Pregnancy toxaemia as predisposing factor for development of mastitis in sheep during the immediately post-partum period

• Published in: Small ruminant research 2015-09, Vol.130, p.246-251
• Main Authors: Barbagianni, M.S., Mavrogianni, V.S., Katsafadou, A.I., Spanos, S.A., Tsioli, V., Galatos, A.D., Nakou, M., Valasi, I., Gouletsou, P.G., Fthenakis, G.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Mannheimia haemolytica; Mastitis; Post-partum period; Pregnancy toxaemia; Risk factor; Sheep; β-Hydroxybuturate
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.07.002

•Pregnancy toxaemia led to development of mastitis at the early stage of subsequent lactation period in ewes.•Bacteriological, cytological and pathological methods were used.•Impairment of mammary defence mechanisms was the likely cause. Objective of the work was to evaluate the potential predisposing role of pregnancy toxaemia in development of mastitis in the immediately post-partum period. Ewes were allocated in subgroups A1 or A2 (with pregnancy toxaemia) or B1 or B2 (with no pregnancy toxaemia). Ewes in A1 or B1 were challenged, on the 5th day post-partum, by deposition of Mannheimia haemolytica into the teat duct, whilst ewes in A2 and B2 were controls. Clinical, bacteriological and cytological examinations were performed, as well as pathological examination of the inoculated teat (after mammelectomy) and both mammary parenchymas (after biopsy). Mastitis developed in 8/8 ewes of subgroup A1, in 1/8 ewe of subgroup A2, in 4/8 ewes in subgroup B1 and in 0/4 ewes in subgroup B2. Comparisons between subgroups revealed that isolations from A1 were greater than respective isolations from B1 (P