Sp. Oliver et al., PREMILKING TEAT DISINFECTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PATHOGEN INTRAMAMMARY INFECTIONS, Journal of food protection, 56(10), 1993, pp. 852-855
A natural exposure study was conducted for 14 months to evaluate effic
acy of 0.25% iodine premilking teat disinfectant for the prevention of
new intramammary infections. Predipping was compared with a negative
control using a split-udder experimental design. All teats were dipped
after milking with the same teat dip. Most new major pathogen intrama
mmary infections resulted from Streptococcus species, primarily Strept
ococcus uberis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and from gram-negative
bacteria, primarily Escherichia coli. New infections by gram-negative
bacteria were significantly lower in quarters with teats predipped and
postdipped than in quarters with teats postdipped only. Percentage of
quarters newly infected by major mastitis pathogens was 48.6% lower i
n quarters with teats predipped and postdipped than in quarters with t
eats postdipped only. Statistical differences in incidence of clinical
mastitis between treatment groups were not observed. Predipping and p
ostdipping was no more effective against Staphylococcus species and Co
rynebacterium bovis than postdipping only. These data suggest that pre
- and postdipping with the test product was more effective against maj
or pathogens than postdipping only and provide additional evidence tha
t premilking teat disinfection is an effective management procedure fo
r prevention of environmental pathogen intramammary infections.