Genus identification and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from cows with acute mastitis in a practice population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens from cows with mastitis treated at a private practice during a 2-year period. DESIGN: Observational study. ANIMALS: Lactating dairy cows from 47 herds of 40 to 600 cows each. PROCEDURE: Bacteria isolated from milk samples were identified as coliforms, Staphylococcus spp, or Streptococcus spp, using selective media. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed, using the disk diffusion method with the following antibiotics: gentamicin, amikacin sulfate, penicillin G, penicillin G-novobiocin, ampicillin, cephalothin sodium, ticarcillin, ceftiofur, lincomycin, erythromycin, pirlimycin hydrochloride, sulfonamide, tetracycline, and polymyxin B. RESULTS: Of 354 samples tested, 82 (23.2%) yielded no growth. Of bacteria isolated, 54 (15.3%) were coliforms, 96 (27.1%) were Staphylococcus spp, and 94 (26.6%) were Streptococcus spp. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on 62.4% of all samples cultured. For Staphylococcus isolates, cephalothin was the most effective antibiotic in vitro for which a commercially available preparation exists. Penicillin G-novobiocin was the most effective antibiotic in vitro for Streptococcus isolates. Commercial antibiotic preparations approved for intramammary use were not effective in vitro against coliforms that were found to cause mastitis. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Mastitis caused by coliform organisms does not respond to commercial preparations intended for intramammary use; however, it may respond to parenterally administered antibiotics. Mastitis caused by Staphylococcus spp or Streptococcus spp should be treated first with a cephalothin or penicillin G-novobiocin preparation.

Effect of acute infection with noncytopathic or cytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus isolates on bovine platelets.

A total of 21 calves were inoculated i.v. with 1 of the following isolates of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV); CD87 (n = 10), NY-1 (n = 3), NADL (n = 5), or were sham-inoculated with virus-free medium (n = 3). Subsequent to inoculation, platelet counts were monitored to detect differences between noncytopathic (CD87, NY-1) and cytopathic (NADL) isolates in their ability to induce thrombocytopenia. Platelet count decrease throughout infection was statistically analyzed by comparing the slope of the line drawn from the count on the day of infection to the lowest count achieved by that calf. Significant difference was observed in the CD87-inoculated calves and in the NY-1-inoculated calves, compared with those of the same control group. Significant difference was not observed in the slope of platelet count decrease between the cytopathic NADL-infected calves and control-group calves. The data indicate that noncytopathic BVDV isolates may more easily induce thrombocytopenia than do cytopathic isolates in immune-naive, immunocompetent calves; acute infection with 1 cytopathic BVDV isolate (NADL) did not induce thrombocytopenia. In addition, although each calf seroconverted, virus was rarely isolated from mononuclear cells obtained from calves with cytopathic infections. At some point after infection, virus was always isolated from each of the calves undergoing noncytopathic infections, and occasionally, transient association of noncytopathic BVDV antigen with platelets was observed during these infections.

Investigation of an epizootic of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in calves.

Eight of 19 calves born to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV)-negative and -immunocompetent dams were determined to be infected with a noncytopathic strain of BVDV. Six of the 8 calves had diarrhea and 2 had no clinical signs of disease. In 3 euthanatized calves, lesions consistent with mucosal disease were found throughout the gastrointestinal tract, and the virus was isolated from the spleen, lymph nodes, and small intestine. In 5 calves, BVDV was isolated from mononuclear cells in blood samples obtained 21 days apart, indicating persistent infection. The virus was not isolated from sera obtained from 2 calves, with chronic nonclinical infections, that had neutralizing antibody titers > or = 1:512 against bovine viral diarrhea-Singer virus and titers > or = 1:256 against the persistent BVDV. Twenty-one days after vaccination with a vaccine that contained inactivated noncytopathic and cytopathic biotypes of BVDV, 4 of 5 persistently infected calves had neutralizing antibody titers < or = 1:4 against the bovine viral diarrhea-Singer virus and their persistent virus. Prior to vaccination, 2 of 11 virus-negative calves had neutralizing antibody titers < or = 1:128 against the bovine viral diarrhea-Singer virus, and after vaccination, only 1 virus-negative calf had a titer < or = 1:512. At 149 days after revaccination and prior to weaning, 4 virus-negative calves had neutralizing antibody titers < or = 1:512 (range, 1:16 to 1:384). Under the specific conditions in this herd, we were not able to detect a beneficial effect of vaccination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Identification and eradication of bovine viral diarrhea virus in a persistently infected dairy herd.

A milking herd consisting of 55 Holstein cows had experienced abortions in several cows, as well as congenital malformations in 1 newborn calf. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was isolated from blood mononuclear cell samples obtained from several cattle, documenting 1 acute infection and 8 persistently infected carriers identified by clinical appearance and laboratory testing. Initial suspicion of persistently infected status in some, but not all animals, was facilitated by poor growth rates in some calves. Virus isolation was performed on transtracheal wash fluid obtained from acutely and persistently infected cattle with respiratory tract infection. We describe the measures taken to identify and characterize the infecting virus strain, and the series of actions taken to identify and eliminate persistently infected carriers in a herd experiencing several related problems that were shown to be caused by bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Thrombocytopenia and hemorrhages in veal calves infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

The relationship between bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection and thrombocytopenia was studied in 18 veal calves experimentally infected with BVDV. All calves were free of BVDV, and 13 calves were free of serum neutralizing antibodies to BVDV before virus inoculation. Calves were inoculated at approximately 10 days of age, and platelet counts were monitored over a period of several weeks. Ten additional calves housed in close proximity were kept as uninoculated controls. A profound decrease in platelet counts by 3 to 11 days after inoculation was seen in all calves that had neutralizing antibody titers less than 1:32 before infection. Severe thrombocytopenia (less than 5,000 platelets/microliter) was seen in 12 calves, 11 of which also developed hemorrhages. Necropsy findings in 3 severely thrombocytopenic calves that died included multiple hemorrhages throughout the body. Calves that recovered had increased platelet counts, and in most instances, a corresponding increase in neutralizing antibody titers to BVDV. At 11 days after inoculation, BVDV was detected on platelets by use of immunofluorescence, but evidence of surface-bound immunoglobulin was not found. The results suggest that a nonimmunoglobulin-mediated method of platelet destruction or sequestration develops as a sequela to BVDV infection.

Immunofluorescence of bovine virus diarrhea viral antigen in white blood cells from experimentally infected immunocompetent calves.

A study to evaluate the detection of bovine virus diarrhea viral antigen using immunofluorescence testing of white blood cells was conducted. Five colostrum-deprived calves were inoculated intravenously with a cytopathic strain of the virus. Lymphocyte and buffy coat smears were prepared daily for direct immunofluorescent staining for detection of antigen. Lymphocytes were separated from heparinized blood using a Ficoll density procedure. Buffy coat smears were prepared from centrifuged blood samples collected using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as an anticoagulant. Bovine viral diarrhea virus antigen was detected by immunofluorescence between 3 and 11 days postinfection in lymphocyte smears and 3 to 12 days postinfection in buffy coat smears. Isolation of virus from both lymphocytes and buffy coat preparations correlated with detection of immunofluorescence. Serum neutralizing antibody to bovine virus diarrhea virus was detected on day 10 postinfection. Buffy coat smears were as sensitive as lymphocyte smears for the detection of antigen by immunofluorescence. It appeared that immunofluorescent staining of white blood cells was an effective method of detecting bovine virus diarrhea viral antigen.