Mastitis pathogens and antibiotic resistance in beef cows in Switzerland.

INTRODUCTION: Mastitis in beef cows has not been studied as extensively as mastitis in dairy cows, and data from Switzerland are lacking. Various studies have shown a similar pathogen spectrum as in dairy cows, which could not be confirmed in this study. To gather initial data from Switzerland, milk samples from 297 lactating beef cows from 31 herds from the Engadin Valley in the Canton of Grisons were examined bacteriologically. At least one major or minor mastitis pathogen was recovered from at least one individual-quarter or composite sample from 33 % of all cows. The most common major mastitis pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (8,4 % of cows), Pasteurella multocida (4,1 %), Streptococcus uberis (2 %) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (1,7 %). Sixteen percent of the cows had at least one blind quarter, but only 32 % of these had been previously detected by the owners. In the second part of the study, milk samples from beef cows with mastitis were examined bacteriologically; the cows originated from various parts of Switzerland and had been presented for veterinary treatment. Pasteurella multocida (22 %) and Staphylococcus aureus (21 %) were the most common pathogens isolated. Antibiograms using microtitration and disk diffusion testing were generated for the Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus uberis strains from both parts of the study. Fifty-six percent of the Staphylococcus aureus strains were resistant to penicillin G. Our results showed that bacteriological examination of a milk sample aids in the diagnosis and allows specific treatment of mastitis in beef cows; this may be further improved with antibacterial susceptibility testing. Our preliminary data for the resistance patterns of mastitis pathogens in beef cows will facilitate evidence-based treatment strategies.

INTRODUCTION: Les mammites chez les vaches mères n'ont pas été étudiées de manière aussi approfondie que chez les vaches laitières et les données concernant la Suisse font défaut. Diverses études ont montré un spectre pathogène similaire à celui des vaches laitières, ce qui n'a pas pu être confirmé dans cette étude. Pour rassembler les premières données en Suisse, des échantillons de lait de 297 vaches mères provenant de 31 troupeaux de la vallée de l'Engadine dans le canton des Grisons ont été examinés bactério- logiquement. Au moins un agent pathogène majeur ou mineur de mammite a été retrouvé dans au moins un quartier ou dans un échantillon composite chez 33 % de toutes les vaches. Les agents pathogènes majeurs de mammite les plus courants étaient Staphylococcus aureus (8,4 % des vaches), Pasteurella multocida (4,1 %), Streptococcus uberis (2 %) et Streptococcus dysgalactiae (1,7 %). Seize pour cent des vaches avaient au moins un quartier sec mais cela n'avait été détectés auparavant par les propriétaires que dans seulement 32 % des cas. Dans la deuxième partie de l'étude, des échantillons de lait provenant de vaches mères atteintes de mammites ont été examinés sur le plan bactériologique; les vaches provenaient de diverses régions de Suisse et avaient été présentées pour un traitement vétérinaire. Pasteurella multocida (22 %) et Staphylococcus aureus (21 %) étaient les agents pathogènes les plus fréquemment isolés. Des antibiogrammes utilisant des tests de microtitration et de diffusion sur disque ont été générés pour les souches de Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella multocida et Streptococcus uberis des deux parties de l'étude. Cinquante-six pour cent des souches de Staphylococcus aureus étaient résistantes à la pénicilline G. Nos résultats montrent que l'examen bactériologique d'un échantillon de lait facilite le diagnostic et permet un traitement spécifique des mammites chez les vaches mères; ceci peut être encore amélioré par des tests de sensibilité aux antibactériens. Nos données préliminaires sur les profils de résistance des agents pathogènes de mammites chez les vaches de boucherie faciliteront les stratégies de traitement fondées sur des faits.

[Traumatic dislocation of the tibialis posterior tendon]. / Traumatische Luxation der Tibialis posterior Sehne.

Traumatic dislocations of the tibialis posterior tendon are a rare entity compared to other injuries of the ankle joint. It should be considered if the patient presents with the mechanism of an ankle sprain in combination with severe pain in the region of the internal malleolus. We report of two cases of a traumatic dislocation of the tibialis posterior tendon and discuss the clinical image and the operative treatment.

[Who should be hospitalized following mild craniocerebral trauma?]. / Wer soll nach einem leichten Schädel-Trauma hospitalisiert werden?

