Pathogenesis of Bovine Mastitis and Influence of the Gut Microbiota: A Review

Bovine mastitis (BM) is a highly prevalent bacterial infection that causes significant economic losses in the dairy industry. Its pathogenesis involves the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by Toll-like receptors (TLRs, primarily TLR2 and TLR4) and the subsequent activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of the gut microbiota in regulating BM through the "gut-mammary axis." Gut dysbiosis reduces microbial diversity, impairs the intestinal barrier, and promotes endotoxemia or translocation of metabolites, such as LPS (lipopolysaccharide) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which modulate mammary inflammation. Traditional antibiotic therapy is increasingly limited by resistance and residues, necessitating alternative approaches: targeting the gut microbiota through probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), or plant-derived active components offers promising strategies to restore microbial balance, enhance intestinal barrier function, and suppress excessive inflammation, thereby providing novel avenues for the prevention and treatment of BM.