Effect of Intramammary Hypochlorous Acid Administration on Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows

• Published in: Revista Científica
• Main Authors: Eyyup Hakan Ucar, Cevdet Peker
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad del Zulia 2024-09-01
• Subjects: Dairy cow; hypochlorous acid; subclinical mastitis; treatment
• Online Access: https://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/cientifica/article/view/42773

Subclinical mastitis is a significant issue in dairy farming due to its impact on milk production and quality, leading to economic losses despite the absence of visible symptoms. The present study aimed to investigate the potential use of intramammary hypochlorous acid (HOCl) treatment as a viable substitute to antibiotics for the treatment of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in dairy cows. A total of 232 Holstein–Friesian dairy cows with 928 udder quarters were subjected to the California Mastitis Test (CMT) to identify the SCM. The results indicated that 141 cows had SCM in at least one udder quarter, with a rate of 60.78% in the herd. Among these cows, 259 udder quarters showed varying degrees of CMT–positive. Before the treatment, somatic cell counts (SCC) were determined, and bacterial cultures were performed on randomly selected 74 CMT–positive udder quarters. The HOCl was administered intramammary to these quarters for 5 days immediately after milking. The CMT, SCC, and bacterial culture were repeated on the 3rd and 5th days of the treatment. An increase in SCC was observed on the 3rd and 5th day of the treatment compared to before treatment (P<0.001). The bacterial growth reduced from 64.86% before treatment to 49.95% on the 3rd day and 22.97% on the 5th day of the treatment. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent bacterium before the treatment. On the 3rd day of the treatment, bacterial growth rate, particularly in Candida spp., decreased compared to before the treatment. However, on the 5th day of the treatment, S. aureus and the combination of S. aureus with Candida spp. continued to show high growth rates. In conclusion, this study underscores that HOCl is a potential alternative to antibiotics for treating SCM in dairy cows. Further research covering both clinical and subclinical mastitis is recommended, along with studies aiming to prolong the presence of HOCl in the udder, determine its ideal dose, and increase its impact on more cells.