The frequency of minor closed head injuries is high. These injuries may be complicated by the development of life-threatening intracranial hematomas. A well-defined selection criteria for admission must be proposed to guarantee an efficacious observation. In our series of 489 hospitalized patients with a GCS of 15 when seen in the emergency room: 4 patients required evacuation of an intracranial hematoma, 11 revision of a depressed skull fracture or a compound fracture of base of the anterior fossa. Using the existence of a skull fracture as a selection for admission, a strategy proposed by Jennett and colleagues, it would have been possible to reduce the number of patients hospitalized by 70% without missing a patient who developed an intracranial hematoma. Following these criteria no intracranial hematoma would be missed in our patients with a GCS of 15. We suggest that the use of plain x-rays to identify skull fractures and subsequent hospitalization prevents missing an intracranial hematoma. Those patients with diminished levels of consciousness of focal neurologic deficits require admission irrespective of skull fractures.

Esophageal and duodenal approach for testing duodenogastric reflux in dogs.

A modified Komarov-Marks esophagostomy is described. It was the aim of our experiments to show that this procedure does not harm the vagal innervation of the stomach. The vagal function was assessed by testing (1) basal secretion, (2) 2-deoxy-D-glucose-stimulated secretion, (3) pentagastrin-stimulated secretion, and (4) serum gastrin levels in five mongrel dogs. Each test was performed at least three times in each dog before and after the esophagostomy procedure, respectively. The secretion rates were not affected by surgery. It is concluded that cervical esophagostomy in dogs does not affect vagal stimulation of gastric acid secretion. For the application of tracer substances into the duodenum, two types of conduits are described: (1) a short jejunal segment and (2) a jejunal segment with an invagination valve. The pros and cons of these procedures are discussed.

[Malignant tumors in bearers of kidney grafts in immunosuppressive therapy]. / Maligne Tumoren bei Nierentransplantatempfängern unter immunsuppressiver Therapie.

Out of 420 kidney transplant recipients at the University Hospital, Zurich, operated on between 1964 and 1978, 23 developed one or more malignant tumors. This corresponds to 5.8% of all patients. They included 8 cases of malignant lymphoma (non-Hodgkin), one of subacute myeloic leukemia, one of acute lymphatic leukemia, 6 skin cancers and 9 cancers of internal organs. Thirteen patients died, a figure corresponding to 8% of all deaths after kidney transplantation. Nine of the 10 patients with lymphoma and leukemia died, in 5 cases despite therapy. The response to therapy (radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy) was much poorer than in other patients with comparable tumors and in some patients completely absent. The only surviving patient (malignant lymphoma of the small bowel and the retroperitoneum) was treated by a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and has had a symptom-free follow-up time of 3 1/2 years. The 6 skin cancers (4 of the spinocellular type) were excised. Recurrences were not noted. The visceral carcinomas (2 breast cancers, 1 carcinoma respectively of the pancreas, the rectum, the liver, the kidneys, the renal pelvis, and the urinary bladder, and one seminoma) were treated by generally accepted surgical principles as far as treatment of the patients was possible. The breast cancer and seminoma patients have survived thus far without recurrences or metastases.

[Delay of early rejection of intrasplenic pancreatic allotransplants by fractional splenic irradiation in dogs (author's transl)]. / Verzögerung der Frühabstossung von intralienalen Pankreas-Allotransplantaten durch fraktionierte Milzbestrahlung beim Hund.

The influence of local irradiation of the spleen and immunosuppressive drugs (cyclophosphamide and azathioprine) on the rejection of intrasplenic pancreatic allotransplants was studied. Fractional splenic irradiation (once 4000-5000 rad before, twice 500-1000 rad after transplantation) prolonged transplant function from 4,1 to 6,5 days, in combination with immunosuppressive therapy to 8,5 days.

Does oesophagostomy interfere with the vagal innervation of the stomach? Experiments with a modified Komarov procedure in dogs.

Basal gastric secretion, stimulation with 2-DG and pentagastrin, and serum gastrin levels were examined in 5 dogs before and after lateral cervical oesophagostomy. Acid secretion rates were not affected by surgery. It is concluded that cervical oesophagostomy in dogs does not affect vagal stimulation of gastric acid secretion.