Mycotic mastitis in two cows

Abstract

In most reported cases of mycotic mastitis the pathogenic status of the fungal isolant has been dubious, as mammary tissue was not available for histological examination. This paper describes cultural and histological findings in two cows with mycotic mastitis. Both cows were treated prophylactically, prepartum, with intra-mammary antibiotics and developed mastitis a few days after calving. Milk and tissue from the affected quarter from one cow yielded Petriellidium boydii. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from milk and mammary tissue of the second cow. The affected udder tissue showed many nodules which were granulomata, with caseous centres, containing fungal hyphae.

These cases illustrated the need to avoid the introduction of contaminants into the udder when prophylactic dry-cow antibiotic treatment is employed.