MicroCheck User Guide - National Milk Laboratories
Contents
1. The most likely mastitis causing bacteria should be ruled out before CNS is considered significant in suspected mastitis cases Streptococcus agalactiae C Very high numbers of bacteria are shed and the cell counts can be as high as 10 million without any clinical signs Herd cell counts also increase considerably with this form of mastitis Careful attention to pre milking teat preparation teat dipping is essential to minimise transmission of this organism Treatment success rates are usually good Streptococcus dysgalactiae C is usually associated with teat injury either chaps or physical damage that may be caused by poor milking machine function Essential to assess teat condition and consider having the parlour tested Infections tend to be subclinical Corynebacterium bovis C Sources of C bovis are infected udders and teat canal Spread of C bovis is from cow to cow at milking Proper pre and post milking teat disinfection may control the spread from cow to cow Most cases are not clinical Dry cow therapy may be effective to eliminate C bovis intramammary infection Streptococcus uberis E C A common cause of new infection in the dry period and outbreaks can occur at pasture It can produce mild to severe mastitis that can be difficult to treat It can be shed in very high numbers by infected quarters Sub clinical infections may occur resulting in high cell count cows Cow to cow transmission is also likely so good teat pr2. conducted click on the report column to view a chosen report Batch Number Sample Number Sample Date Report 600125366 1766 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 80012535B 3170 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 80012535B 4 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 80012536B T563 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 80012535B 367 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 600125366 f616 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 60012535B 7691 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 600125366 tate 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 600125356 6671 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID 60012536B 9044 02 09 2010 Mastitis ID Individual Cow Testing To use the Mastitis ID service you need to order a sample testing kit Once samples have been taken these can be returned to the lab in the pre paid packaging supplied To order a Mastitis If you click on any of the reports it will display the test results for that individual animal An example report is displayed below NML Mastitis ID Report Sample Type Individual Sample Date 02 09 2010 Test Date 06 09 2010 Test Location MMIL Wolves Test Prevalence Level Result Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus species CNS Li Contagious Streptococcus agalactiae Streptococcus dysgalactiae Corynebacterium Bovis Streptococcus uberis Environmental Klebsiella species A pyogenes ond F indolicus Penicillin Staphylococcal amp resistance lactamase gene PO UA Escherichia cali a Page 13 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Appendix 2 Individual Cow Mastitis ID guidance notes qPCR individual c
3. C e Culture testing Each of these will be addressed in turn It is important to note that SCCs are included within the Bacto Breakdown and Mastitis ID test suites Test methods What is qPCR testing Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction qPCR is a molecular biological method for amplifying a specific DNA sequence within a sample The reaction involves a DNA binding fluorescent dye and requires a cyclical heating and cooling program As specific DNA is formed the fluorescence proportional to the amount of DNA accumulating is measured after each heat cool cycle If more DNA was present at the start it takes a lower number of cycles for the amount of DNA to cross a threshold Ct value This method shows whether DNA from a pathogen was present and by how much 50000 45000 Sample A 1 000 000 DNA copies Sample B 4 000 DNA copies 40000 35000 30000 25000 Fluorescence 20000 15000 Sample A has a Ct of wh Threshold level 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Cycle number Sample B has ID a Ct of 28 5000 Page 6 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 How does qPCR compare to bacterial culture for pathogen identification Both qPCR and culture are useful for mastitic pathogen detection and both have relative pros and cons The main advantage to qPCR is the ability to use bronopol preserved milk to prevent growth in transit and to enable room temperature transport It is important to remembe
