Seasonal assessment of mastitis in crossbred goats: A thermographic approach.

Sub-clinical mastitis exhibits a higher prevalence in dairy goats than clinical mastitis, necessitating the adoption of non-invasive diagnostic techniques such as infrared thermography (IRT) to detect this economically significant production disease in the dairy sector. Accordingly, this study aims to employ IR imaging of the udder and teat quarters of lactating crossbred goats (Alpine × Beetal and Sanen × Beetal) across various seasons, utilising IRT, to discern cases of sub-clinical (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM). Over a year, 100-110 lactating crossbred dairy goats underwent consistent IRT screenings, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of udder health status using the California mastitis test and somatic cell count (SCC). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to establish the cut-off values for different thermographic parameters in this study. The results revealed that the SCC increased significantly (p < 0.01) in healthy, SCM, and CM milk samples across the seasons. The analysis of ROC revealed a comparatively higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for udder thermograms during SCM than CM and vice versa for teat thermograms. IRT analysis reflected a difference (p < 0.01) in the udder and teat thermograms among quarters of healthy, SCM, and CM in summer, winter, autumn, and rainy seasons. A significant increase (p < 0.01) in udder thermograms was observed for quarters affected with SCM and CM relative to healthy, with an increase of 1.89 and 2.94 °C in winter, 0.85 and 1.63 °C in summer, 0.73 and 1.41 °C in rainy, and 1.33 and 2.38 °C in autumn, respectively. Similarly, for teat thermograms it was 1.79 and 2.81 °C in winter, 0.76 and 1.41 °C in summer, 0.70 and 1.37 °C in rainy, and 1.09 and 1.93 °C in autumn, respectively. Therefore, regardless of the seasons examined in this study, IRT proves to be an effective and supportive tool for early mastitis detection in lactating crossbred dairy goats.

Mastitis: Rapid Evidence Review.

Mastitis represents a spectrum of inflammatory conditions. Lactational mastitis is the most common, with an approximate incidence of 10% in the United States, and it usually occurs in the first 3 months postpartum. Diagnosis is made clinically based on the presence of symptoms such as fever, malaise, focal breast tenderness, and overlying skin erythema or hyperpigmentation without the need for laboratory tests or imaging. However, obtaining milk cultures should be considered to guide antibiotic therapy, and ultrasonography should be performed to identify abscesses in immuno-compromised patients or those with worsening or recurrent symptoms. Because most cases of mastitis are caused by inflammation and not a true infection, a 1- to 2-day trial of conservative measures (i.e., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ice application, feeding the infant directly from the breast, and minimizing pumping) is often sufficient for treatment. If there is no improvement in symptoms, narrow-spectrum antibiotics may be prescribed to cover common skin flora (e.g., Staphylococcus, Streptococcus). Most patients can be treated as outpatients with oral antibiotics; however, if the condition worsens or there is a concern for sepsis, intravenous antibiotics and hospital admission may be required. Use of probiotics for treatment or prevention is not supported by good evidence. Factors that increase the risk of mastitis include overstimulation of milk production and tissue trauma from aggressive breast massage; therefore, frequent overfeeding, excessive pumping to empty the breast, heat application, and breast massage are no longer recommended because they may worsen the condition. The best prevention is a proper lactation technique, including a good infant latch, and encouraging physiologic breastfeeding rather than pumping, if possible.

Tuberculous Mastitis.

This case report describes induration of the right breast with multiple painful ulcers, draining nodules, and fistulae.

Gonococcal mastitis. / Gonokokkmastitt.

A young woman experienced pain and swelling in a non-lactating breast. The culture test result showed an unusual microbe, which is increasingly prevalent in Norway and internationally.

Revealing microbial diversity in buffalo milk with high somatic cell counts: implications for mastitis diagnosis and treatment.

