Immunosensing system for rapid multiplex detection of mastitis-causing pathogens in milk.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Biosensing Technology
• Dairy Science

Background:

• Mastitis is a significant endemic disease in dairy cattle, causing reduced milk production and economic losses.
• Accurate and rapid identification of mastitis pathogens is crucial for effective, pathogen-specific antibiotic treatment.
• Current diagnostic methods can be time-consuming, hindering timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated immunosensing system for the rapid, on-site, multiplex detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in milk.
• To provide a tool for timely diagnosis and treatment of mastitis in dairy cattle.
• To reduce the economic impact of mastitis on dairy farms.

Main Methods:

• Development of an immunosensor combining Bead Injection Analysis (BIA) with antibody-based biorecognition.
• Utilized renewable micro-columns for pathogen capture and fluorescence markers for detection.
• Quantification of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using fluorescence signal measurement.

Main Results:

• The immunosensing system achieved multiplex detection of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in milk.
• Detection limits were < 50 CFU mL⁻¹ for E. coli and 100 CFU mL⁻¹ for S. aureus.
• The system demonstrated applicability in analyzing milk samples from cows with acute clinical mastitis.
• The total analysis time was 20 minutes.

Conclusions:

• The developed immunosensing system offers a rapid and sensitive method for detecting key mastitis pathogens.
• This technology facilitates timely, pathogen-specific treatment, improving animal health and reducing economic losses.
• The automated, on-site detection capability is valuable for dairy herd management.