4. MicroCheck User Guide Frequently Asked Questions The following document provides answers to the most frequently asked questions concerning microbiology tests offered by National Milk Laboratories national milk laboratories Microbiology Unit National Milk Laboratories March 2011 Contents Customer Services Contact Details cccccccsssssssecccccecseeesececcccesseeeeeeeccceessaueusseeeceeessuugusseeeseeeessaggassss 4 MUOU TION gta ceeesises cate E E E E A stuesveusenense E E 5 Micro heck PDrodUC ose ctr aenn EE EEE 5 Tec MENON eer E T 5 What GCP CR TESNE Cara 5 How does qPCR compare to bacterial culture for pathogen identification ccccceseccceeeeeeees 6 Wiat ka SONAL IC cell Count ororekin ee E E E 6 Why do I have a negative result for all the bacteria but a high somatic cell count 0008 6 WY dont havea SCCreading ssssasipenrseian EE TE 6 Why does it say Insufficient Sample Size seessssessensssrenserrrrssrrresrreresrrressrerssreresererssrereserereseerese 7 have always used bacterial culture do you still offer this ssosssessseeneseensssreresrresssreresrrrserrerese 7 MSU WTOC S E A E E E A O O E T E E A 7 What is the difference between a Bacto Breakdown and a Mastitis ID nnnsessssssseeresssssssreeeee 7 What are the costs for testing veterinary pricelists are available esnsssscssecessrererrrer 8 Do you offer antibiotic sensitivity on the bacterial targets identi
5. acute mastitis cases are often clinical resulting in milk withdrawal from the bulk tank it is therefore unlikely to be found in bulk samples Penicillin Resistance Staphylococcal beta lactamase gene If a positive Staph result is detected this applies to both Staph aureus and Staph spp results a beta lactamase gene presence may be evident This may indicate potential problems with penicillin treatment for affected cows This is reported as follows Result Low Medium High Interpretation Susceptible to penicillin suitable for use in treatment Resistant to penicillin do not use in treatment Resistant to penicillin do not use in treatment Resistant to penicillin do not use in treatment Presence of the Staphylococcal beta lactamase gene indicates there is likely to be some penicillin resistance in the herd You should discuss mastitis treatment options with your vet As with all results we recommend you analyse these in conjunction with your veterinarian Next steps Identify problem cows using NMR records and veterinary guidance Discuss the need for further sampling with your vet Send samples kits available from NML for qPCR testing Consider whether environmental pathogens are present due to poor hygiene and take relevant steps to improve this Results available through Micro Monitor on the Herd Companion website via www nmr co uk Please contact customer services for your free Page 19 M
6. ed temperatures Mastitis ID for 11 key mastitis causing pathogens along with Staphylococcus spp penicillin resistance using qPCR Page 8 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 What are the costs for testing veterinary pricelists are available Test Suite Price Ad hoc Bacto Breakdown Bulk only 45 VAT per sample Quarterly Surveillance Bacto Breakdown 4 per 150 VAT per year year tested automatically using NML sample 1 5 Mastitis IDs ordered in one go 17 50 VAT per sample gt 5 Mastitis IDs ordered in one go 15 VAT per sample Parlour Hygiene Suite Bulk only 20 VAT per sample Do you offer antibiotic sensitivity on the bacterial targets identified We do not offer antibiotic sensitivity testing however we do identify the Staphylococcus penicillin resistant gene B lactamase Sample Condition How can samples be sent in Test Suite Condition Bacto Breakdown or Parlour Hygiene For 7 day collected customers NML stored payment backup samples can be used For non 7 day clients please contact your milk buyer regarding collection of an additional sample Mastitis ID Fresh frozen or bronopol preserved Ensure preservative is mixed thoroughly and if the sample already has clots a SCC result will not be obtained Results In what form can I receive my results e Post e Fax e Email e Herd Companion website Micro Monitor Passwords are available from NMR Why did I not receive my qPCR result
7. eparation and disinfection can be useful to minimise transmission Escherichia coli E coli E Effective control includes general cow and bedding hygiene and to prevent dry cow teat end exposure Also pre dipping and drying teats prior to milking may reduce infection during lactation E coli can be found as a contaminant if samples are not taken carefully Enterococcus faecalis and or faecium E These bacteria are found in the gut and are an indicator of faecal contamination Recommended control procedures include effective milking time hygiene and pre and post milking teat disinfection Also consider dry cow and cubicle bedding hygiene Klebsiella spp E This is a member of the coliform family are found in the faeces in bedding and on wet dirty udders Can cause transient peracute or acute mastitis They often increase in numbers in warm wet weather Page 15 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Serratia marcescens E Infection can be sub clinical or clinical Cure rates using antibiotic treatment can be variable Transmission can be minimised by ensuring bedding and teat hygiene Arcanobacterium pyogenes E Sources include wound infections teat injuries udder infections abscesses and genital tracts Soread may be due to contact of teats with a contaminated environment A pyogenes may be transmitted by flies Control measures include fly control programs maintaining cows in clean and dry calving areas drying up killi
