Gram Negative / Coliform Mastitis

WHAT is it?

Gram-negative bacteria and coliforms such as E. coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter are commonly found in the environment and faeces.

Clinical case numbers of Coliform mastitis are increasing in New Zealand
Coliforms induce a more severe inflammatory response, with the potential for systemic involvement.
It’s the toxins and not the bacteria which cause most of the damage.
These bacteria demonstrate low sensitivity to the common antibiotics we use to treat mastitis.
It can be fatal.

Visual changes to milk, such as watery or blood contaminated, clots and flakes.
Udder changes – heat, pain, swelling.
Systemic unwellness – depressed, off food, high temperature, diarrhoea, in serious cases, down and unable to rise.
Death can occur

Stripping out as much as possible. Coliforms are primarily a milk infection, hence emptying the milk as often as possible, drains the source of toxins out.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY drugs (KetoMax15%) are the key treatment
Antibiotics have NOT been proven to help.
Fluid therapy including pumping fluids into the rumen.
Veterinary intervention.
Coliform infections tend to be short duration but occasionally after a major inflammatory episode, high SCC and low milk production, it can persist in the affected quarter due to fibrosis.

Cows most at risk are newly calved cows, weak, down, or lacking energy cows.
Adverse weather events, periods of high rainfall, storms or sudden changes of temperature
Dry period management is critical. Infections can lie dormant until the first period of lactation (normally the first month).

Reduce teat end exposure to faeces and maximise cow health and teat health.

Good dry cow therapy – teat sealants to prevent new infection.
Correct milking machine maintenance and set up milking routine to reduce teat damage.
Good milking hygiene – wear gloves and keep them clean! Wash dirty teats before applying cups, effective teat spraying.
Dietary fibre helps stiffen faeces to keep cows udders clean.
Trimming tails as cows calve also helps keep udders clean.
Environmental cleanliness for lactating, dry and calving cows.
Calve cows on as clean paddocks as practically possible.

Look out for cows showing signs of mastitis: changes to milk or udder, especially if the cow is sick in herself.
Treat cows promptly with guidance from us.
ALWAYS administer an NSAID (KetoMax15%) to a mastitis cow, even if you are still waiting on a milk culture result.
Monitor the cow to ensure she is responding to treatment.
Always check the 4 teats and appearance of milk (paddle test is a good idea) on a cow looking unwell, especially in early lactation.
Use your Mastatest or get a sample to us ASAP!

If you are getting Coliform / Gram Negative results, contact us for advice.
If you are experiencing mastitis cases not responding to treatment, get a milk sample into us ASAP!
Milking routine inspections – we watch your milking process, check cup pressures and liners, examine teat end health and check teat spray administration. We then write a full report on our visit and findings and give you some guidance for improvements.
Teat end scoring – we come during milking to score the teat ends to give an overview of teat health.

“We are always here for advice, do not hesitate to make contact.”