THERAPY OF EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED COLIFORM MASTITIS WITH A PROPIONIBACTERIUM-ACNES PRODUCT

The efficacy of a Propionibacterium acnes product for treatment of col iform mastitis was evaluated following intramammary infusion of Escher ichia coli. Ten cows were injected intravenously with a product contai ning heat-killed P. acnes at 3 h, 3 d, and 7 d after bacterial challen ge. Five cows served as untreated negative controls. Bacterial counts in milk, rectal temperatures, and milk SCC did not differ between trea ted cows and control cows. Intravenous infusion of P. acnes had no eff ect on milk production or DMI of treated cows compared with untreated controls. Therapy of experimentally induced coliform mastitis with a P . acnes product had no effect on severity or duration of clinical sign s.