8. fied aseeseen 8 SIPEC ONO en E T E 8 How can samples be sent IN ccccceesscccceesecccceseccccesececsesececceuecceeeuseceseunecessegcesssuecessegeceesegaeeetes 8 PROSUITS srras cn cennnucme 8 in What formi can receive my results sreissrissniriraniiictire ninie aE 8 Why did I not receive my qPCR results the same day the sample was received scese 8 have ordered a Bacto Breakdown but have only received one report why cccccceeeeeeeees 9 How do I obtain my Herd Companion username and password essssesssssrsserressrersrrrerrererresrrreees 9 Can my vet access my results on Herd Companion cceccccesseccccesscceceesececeeneceeceeeceeseusecetsuneces 9 How do know when results have arrived ssssssseessessssssereresssssserrresssssserrreeesssserereessssserereeessse 9 ee Or aO ea EE A E tant adenioh tenhenesdanionaverenaneaten 9 S a r E E E E E N ENA P A A E E E a E N EEE E 9 What do do about this particular pathogen esssessesssssensssreserreresrreresreresereresreresererssrereserereseerese 9 Can still have a qPCR test if the cow is being treated with antibiotics seesesseseeeserreserrerssreen 9 PED V4 0 N ee A E E ee ee eee ee ee eee ee ee 10 The number of bacteria for Thermodurics Psychrotrophs and Coliforms doesn t add up to the Total Viable Count TVC WAY NOt ccccccccccssseecccceeeeeecceeeeeeeeceseeeeseeceseeeeneeeeeseueeeesesseeaseeessegenss 10 Why do I have a high Colifor
9. he primary source of environmental pathogens is the surroundings in which a cow lives Sources of environmental pathogens include manure bedding feedstuffs dust dirt mud and water Low levels of some bacteria e g CNS can be treated with less urgency However different pathogens can have different infective doses It is therefore important to discuss result interpretation with your vet Presence of Streptococcus agalactiae should be looked at as a matter of priority Please remember that environmental contamination could occur if poor sampling technique is used It is important to discuss treatment options with your vet Page 14 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Guidance Notes Staphylococcus aureus C Bacteria are shed from infected quarters in low numbers Damage to the udder tissue reduces milk yield significantly It can resist treatment via common antibiotics and thus it is important to use the correct antibiotics for treatment Culling may be an option for persistent S aureus COWS Staphylococcus species Coagulase Negative Staphylococci CNS C Subclinical mastitis caused by intramammary infections IMI with coagulase negative staphylococci CNS is common in dairy cows and may cause herd problems Control of CNS mastitis is complicated by the fact that CNS contains a large number of different species and so veterinary advice should be sought CNS is of low pathogenicity and is unlikely to be the sole cause of infection
10. icroCheck User Guide Appendix 4 Bacto Breakdown guidance notes BACTO BREAKDOWN GUIDANCE NOTES PLANT HYGIENE REPORT Total Viable Count 30 C A measure of all bacteria in the milk Somatic Cell Count cells ml Coliforms 30 C Thermodurics Bacteria that withstand high temperatures and grow in dirty Psychrotrophs 22 C Bacteria able to grow at refrigeration temperatures can be found in water and bedding Indicated problem hygiene of production Overall hygiene of production Target levels lt 150 000 150 000 250 000 gt 250 000 Recommended actions Investigate bacteria from the udder environment check plant and or bulk tank Investigate bacteria from the udder environment check plant and or bulk tank Review of mastitis management to prevent spread of infection Check plant cleaning Review pre milking teat preparation Pre dipping recommended Poor plant cleaning Ensure the boiler is heating correctly check wash concentrations volumes of solution etc Check milk cooling and bulk tank cleaning Review pre milking teat pi eparahon FURTHER ADVICE ON INTERPRETING THESE RESULTS PLEASE CONSULT YOUR VET OR MILK QUALITY CONSULTANT 2011 For more information on any of our services please call customer services on 0844 7255567 ML national milk laboratories www nationalmilklaboratories co uk 1108 200411
