doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.393-395 Involvement of fungal species in bovine mastitis in and around Mathura, India

Introduction very little work is done in India. Present study was undertaken to know the prevalence of fungal infections Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary and the species involved in clinical and sub-clinical gland. It is widespread in dairy herds and associated mastitis. with a significant reduction in milk yield resulting in increased costs of production and deteriorated quality Materials and Methods of milk and milk products [1]. Mastitis is characterized A total of 100 milk samples were collected for by partial or complete damage to udder tissues which is fungal isolation from March to May 2010 (Table-1). usually a consequence of microbial infection. A wide Out of these 20 milk samples were collected from variety of microorganisms have been implicated as clinical mastitis cases and 80 milk samples were causative agent of bovine mastitis including bacteria collected from apparently healthy cows and buffaloes. and fungi [2]. 15ml of milk was collected from each animal and Seriousness of mycotic infection of mammary transported to laboratory under ice. Milk samples were glands depends upon the species of the fungus involved examined for colour, consistency and pH. Samples as well as the percentage of infectivity. Treatment of were streaked on Saboraud's dextrose agar plates. The mycotic mastitis is a challenge as many of these fungi plates were incubated at 37°C and examined for growth do not respond to the antibiotics therapy rather they use at 24, 48 and 72 hours and at weekly intervals for 4 some of the antibiotics like tetracycline as their source weeks after which the plates showing no growth were of energy [3]. considered negative [3]. The colonies were picked up In routine mastitis therapy antibiotics are used and re-streaked on another SDA plate to get the pure more often and much emphasis is not given on the cultures. These fungal isolates were studied for their antifungal therapy. Due to this reason most of the cultural and morphological characteristics. The mastitis cases not only become incurable but also act as morphological characteristics were noted after staining a source of infection for other lactating animals in the with Gram's and Lacto phenol cotton blue stain. herd. Therefore it has become necessary to know about Isolates were identified by different sugar fermentation the fungal spp. playing role in mastitis, which could be test. Briefly, 1% solution of different sugar solutions differentially diagnosed and pinpoint therapy should were dispensed into …


Introduction
very little work is done in India.Present study was undertaken to know the prevalence of fungal infections Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary and the species involved in clinical and sub-clinical gland.It is widespread in dairy herds and associated mastitis.with a significant reduction in milk yield resulting in increased costs of production and deteriorated quality

of milk and milk products [1]. Mastitis is characterized
A total of 100 milk samples were collected for by partial or complete damage to udder tissues which is fungal isolation from March to May 2010 (Table -

1). usually a consequence of microbial infection. A wide
Out of these 20 milk samples were collected from variety of microorganisms have been implicated as clinical mastitis cases and 80 milk samples were causative agent of bovine mastitis including bacteria collected from apparently healthy cows and buffaloes.and fungi [2].
15ml of milk was collected from each animal and Seriousness of mycotic infection of mammary transported to laboratory under ice.Milk samples were glands depends upon the species of the fungus involved examined for colour, consistency and pH.Samples as well as the percentage of infectivity.Treatment of were streaked on Saboraud's dextrose agar plates.The mycotic mastitis is a challenge as many of these fungi plates were incubated at 37°C and examined for growth do not respond to the antibiotics therapy rather they use at 24, 48 and 72 hours and at weekly intervals for 4 some of the antibiotics like tetracycline as their source weeks after which the plates showing no growth were of energy [3].
considered negative [3].The colonies were picked up In routine mastitis therapy antibiotics are used and re-streaked on another SDA plate to get the pure more often and much emphasis is not given on the cultures.These fungal isolates were studied for their antifungal therapy.Due to this reason most of the cultural and morphological characteristics.The mastitis cases not only become incurable but also act as morphological characteristics were noted after staining a source of infection for other lactating animals in the with Gram's and Lacto phenol cotton blue stain.herd.Therefore it has become necessary to know about Isolates were identified by different sugar fermentation the fungal spp.playing role in mastitis, which could be test.Briefly, 1% solution of different sugar solutions differentially diagnosed and pinpoint therapy should were dispensed into separate tubes and fungal isolates be given to the animals.
were inoculated in these tubes.The tubes were then Though there are many reports of fungal o incubated at 37 C for 24-48 hours.The results were involvement in bovine mastitis around the globe, still indicated by the change of colour [4].cases and 50 from subclinical cases), were found A higher percentage of isolation of fungi from positive for fungal isolation.Of the 64 isolates, 26 clinical cases and subclinical cases reveal that the isolates yielded smooth white or yellowish, cottony incidence of fungal mastitis is increasing which may be colonies having resemblance with Candida spp.Upon due to unhygienic conditions of the animal sheds microscopic examination these isolates showed oval-supporting the growth of fungal spores and hyphae in shaped budding cells.Sugar fermentation test revealed the vicinity of lactating animals.Thereby, increasing that the isolates can ferment glucose, maltose and the probability of fungal spores and yeast cells to enter trehalose but cannot ferment lactose and sucrose.
into the udder parenchyma which provides the best These 26 isolates were tentatively identified as environment for the growth of these fungi [22,23].It Candida albicans [5].may be due to the development of antibiotic resistance Remaining 38 isolates yielded rapidly growing in the bacteria which prolongs the course of treatment colonies with green or black pigmentation, showing favoring chances for the fungal species such as resemblance with Aspergillus spp.Out of 38 isolates Candida and Aspergillus to infect as secondary 17, revealed granular to cottony colony, septate invader, due to the physiological changes in udder and mycelium with their conidiophores long and have club-milk.There may be the seasonal influences like high shaped vesicles.Vesicles were uniseriate and only the humidity along with favorable ambient temperature.distal half was covered by conidia.These 17 isolates Besides management practice like bathing of animals were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus.Rest 21 of in polluted Yamuna river may be contributory.Other Aspergillus spp.revealed long non-septate conidio-practices like discarding first few streaks of milk on phore with black spore heads with rapidly growing ground while milking may be contributing factor in the colonies.Vesicle was obscured due to profuse conidiation.increased incidences of fungal mastitis.Further These 21 isolates were tentatively identified as detailed investigation on the mycotic and bacterial Aspergillus niger (Table -2 mastitis is required in relation to the hygienic and management practices as well as pattern of antibiotic Discussion therapy adopted for the treatment of these cases.Fungi as an etiological agent of mastitis have also

Table - 1
. Samples collected from different places