AN INCREASED INCIDENCE OF MASTITIS CAUSED BY PROTOTHECA SPECIES AND NOCARDIA SPECIES ON A FARM IN SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

Mastitis caused by Prototheca spp or Nocardia spp is considered to be difficult to treat. Both microorganisms are contaminants commonly foun d in soil. The occurrence of mastitis caused by these agents was studi ed in a particular dairy farm. In this herd, the animals were kept at pasture overnight and during daytime were brought to a pen where they were fed. This pen accumulated mud and faeces, particularly in the rai ny season. During milking, pre-dipping of the teats was performed with an iodide solution, but they were not washed, so a layer of soil and faeces remained which may have contaminated the milking equipment. The herd comprised 91 lactating animals and 47 dry cows. For microbiologi cal examination, 107 milk samples were collected from lactating cows a nd 186 samples of mammary secretions from the dry cows. Prototheca spp were isolated from 14.55% of the milk samples and Nocardia spp from 4 .55%. Prototheca spp were isolated from 8.06% of the secretion samples from dry cows and Nocardia spp were isolated from 2.15% samples. The high occurrence of mastitis due to these environmental agents reflects the problem of keeping animals in muddy pastures and pens, and the de fective pre-milking hygiene for the teats.