The effect of low intensity laser irradiation of inflamed udders on the efficacy of antibiotic treatment of clinical mastitis in dairy cows.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of STP-99 laser irradiation applied locally to inflamed cow udders on the efficacy of clinical mastitis treatment with either intramammary infusions of antibiotic products or systemic injections of antibiotics. Examinations were carried out on 124 milking dairy cows suffering from clinical, bacterial mastitis. Cows with signs of local acute inflammation were treated with approved intramammary antibiotic products at labeled doses as control. The exposed cows received the same antibiotic treatment but were also subjected to irradiation of the inflamed udders with a laser for 5 consecutive days (2 minutes a day). Cows with local and systemic signs of mastitis were treated with either intramuscular injections of approved antibiotics in label doses alone (controls), or with the same intramuscular treatment protocol and laser irradiation of inflamed glands for 5 consecutive days (2 minutes a day). The recovery rate after intramammary treatment with antibiotics was 43.7%. Irradiation with laser significantly (P < 0.05%) increased the recovery rate by 31.2%. The recovery rate in the cow cohort receiving systemic treatment with antibiotics was 46.7%. The laser irradiation resulted in a 16.6% increase in recovery. Supportive treatment with laser irradiation increased recovery rates by 24.2%.

Low-energy He-Ne-laser irradiation of the bovine mammary gland.

The bovine mammary gland was used to examine the effects of low-energy laser irradiation. Laser irradiation with 25 mW on an area of 7.5 cm in diameter on the right front quarter lasted 30 minutes daily for five consecutive days. Six cows were used to assess the effects of this treatment on the healthy mammary gland. Subclinical mastitis was induced in twelve quarters of the same six cows with oyster glycogen and the same laser protocol was followed on the right front quarters. In both experiments the left hind quarter served as a control. Four cases of spontaneous subclinical mastitis were treated in the same way. Parameters measured included milk yield, somatic cell count, conductivity, Na/K-ratio in milk serum, and fat, protein and lactose concentrations in milk. The bovine mammary gland was chosen in view of its particular suitability for the assessment of changes in biosynthetic capacity and inflammation course. In several respects, mastitis may be compared to currently recommended indications. No evidence for any stimulation of the healthy mammary gland or therapeutic effects on mastitis by low-energy He-Ne-laser could be found.