Mastitis is one of the most serious diseases that threatens the health of dairy animals. The somatic cell count (SCC) in milk is widely used to monitor mastitis. This study aimed to reveal the diversity of microorganisms in buffalo milk with high somatic cell count (SCC ≥ 3 × 105 cells/mL, n = 30) and low somatic cell count (SCC ≤ 5 × 104 cells/mL, n = 10), and identify the dominant bacteria that cause mastitis in a local buffalo farm. We also investigated the potential method to treat bacterial mastitis. The V3-V4 region of 16 S rDNA was sequenced. Results showed that, compared to the milk with low SCC, the high SCC samples showed lower microbial diversity, but a high abundance of bacteria and operational taxonomic units (OTUs). By in vitro isolation and culture, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were found to be the leading pathogens, which is consistent with the 16 S rDNA sequencing data. We further isolated 3 of the main pathogens and established a pathogen detection method based on ELISA. In addition, the antibacterial effects of 10 antimicrobials and 15 Chinese herbal extracts were also investigated. Results showed that the microbial has developed tolerance to several of the antimicrobials. While the water extracts of Chinese herbal medicine such as Galla Chinensis, Coptis chinensis Franch, Terminalia chebula Retz, and Sanguisorba officinalis L can effectively inhibit the growth of main pathogens. This study provides novel insight into the microbial diversity in buffalo milk and a reference for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mastitis.

Trends in clinical management of lactational mastitis among women attending Australian general practice: a national longitudinal study using MedicineInsight, 2011-2022.

OBJECTIVE: To examine longitudinal trends in clinical management of lactational mastitis in women attending general practice. DESIGN: Open cohort study. SETTING: Australian general practice using data from MedicineInsight. PARTICIPANTS: Women aged 18 to 44 years with one or more clinical encounters for lactational mastitis between January 2011 and July 2022. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the proportion of prescribed oral antibiotics based on the antibiotic type. Secondary outcome measures were the proportion of women prescribed other medications (eg, antifungals, lactation suppressants) or ordered selected clinical investigations including breast ultrasound, blood test, breast milk culture, nipple swab culture or breast aspirate. Outcomes were examined based on the calendar year and individual- or clinical practice-level characteristics. RESULTS: Among 25 002 women who had one or more clinical encounters related to mastitis, 90.9% were prescribed oral antibiotics. While the proportion of women prescribed an oral antibiotic remained consistent from 2011 to 2022 (91.1% vs 92.5%), there were changes in the proportion receiving prescriptions for di/flucloxacillin (46.1% vs 60.4%) and cefalexin (38.6% vs 26.5%). Fewer than 12% of women were clinically investigated for their mastitis encounter, most commonly a breast ultrasound (7.1%), followed by a selected blood test (3.8%). Requests for breast milk cultures, nipple swab cultures or breast aspirates occurred in less than 1.1% of individuals. Significant increases were evident with respect to ordering of all clinical investigations, with rates at least doubling between 2011 and 2022 (6.6% vs 14.7%). Large variability in clinical management was evident according to both individual- (eg, concessional status) and clinical practice-level characteristics (eg, remoteness). CONCLUSIONS: Australian general practitioners commonly prescribe oral antibiotics to women with mastitis and largely in line with clinical guidelines. Their use of clinical investigations as part of mastitis management has increased over the last decade.

Correlation of udder thermogram and somatic cell counts as a tool for detection of subclinical mastitis in buffaloes.

