Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2025

Effect of additional prednisolone in the intramammary treatment of clinical mastitis

Résumé

Objective Intramammary (IMM) antibiotics combined with prednisolone are frequently used to treat clinical mastitis (CM), although field trials confirming the additional effects of prednisolone are scarce. This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of adding prednisolone to cefapirin compared to cefapirin alone on milk parameters and cow behaviour, assessed directly or using cow and milk sensors in cases of naturally occurring CM. Material and Methods Nine French dairy farms with Holstein Friesian cows in free stalls, using a Lely A4 or A5 Automated Milking System (AMS), and equipped with milk and cow sensors, were selected for this trial. Milk sensors (Lely) collected data on milk production, color, temperature, Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and conductivity at quarter level, while cow sensors (SenseHub neck monitoring tags, MSD Animal Health) monitored daily cow rumination and activity. CM was detected using AMS Reports 12 and 23 and/or indicators of high conductivity and/or a high SCC in the T4C or Horizon software. Farmers were instructed to verify alerts at least twice daily, and clinically confirm mastitis before contacting the local veterinarian for inclusion within 2 hours. On the day of inclusion (D0), the veterinarian performed local and general clinical examinations and collected a milk sample for bacteriology and cortisol measurement. Treatment involved either a commercially available IMM tube (300 mg cefapirin and 20 mg of prednisolone (P), Mastiplan LC, MSD Animal Health), or a IMM tube containing only 300 mg of cefapirin (no prednisolone: NP). The treatment distribution was randomized using statistical software to determine the sequence of treatments (P or NP). Both farmers and veterinarians were blinded to treatments. The treatment was administered three additional times at the subsequent milking sessions, i.e. at D1 (and possibly D2). Before treatments, the farmer scored cow behaviour, assessed the CM case clinically, and collected a milk sample for cortisol assays. On D14, the farmer observed cow behaviour using a scoring grid, the veterinarian performed a final clinical examination and collected a milk sample for bacteriology and cortisol measurement. Milk samples were frozen until transferred to the laboratory. Milk and cow sensor data were collected from 14 days before to 14 days after the occurrence of CM. Statistical analyses were performed using a univariable and multivariable models incorporating biologically plausible fixed factors and random effects, with logistic regression used for behaviour analysis. Fixed factors were removed when not showing significance based on Chi-square tests. Results Due to early detection and veterinarians’ prescription habits for additional parenteral treatment in more severe (grade 3) CM cases, mainly mild (grade 1 and 2) CM cases were included. In total, 88 CM cases were identified, characterized by changes of milk appearance, increased SCC and conductivity, decreased milk yield, and reduced activity and rumination. The most frequently isolated pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) in groups NP (n=44) and P (n=44) at 34% and 25%, respectively, followed by Enterobacteriaceae (3% in NP and 28% in P) and Streptococcus uberis (17% in NP and 11% in P). Cultures were negative in 26% and 22% of the CM cases, respectively. The overall bacteriological cure rates were 77.3% in group NP and 82.6% in group P, with no significant difference (Chi-square: P = 0.6). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates indicated a significant difference (P = 0.03) in the time to return to normal quarter SCC (< 200,000 cells/ml) in the P group (faster) compared to NP. CM cases in the P group also had a significantly lower milk cortisol level (P < 0.01) during treatment. In the multivariable model, no significant difference was found between the two treatment groups in milk conductivity, 24h rolling average of rumination (P = 0.72), activity (P = 0.98), milk yield (P = 0.90) or behaviour (P > 0.05). Conclusion Adding prednisolone to IMM antibiotic treatments in mild CM cases significantly shortened the time for SCC to return to normal and reduced cortisol levels in milk during treatment, thereby improving milk quality and potentially enhancing animal welfare. The additional prednisolone treatment did not influence milk yield, rumination, activity, or behaviour under the conditions of this study.

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hal-05090625 , version 1 (30-05-2025)

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  • HAL Id : hal-05090625 , version 1

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Jantijn Swinkels, Gaëlle Porcheron, Olivier Roy, Dorothee Ledoux, Alice de Boyer Des Roches, et al.. Effect of additional prednisolone in the intramammary treatment of clinical mastitis. European Buiatric Congress, SNGTV, ECBHM, May 2025, Nantes, France. ⟨hal-05090625⟩
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