11. m Thermoduric Psychrotroph TVC What do do ceee 10 Appendix 1 0nline reporting sesecedcieicereceedanetieedanensendacchesntcaseravaunos E 11 Page 4 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 HOW do l access results online ceccccccccccccceeeeeesssssssseeeceeccccccceeesaauaeeussssssseeeeeeseeeeseeesnauaaggaessesss 11 Appendix 2 Individual Cow Mastitis ID guidance NOTES sssenessseeeeesssseresssreeresssreresssrreresserrresseeeee 12 Appendix 3 Bulk Milk Mastitis ID guidance noteS eossesnnessseeeessseeersssserresssrreresssrrresssrreressereressseeee 12 Appendix 4 Bacto Breakdown guidance notes sssseeesssssseresssrreressssrresssrreresssrrresssereressereressseeee 12 Customer Services Contact Details Customer Services on 0844 7255567 customerservices nmr co uk Page 5 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Introduction MicroCheck products NML is committed to supplying a high quality and efficient testing service for its clients Milk buyers farmers and vets have been routinely using NMLs MicroCheck services since 2004 NMLs services include milk quality testing antibiotic contaminant testing traditional microbiology and modern molecular biology NML have worked hard to ensure that customers can obtain results with ease in a timely manner This guide is intended to provide answers to common questions regarding NMLs Microbiology services These services include e qPCR e Basic somatic cell counts SC
12. ng affected quarters to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other cows and removing the affected cow from the herd A pyogenes often cause an acute mastitis Infections occur most frequently in dry cows or heifers before calving Penicillin Resistance Staphylococcal beta lactamase gene If a positive Staph result is detected this applies to both Staph aureus and Staph spp results a beta lactamase gene presence may be evident This may indicate potential problems with penicillin treatment This is reported as follows Result Low Medium High Interpretation Bd Susceptible to penicillin suitable for use in treatment POS TA t isCO Resistant to penicillin do not use in treatment SS Ss 8 Resistant to penicillin do not use in treatment Resistant to penicillin do not use in treatment Presence of the Staphylococcal beta lactamase gene in the sample indicates there is a degree of penicillin resistance in the herd You should discuss mastitis treatment options with your vet Next steps e Always discuss treatment of individual cows with your vet e If Bacillus or fungi are suspected in rare cases consider the use of culture testing available through your vet In the case of environmental pathogens consider reviewing milking hygiene with advice from your vet Monitor teat condition and discuss treatment with your vet Ensure milking machine function is optimal Results available through Micr
13. nmental mastitis pathogens Streptococcus uberis E coli Enterococcus species Serratia marcescens Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Klebsiella spp Abbreviated hereafter as E The primary source of environmental pathogens is the surroundings in which a cow lives Sources of environmental pathogens include manure bedding feedstuffs dust dirt mud and water Please note that environmental pathogens in the bulk tank are less likely to have come from inside the udders Consider whether milking hygiene is satisfactory S uberis is the most likely exception to this as cow adapted strains can be contagious Presence of Streptococcus agalactiae should be looked at as a matter of priority Bulk results should not be used as a treatment guide speak with your vet Page 17 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Guidance Notes Staphylococcus aureus C Bacteria are shed from infected quarters in variable numbers Damage to the udder tissue reduces milk yield significantly It can resist treatment via common antibiotics Staphylococcus species Coagulase Negative Staphylococci CNS C Subclinical mastitis caused by intramammary infections IMI with coagulase negative staphylococci CNS is common in dairy cows and may cause herd problems Control of CNS mastitis is complicated by the fact that CNS contains a large number of different species and so veterinary advice should be sought CNS is of low pathogenicity and is unlikely to be the sole cau
14. o Monitor on the Herd Companion website via www nmr co uk Please contact customer services for your free Appendix 3 Bulk Milk Mastitis ID guidance notes qPCR bulk milk test result interpretation This test is designed to detect the presence of 11 key mastitis pathogens responsible for gt 95 of cases along with penicillin resistance in Staphylococcus species Results are reported according to the level of bacteria detected in preserved milk Bacterial growth in transit does not occur but multiple pathogens can be detected Result Interpretation Mastitis Pathogens Negative not detected Positive in low numbers Positive in moderate numbers Positive in high numbers Where gt 90 or gt 99 of the bacterial load is attributed to one pathogen this will appear in the report Pathogens can be split roughly into two groups though some can fit into both groups 1 Contagious mastitis pathogens Staphylococcus aureus other Staphylococcal species Corynebacterium bovis Streptococcus agalactiae amp Streptococcus dysgalactiae Abbreviated hereafter as C Contagious organisms are well adapted to survival and growth in the mammary gland and frequently cause infections lasting weeks months or years The infected gland is the main source of these organisms in a dairy herd and transmission of contagious pathogens to uninfected quarters and cows occurs mainly during milking time via cloths gloves and teat liners 2 Enviro
