Experimental infection of the bovine udder with Campylobacter coli/jejuni

Five quarters of the udders of two lactating cows were infected by intramammary inoculation with Campylobacter coli/jejuni in doses ranging from 2.6 colony-forming units (c.f.u.) to 3.8 X 10(9) c.f.u. The infected quarters developed clinical mastitis and the campylobacters were reisolated in large numbers from the milk. The milk from the uninfected quarters, and blood and faeces remained free of the organisms. The campylobacters could only be isolated by incubation of culture plates in a microaerobic atmosphere. The results showed that C. coli/jejuni can cause mastitis in the cow and that the bovine udder is a potential source of C. coli/jejuni in raw milk.