This study aimed to monitor the mammary health of 37 multiparous Murrah buffaloes through infrared thermography (IRT). Based on the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and milk somatic cell counts (SCC), buffaloes were grouped into healthy (H, n = 16), subclinical mastitis (SCM, n = 10), and clinical mastitis (CM, n = 11). Buffaloes were milked twice daily in the morning (5:00-6:00 AM) and evening (5:00-6:00 PM). Rectal temperature and respiratory rates were recorded, CMT was performed and thermal images of the mammary gland of all the buffaloes were taken before and after each milking. Milk samples were analysed after each milking for SCC, fat, Solids-Not-Fat (SNF), density, protein, lactose, salts, conductivity, and pH immediately in the laboratory from fresh milk samples. The surface temperature of the periocular region of both the eyes, muzzle, flank, and vagina were also taken. Thermal images were used to assess the surface temperature of the udder (USST), teat apex (TAT), teat barrel (TB1T), teat base (TB2T), and teat skin surface (TSST). Eye and USST showed significantly higher temperatures (p < 0.05), whereas skin surface temperatures (SST) of different body parts were non-significant in both SCM and CM animals than buffaloes in the H group. Milk SCC showed a positive correlation with conductivity (r > 0.7), salts, and pH (r < 0.6) and a negative correlation with fat, SNF, density, protein, and lactose. TAT, TB1T, TB2T, TSST, and USST were positively correlated with milk SCC. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis of H and SCM groups showed that USST before milking had optimum sensitivity (Se = 0.80) and specificity (Sp = 0.906) among the various skin temperatures recorded. Thermal images captured during the morning showed higher sensitivity compared to images taken in the evening. Results indicate IRT can be used to monitor the mammary health of buffaloes but using IRT in conjunction with milk SCC can help in the accurate prediction of SCM in dairy buffaloes.

Seasonal assessment of mastitis using thermogram analysis in murrah buffaloes.

Mastitis is a global threat that challenges dairy farmers' economies worldwide. Sub-clinical mastitis (SCM) beholds the lion's share in it, as its visible clinical signs are not evident and are challenging to diagnose. The treatment of intramammary infection (IMI) demands antimicrobial therapy and subsequent milk withdrawal for a week or two. This context requires a non-invasive diagnostic tool like infrared thermography (IRT) to identify mastitis. It can form the basis of precision dairy farming. Therefore, the present study focuses on thermal imaging of the udder and teat quarters of Murrah buffaloes during different seasons to identify SCM and clinical mastitis (CM) cases using the Darvi DTL007 camera. A total of 30-45 lactating Murrah buffalo cows were screened out using IRT regularly throughout the year 2021-22. The IMI was further screened using the California mastitis test. The thermogram analysis revealed a significant difference (p < 0.01) in the mean values of the udder and teat skin surface temperature of Murrah buffaloes between healthy, SCM, and CM during different seasons. The mean values of udder skin surface temperature (USST) during different seasons ranged between 30.28 and 36.81 °C, 32.54 to 38.61 °C, and 34.32 to 40.02 °C among healthy, SCM, and CM-affected quarters. Correspondingly, the mean values of teat skin surface temperature (TSST) were 30.52 to 35.96 °C, 32.92 to 37.55 °C, and 34.51 to 39.05 °C, respectively. Further results revealed an increase (p < 0.01) in the mean values of USST during winter, summer, rainy, and autumn as 2.26, 4.04; 2.19, 3.35; 1.80, 3.21; and 1.45, 2.64 °C and TSST as 2.40, 3.99; 2.28, 3.26; 1.59, 3.09; and 1.68, 2.92 °C of SCM, CM-affected quarters to healthy quarters, respectively. The highest incidence of SCM was observed during autumn and CM during winter. Henceforth, irrespective of the seasons studied in the present study, IRT is an efficient, supportive tool for the early identification of SCM.

Delayed Diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Presenting as Acute Mastitis in a Patient One Month Postpartum.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare yet aggressive form of invasive ductal carcinoma, with a poor prognosis and decreased 5-year survival rates. Characteristic findings for IBC include rapid onset of breast edema, peau d'orange appearance, and involvement of the breast skin. Additionally, diagnosis is confirmed with a skin punch biopsy. With such nonspecific features, IBC can be mistaken for benign etiologies, causing delays in diagnosis and treatment. This patient is a 44-year-old woman presenting with left breast swelling while concurrently breastfeeding. Following antibiotic treatment but no symptom resolution, the patient was referred out for further follow-up. Despite multiple imaging studies, suggesting benign findings, clinical suspicion prompted continued evaluation and finally diagnosis of triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer with distant metastases. Further awareness of the presentation of IBC and its mimicking of other disease processes such as mastitis is paramount to earlier detection and improved outcomes in future patients.