15. oCheck I have always used bacterial culture do you still offer this Yes we do to an extent Within our Bacto Breakdown service we culture for total viable counts all live bacteria within the sample Psychrotrophs bacteria that can grow at refrigerated temperatures Coliforms indicative of faecal contamination and Thermodurics bacteria that can withstand pasteurization at 63 5 C Test Types What is the difference between a Bacto Breakdown and a Mastitis ID Bacto Breakdowns utilise traditional bacteriology in addition to qPCR They are performed on bulk tank samples and provide information concerning Plant farm hygiene and also provide an indication of what mastitic pathogen DNA is present at the herd level Mastitis ID can either be performed on a bulk tank sample or be performed on individual cow samples Remember that milk from clinical cases is usually discarded and thus bulk tank qPCR will not identify specific clinical causes in these cases It is simply the identification of pathogens through qPCR The following table details the tests included within each test suite Individual Test Bacto Breakdown Mastitis ID Parlour Hygiene Total Viable Count TVC is a measure of all bacteria that is alive in the milk sample Coliforms are indicative of faecal environmental contamination Thermodurics are bacteria that can withstand pasteurization at 63 5C Psychrotrophs are bacteria that are able to grow at refrigerat
16. of their test results and Herd Companion is a quick and easy way of doing this How do I know when results have arrived If we have an email address for the farmer an automated email will be sent to ensure the farmer and the vet see above is informed that results are available via Herd Companion Interpretation qPCR What do I do about this particular pathogen Customers are advised to consult their vet regarding result interpretation It is important to remember that it isn t always the most abundant organism that is the cause of the infection Furthermore the result is only as good as the sample If strict aseptic technique is applied to sampling you can be more confident of the results Refer to Mastitis ID guidance notes attached in the appendix Bulk milk results should not be used as a guide for treating individual cows Remember that clinically infected milk will not contribute to the bulk tank Also consider the timing of infection for individual cows This could provide an indication as to whether the pathogen is associated with dry period infection or whether it has been picked up during lactation Consult NMR records in conjunction with your vet Can I still have a qPCR test if the cow is being treated with antibiotics Milk from cows being treated with antibiotics can be tested however the test will not distinguish between living and dead bacteria This is useful if you wish to determine which pathogen is present to en
17. ow test result interpretation This test is designed to detect the presence of 11 key mastitis pathogens responsible for gt 95 of cases along with penicillin resistance in Staphylococcus species Results are reported according to the level of bacteria detected in preserved milk Bacterial growth in transit does not occur but multiple pathogens can be detected Result Interpretation Mastitis Pathogens Negative not detected Positive in low numbers Positive in moderate numbers Positive in high numbers Where gt 90 or gt 99 of the bacterial load is attributed to one pathogen this will appear in the report Pathogens can be split roughly into two groups though some can fit into both groups 1 Contagious mastitis pathogens Staphylococcus aureus other Staphylococcal species Corynebacterium bovis Streptococcus agalactiae amp Streptococcus dysgalactiae Abbreviated hereafter as C Contagious organisms are well adapted to survival and growth in the mammary gland and frequently cause infections lasting weeks months or years The infected gland is the main source of these organisms in a dairy herd and transmission of contagious pathogens to uninfected quarters and cows occurs mainly during milking time via cloths gloves and teat liners 2 Environmental mastitis pathogens Streptococcus uberis E coli Enterococcus species Serratia marcescens Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Klebsiella spp Abbreviated hereafter as E T
