Microbiota of Cow's Milk with Udder Pathologies

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Bovine Health
• Dairy Science

Background:

• Mastitis is a prevalent cattle disease causing significant economic losses in the dairy industry.
• Recent research highlights the involvement of multiple agents and microbiome diversity in mastitis etiology.
• Understanding the bovine udder microbiome is crucial for managing mastitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of the microbiome in the development of bovine udder pathologies.
• To identify specific bacterial genera associated with mastitis in dairy cows.
• To explore potential microbial biomarkers for early mastitis detection.

Main Methods:

• Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rRNA gene was employed.
• Bacterial DNA was extracted from milk samples of cows with udder pathologies.
• Comparative analysis of microbial communities between healthy and diseased cows was performed.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in genera such as *Cutibacterium*, *Blautia*, *Clostridium sensu stricto 2*, *Staphylococcus*, *Streptococcus*, and *Microbacterium* were observed in cows with udder pathologies.
• *Staphylococcus* and *Streptococcus* relative abundance correlated with subclinical mastitis.
• Elevated *Staphylococcus* and *Microbacterium* levels may indicate early infection stages.
• For the first time, increased abundance of *Colidextribacter*, *Paeniclostridium*, and *Turicibacter* genera was reported in mastitis cases.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates the complex role of the bovine udder microbiome in mastitis development.
• Specific bacterial genera, including *Staphylococcus* and *Microbacterium*, show potential as early indicators of bovine mastitis.
• These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of mastitis pathogenesis and inform future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.