Bilateral plasma cell mastitis simulating breast cancer: a case report and literature review.

Plasma cell mastitis (PCM) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the breast. It is a benign entity mainly found in nonpregnant and nonlactating women. PCM presents with symptoms of inflammation, breast erythema, masses, and indurations. We herein describe a 26-year-old woman with a 2-year history of right breast swelling and a 1-year history of left breast swelling during pregnancy and lactation. She was clinically diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer, but a biopsy specimen revealed PCM. During pregnancy and lactation, PCM can present as bilateral lesions. Early presentation and diagnosis are crucial because PCM, a benign disease, can lead to remarkable morbidity if allowed to progress to an advanced stage.

Alternative Traits for Genetic Evaluation of Mastitis Based on Lifetime Merit.

Genetic selection has achieved little progress in reducing mastitis incidence. Mastitis traits are problematic due to the lack of sensitivity of the data and reliance on clinical diagnosis, often missing subclinical cases, and/or on monthly somatic cell count (SCC) measurements. The current measure for mastitis is the lactation average of the somatic cells score (LSCS). We studied two datasets: (1) 148 heifers divided into non-intramammary infected, sub-clinically infected and clinical mastitis groups; (2) data from 89,601 heifers from Israeli Holsteins through the same period divided into "udder healthy" (UH) and "non-healthy" (UNH) by a threshold of SCC 120,000 cells/mL in all nine monthly milk recordings. In study 1, non-infected heifers had significantly (p < 0.05) more partum, production days and overall lifetime milk production compared to clinical and sub-clinically infected. In study 2, UH heifers (20.3%) had significantly higher (p < 0.01) lifetime milk, production days, and lactations. Subdividing datasets by sires, the same analyses detected differences in percentages of UH daughters between the sire groups. Lifetime milk production correlated (r = +0.83, p < 0.001) with udder health status. SCC threshold of less than 120,000 cells/mL during all first lactation measurements indicated healthy udder, providing a valuable insight that this dichotomous trait is advantageous for calculating lifetime net-merit index (NM$) over LSCS.

Breast infections: A review of current literature.

Breast infections are common, affect women of all ages, and are associated with significant morbidity. Despite overall prevalence, treatment varies significantly based on provider or institution and no central treatment guidelines exist to direct the management of breast infections. This article provides a summary of the current trends in management of breast infections. The etiology, epidemiology, risk factors, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of mastitis and breast abscesses (and their relative subdivisions) are explored based on the current literature. Trends in microbiology are reviewed and an approach to antibiotic coverage is proposed. Overall, there is a lack of randomized-controlled trials focused on the treatment of breast infections. This has resulted in an absence of clinical practice guidelines for the management of breast abscesses and variable practice patterns. The development of best-care protocols or pathways could provide more uniformity in care of breast infections.

Short milking tube thermogram analysis: an indicator of mastitis in Murrah buffaloes.

In the present study, thermal images of the short milking tube of the milking machine representing four udder quarters independently attached to a milking animal, along with pre-milking and post-milking udder and teat thermograms, were taken using a hand-held digital infrared thermal camera (DarviDTL007) during morning milking of lactating Murrah buffaloes (n = 132) to assess the mastitis status. California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC) of milk samples were carried out to screen the udder quarters as healthy, subclinical (SCM), and clinical mastitis (CM). The thermograms revealed an increase (p < 0.05) of 2.19 and 3.72ºC in the mean values of short milking tube (SMT) surface temperature among SCM and CM quarters compared to healthy quarters, respectively. The mean values of udder skin surface temperature (USST) for pre-milking, milking, and post-milking of SCM and CM compared to healthy quarters showed an increase (p < 0.05) of 2.17, 1.96, and 1.61ºC and 3.11, 2.88, and 2.73ºC, respectively. Similarly, compared to healthy quarters, the mean values of teat skin surface temperature (TSST) for pre-milking and post-milking of SCM and CM showed an increase (p < 0.05) of 2.12 and 1.66ºC and 3.07 and 2.45ºC, respectively. Also, CMT and SCC results showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.68-0.91, p < 0.01) with all the thermographic parameters. Thus, thermograms of SMT alone can be used as an efficient detection tool in assessing SCM among Murrah buffaloes.