18. r that DNA from both live and dead cells will be detected by qPCR whereas culture would only produce results for viable cells If culture is used and no growths occur in over 20 of cases it can be useful to qPCR test the sample to see if pathogens can be detected Furthermore whilst qPCR does not detect as many potential mastitic pathogens as culture methods qPCR is able to detect pathogens responsible for over 95 of the UKs mastitis causing pathogens Culture methods are still useful for further investigation or further confirmatory testing especially in cases where Bacillus yeasts Pseudomonas or fungi are suspected What is a somatic cell count Somatic cells are bacteria fighting cells or white blood cells that move to an infection site e g udder and minimize the infection It can be indicative of sub clinical mastitis i e where cows exhibit no outward signs of mastitis SCC is important for identifying the problem in the first instance to indicate that a mastitis ID needs to be performed and so then the specific bug bacteria can be identified The test can be carried out on both bulk milk samples and individual cow samples Kits are available and preservative can be used if no culture testing is required Why do I have a negative result for all the bacteria but a high somatic cell count Test Suite Reason Bacto Breakdown Plant Hygiene bacteriology Has the sample been frozen If so the pathogens may have been killed and a
19. re no longer viable for our culture methods Freezing can cause cell lysis and prevent growth for some species Mastitis ID The cause may be a rare mastitic pathogen like algal sp Yeast sp or Bacillus sp These are not identified by the NML test If clinical mastitis cases occur and milk is discarded you will not identify potential causes for the clinical infection from bulk milk samples Why don t I have a SCC reading If it states Sour Milk Unreadable for a mastitis sample then either the milk was already clotted upon leaving the cow or the preservative pill was not mixed thoroughly enough in the sample to prevent souring If there are lumps in the milk it cannot pass through the fine tubing to obtain a somatic cell count reading If there is high bacterial content the milk may sour more rapidly regardless of the storage temperature Psychrotrophs can grow at refrigeration temperatures and therefore if present can still cause the milk to sour There have been examples of milk that has reached NML within 24 hours of sampling that has still been sour For mastitis ID testing always use the preservative provided Page 7 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Why does it say Insufficient Sample Size Insufficient sample size means that there was not enough milk provided or that the storage sample was also used for a variety of other tests Payment tests for the milk buyers will take priority over any other tests including Micr
20. s of payment penalties but also lost production and poor animal health h gt The MICROCHECK service will help you take the guess work out of milk quality management Our testing is carried our using cutting edge PCR technology which identifies the DNA of mastitis causing pathogens In addition the laboratory uses traditional culture methods to identify bacteria which cause issues in the bulk tank or milking plant Results can be reported by fax post or email as well as through the Micro Monitor site Mastitis results using PCR technology are usually available within 24 hours of the sample reaching the laboratory Culture results are available within five working days Results can be viewed by your veterinary surgeon for their detailed interpretation and you should then seek their advice on the best course of action to take Bacto Breakdown Suite The Bacto Breakdown Mastitis ID is a test suite NMR Mastitis tracker suite detects plant which detects mastitis uses monthly NMR hygiene pathogens and causing pathogens in recording samples to mastitis causing individual cow or quarter provide information on pathogens in bulk tank milk samples pathogens present in milk samples selected groups of cows including persistent high Page 12 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 If you select Mastitis ID suite you are given a list of test reports displayed below Mastitis ID Reports Below is a list of Mastitis ID tests which have been
21. s the same day the sample was received It is stated that we aim to return results the same day but this is not a guaranteed service for the following reasons e DNA is extracted from the samples the same day but only so many samples can fit into the machine therefore samples received first are tested first e The sample may have an Internal Amplification Control IAC failure IAC failures are caused by large quantities of bacterial DNA competing and inhibiting the reaction The test is repeated with diluted DNA and the result calculated to account for the dilution used Page 9 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 I have ordered a Bacto Breakdown but I have only received one report why Bacto Breakdowns generate 2 reports e qPCR report sent as soon as the testing is completed usually within 24 hours e Plant hygiene culture report within 5 working days How do I obtain my Herd Companion username and password As an NMR NML customer you will have an assigned username and password If you give your details to customer services they will be able to issue you with your access details Please note that if the Parlour Hygiene suite is tested alone not with the Bacto Breakdown suite results are not yet available via Herd Companion Can my vet access my results on Herd Companion If farmers sign an access agreement form their vet will be able to instantly access health and testing reports We recommend that farmers ensure their vet is informed
