousing conditionspre-partumrisk factorsenvironmental pathogens
spellingShingle Dimitrios Gougoulis
Labrini V. Athanasiou
Natalia Gabriela Vasileiou
Nikolaos Voulgarakis
Konstantina Dimoveli
Vasiliki Mavrogianni
Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum Period
Ruminants
acute mastitis
primigravidae ewes
housing conditions
pre-partum
risk factors
environmental pathogens
title Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum Period
title_full Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum Period
title_fullStr Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum Period
title_full_unstemmed Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum Period
title_short Outbreak of Acute Clinical Mastitis in Primigravidae Ewes in the Immediately Pre-Partum Period
title_sort outbreak of acute clinical mastitis in primigravidae ewes in the immediately pre partum period
topic acute mastitis
primigravidae ewes
housing conditions
pre-partum
risk factors
environmental pathogens
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-933X/3/2/12
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