[Breast tuberculosis. Report of two cases]. / Tuberculosis mamaria. Reporte de dos casos.

Two cases of mammary tuberculosis (TB) are presented, one of them with additional pleural and lymph node involvement. Both were HIV-negative, with no history of previous TB, with long-standing breast lesions. Both presented a successful outcome with antituberculosis treatment. Breast TB is a very rare pathology that is difficult to diagnose. The cases are presented to consider their differential diagnosis in patients with chronic mastitis and/or nodular or ulcerated lesions of the breast. Multidisciplinary management is recommended.

Se presentan los casos de dos pacientes con tuberculosis (TB) mamaria, una de ellas también con compromiso pleural y ganglionar. Ambas HIV negativas, sin antecedentes de TB previa, con lesiones mamarias de largo tiempo de evolución. Las dos presentaron buena evolución con tratamiento antifímico. La TB mamaria es una afección muy poco frecuente de difícil diagnóstico. Se presentan los casos con el fin de plantear su diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes con mastitis crónicas y/o lesiones nodulares o ulceradas de la mama. Se recomienda el manejo multidisciplinario.

A Retrospective Analysis of the Clinicopathological Features of Patients with Tuberculous Mastitis: A Single Institution's Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis remains a global health burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Breast tuberculosis is a rare disease with minimal research available. This disease produces a diagnostic challenge as the clinical presentation is variable, and diagnosis often requires additional investigations. This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of cytology and histology, together with ancillary studies, in diagnosing tuberculous mastitis. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a Johannesburg Hospital over 5 years. Thirty-two patients with confirmed tuberculous mastitis were included. The patients were considered positive for tuberculous mastitis if histological or cytological findings were confirmed with either a positive tuberculosis culture, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, or polymerase chain reaction examination/GeneXpert. RESULTS: This case series comprises 3 males and 29 females with a mean age of 35.66. A breast mass was the most common presentation. Over these 5 years, more biopsies were performed on inflammatory breast lesions than fine needle aspirations. There was a higher confirmation rate for cytology diagnoses compared to histology diagnoses. CONCLUSION: This study supports using fine needle aspiration combined with GeneXpert as the primary diagnostic modality in diagnosing tuberculous mastitis. This test combination is advantageous in resource- and financially constrained environments as it is relatively simple to perform, cost-effective, and has a rapid turnaround time.

A systematic review of mammary gland inflammations in queens (Felis catus).

Mastitis is a rare condition that can be diagnosed in female cats of all breeds and ages. It is usually caused by bacterial agents and is frequently encountered secondarily in feline mammary fibroepithelial hyperplasia (FEH). If left untreated, it can peril both the queen and her kittens. Therefore, a reliable and quick diagnosis is the primary key to successful treatment. Conventional diagnosis consists of a clinical and ultrasound evaluation of the queen's mammary glands. However, there is a lack of literature specifically focused on mastitis in queens. Consequently, the present review brings forth the existing knowledge regarding mammary gland inflammations in cats, with the goal of improving current clinical evaluation and treatment plans.

