MICROBIOTA OF THE MAMMARY GLAND IN COWS DIAGNOSED WITH SUBCLINICAL AND CLINICAL MASTITIS

Mastitis, a significant concern in the dairy industry, poses severe economic and health challenges due to its impact on milk quality, yield, and herd productivity. This study investigated the microbiota of the mammary gland in cows diagnosed with clinical and subclinical mastitis, focusing on the identification and diversity of microbial pathogens. Milk samples (n=80) were collected from two dairy herds in Iasi County, Romania. Using advanced diagnostic techniques, including the California Mastitis Test (CMT), somatic cell count (SCC) analysis, and bacteriological isolation, a total of 49 microbial strains representing 19 genera were identified. The most frequently isolated pathogens included Streptococcus uberis (20.40%), Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus cecorum (each 8.20%), and Staphylococcus spp., including S. aureus (2.04%), S. chromogenes, and S. epidermidis (each 4.08%). Future research will focus on resistance profiling and assessing the efficacy of novel antimicrobial agents to mitigate the impact of this multifaceted disease on dairy operations.