Impact of Milk-Derived Microbial Transfer and 7-Epiclusianone on Pathogen Load in Goat Mastitis

Mastitis remains a major challenge in dairy goat farming, and the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens highlights the urgent need for alternative management strategies. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a sequential protocol combining intramammary milk-derived microbial transfer (MMT) with 7-epiclusianone in an experimental Staphylococcus warneri-induced caprine mastitis model. Six healthy primiparous Parda Alpina goats were infected in the right udder with S. warneri and received MMT for nine consecutive days from a screened healthy donor. Two days after MMT, intramammary 7-epiclusianone was administered for 7 days. Left udders served as uninfected controls. Pathogen load was assessed using a singleplex S. warneri-specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and a multiplex real-time PCR panel targeting common mastitis-associated pathogens. Sequential treatment was well tolerated, and preliminary trends suggested reduced detection intensity of S. warneri, particularly following 7-epiclusianone administration. Changes in detection patterns were also observed for other pathogens. This study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of integrating MMT with a phytocompound-based intervention for managing intramammary infection in an experimental goat mastitis model. While preliminary results suggest potential for pathogen modulation, these findings require confirmation in larger, independently controlled trials to determine individual and combined effects and to rule out contributions from natural immune resolution.