Lupus mastitis and antiphospholipid syndrome treated with anticoagulation and immunosuppression: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that can have cutaneous and systemic manifestations. Lupus panniculitis, also known as lupus mastitis, is a subset of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus that involves inflammation of the subcutaneous fat. The pathogenesis of lupus mastitis is not fully understood. Diagnosis involves a combination of skin manifestations, imaging, and pathologic confirmation. Treatment typically includes steroids and antimalarials, with more severe disease requiring additional immunosuppressive medications. This report highlights a case of lupus mastitis treated with rituximab and a possible relationship between this disease process and thrombotic disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old African American female with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome presented with new breast lesion. Mammography revealed calcifications and increased density with coarse trabecular pattern. Breast biopsy showed features of cutaneous lupus and occlusive vasculopathy. The patient was diagnosed with lupus mastitis and treated with anticoagulation, rituximab, mycophenolate mofetil, and quinacrine with resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSION: This patient experienced improvement in her breast symptoms with combination therapy including rituximab. There are only two other cases reported in literature of patients with lupus mastitis responding to rituximab, highlighting the possible role of B cell depleting therapy for those who have contraindications to standard treatments for lupus mastitis. While the pathophysiology of lupus mastitis is thought to be immune driven, some literature suggests that associated thrombosis commonly seen may be due to a physiologic overlap similar to antiphospholipid syndrome. The possible relationship between antiphospholipid syndrome and lupus mastitis and the use of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy is discussed and may warrant further investigation.

LC/MS-based untargeted lipidomics reveals lipid signatures of nonpuerperal mastitis.

BACKGROUND: Nonpuerperal mastitis (NPM) is a disease that presents with redness, swelling, heat, and pain during nonlactation and can often be confused with breast cancer. The etiology of NPM remains elusive; however, emerging clinical evidence suggests a potential involvement of lipid metabolism. METHOD: Liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based untargeted lipidomics analysis combined with multivariate statistics was performed to investigate the NPM lipid change in breast tissue. Twenty patients with NPM and 10 controls were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: The results revealed significant differences in lipidomics profiles, and a total of 16 subclasses with 14,012 different lipids were identified in positive and negative ion modes. Among these lipids, triglycerides (TGs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) and cardiolipins (CLs) were the top three lipid components between the NPM and control groups. Subsequently, a total of 35 lipids were subjected to screening as potential biomarkers, and the chosen lipid biomarkers exhibited enhanced discriminatory capability between the two groups. Furthermore, pathway analysis elucidated that the aforementioned alterations in lipids were primarily associated with the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway. The correlation between distinct lipid populations and clinical phenotypes was assessed through weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that untargeted lipidomics assays conducted on breast tissue samples from patients with NPM exhibit noteworthy alterations in lipidomes. The findings of this study highlight the substantial involvement of arachidonic acid metabolism in lipid metabolism within the context of NPM. Consequently, this study offers valuable insights that can contribute to a more comprehensive comprehension of NPM in subsequent investigations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Number: 2019-702-57; Date: July 2019).

Predictive Risk Factors for Childbirth-Associated Breast Infections in the United States: A 10-Year Perspective.

Infectious mastitis is a common condition that affects up to 33% of lactating women. Several risk factors have been suggested to be strongly associated with breast abscess, nipple infection, and non-purulent mastitis associated with childbirth. In this retrospective cohort study, we gathered data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2005 and 2014 and utilized data stratification and backward linear regression to analyze the predictive factors associated with patients hospitalized with breast infection after childbirth, with special consideration of risk factors affecting hospital length of stay (LOS). In the ten-year period, 4614 women were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of breast abscess, nipple infection, or non-purulent mastitis associated with childbirth. Mean (SD) age was 26.75 (6) years. The highest frequency distribution of cases was observed in patients aged 22-30 years (49.82%). Mean (SD) LOS was 2.83 (1.95) days. Mean (SD) LOS in patients with procedure was 3.53 (2.47) days, which was significantly longer than that in those with no procedure (2.39 (1.36) days, p < 0.001). Primary diagnosis of breast abscess and occurrence of a hospital procedure were most significantly associated with prolonged LOS. Factors such as age, socioeconomic position, severity of functional loss, as well as comorbidities were also contributing risk factors to the development of breast infection and increased hospital LOS. Further studies should examine these findings, as they relate to breastfeeding practices and concentrate on establishing best practices for risk reduction and prevention of childbirth-associated breast and nipple infections and hospitalizations.