22. se of infection The most likely mastitis causing bacteria should be ruled out before CNS is considered significant in suspected mastitis cases Streptococcus agalactiae C Very high numbers of bacteria are shed and the cell counts can be as high as 10 million without any clinical signs Herd cell counts also increase considerably with this form of mastitis Careful attention to pre milking teat preparation teat dipping is essential to minimise transmission of this organism Treatment success rates are usually good but infected cows should be sought Streptococcus dysgalactiae C is usually associated with teat injury either chaps or physical damage that may be caused by poor milking machine function Essential to assess teat condition and consider having the parlour tested Infections tend to be subclinical so can be monitored via bulk milk Corynebacterium bovis C Sources of C bovis are infected udders and teat canal Spread of C bovis is from cow to cow at milking Proper pre and post milking teat disinfection may control the spread from cow to cow Most cases are not clinical Streptococcus uberis E C A common cause of new infection in the dry period and outbreaks can occur at pasture It can produce mild to severe mastitis that can be difficult to treat It can be shed in very high numbers by infected quarters Sub clinical infections may occur resulting in high cell count cows Cow to cow transmission is also likely so good
23. sure the correct antibiotic is being used but it can take at least two weeks before dead bacteria are flushed out Page 10 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Plant Hygiene The number of bacteria for Thermodurics Psychrotrophs and Coliforms doesn t add up to the Total Viable Count TVC why not The results depend on the spread of the bacteria within the milk as it is shared between the tests There may also be additional organisms making up the TVC that are not covered by thermodurics psychrotrophs and coliforms Why do I have a high Coliform Thermoduric Psychrotroph TVC What do I do Refer to the Bacto Breakdown guidance notes attached in the appendix National Milk Laboratories can only advise customers to speak to milk hygiene consultants or veterinary practitioners Page 11 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Appendix 1 Online reporting How do I access results online Both farmers and vets can access all test results via the Herd Companion website http www nmr co uk herd companion When you access the main menu click on the Micro Monitor for Microbiology results Main Menu Welcome to Herd Companion PRO KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS r lt T EJHerdWise EEN a REPORTS Within Micro Monitor you can select the report you wish to view see figure below Welcome to Micro Monitor High somatic cell count and bactoscan results can have a major impact on your milk cheque not just in term
24. teat preparation and disinfection can be useful to minimise transmission S uberis can be found in bulk tank samples as a contaminant if milking hygiene processes are not maintained Escherichia coli E coli E E coli rarely causes persistent subclinical mastitis and thus care must be taken when interpreting bulk milk results when E coli is present It can be found in bulk tank Samples as a contaminant if milking hygiene processes are not maintained Also pre dipping and drying teats prior to milking may reduce levels in the bulk tank Enterococcus faecalis and or faecium E These bacteria are found in the gut and are an indicator of faecal contamination Recommended control procedures include effective milking time hygiene and pre and post milking teat disinfection Also consider dry cow and cubicle bedding hygiene Klebsiella spp E This is a member of the coliform family are found in the faeces in bedding and on wet dirty udders If found in bulk milk samples it is likely that contamination is the cause Page 18 MicroCheck User Guide 2011 Serratia marcescens E Infection can be sub clinical or clinical Transmission can be minimised by ensuring bedding and teat hygiene It is possible that this pathogen could be shed into the bulk milk from sub clinical cows Arcanobacterium pyogenes E Sources include wound infections teat injuries udder infections abscesses and genital tracts As A pyogenes often causes
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search