Association of milk microbiome with bovine mastitis before and after antibiotic therapy

Research (Published online: 05-12-2023)

1. Association of milk microbiome with bovine mastitis before and after antibiotic therapy

Inna Burakova, Mariya Gryaznova, Yuliya Smirnova, Polina Morozova, Vitaliy Mikhalev, Vitaliy Zimnikov, Irina Latsigina, Sergey Shabunin, Evgeny Mikhailov, and Mikhail Syromyatnikov

Veterinary World, 16(12): 2389-2402

Inna Burakova: Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia.

Mariya Gryaznova: Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia.

Yuliya Smirnova: Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia.

Polina Morozova: Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia; Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, 394018 Voronezh, Russia.

Vitaliy Mikhalev: FSBSI All-Russian Veterinary Research Institute of Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapy, 394061 Voronezh, Russia.

Vitaliy Zimnikov: FSBSI All-Russian Veterinary Research Institute of Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapy, 394061 Voronezh, Russia.

Irina Latsigina: FSBSI All-Russian Veterinary Research Institute of Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapy, 394061 Voronezh, Russia.

Sergey Shabunin: FSBSI All-Russian Veterinary Research Institute of Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapy, 394061 Voronezh, Russia.

Evgeny Mikhailov: FSBSI All-Russian Veterinary Research Institute of Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapy, 394061 Voronezh, Russia.

Mikhail Syromyatnikov: Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia; Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, 394018 Voronezh, Russia; FSBSI All-Russian Veterinary Research Institute of Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapy, 394061 Voronezh, Russia.

Background and Aim: Mastitis is recognized as the most common disease in cattle and causes economic losses in the dairy industry. A number of opportunistic bacterial taxa have been identified as causative agents for this disease. Conventionally, antibiotics are used to treat mastitis; however, most bacteria are resistant to the majority of antibiotics. This study aimed to use molecular methods to identify milk microbiome patterns characteristic of mastitis that can help in the early diagnosis of this disease and in the development of new treatment strategies.

Materials and Methods: To evaluate the microbiome composition, we performed NGS sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the V3 region.

Results: An increase in the abundance of the bacterial genera Hymenobacter and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group is associated with the development of subclinical and clinical mastitis in dairy cows. These bacteria can be added to the list of markers used to detect mastitis in cows. Furthermore, a decrease in the abundance of Ralstonia, Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, Acetitomaculum, Massilia, and Atopostipes in cows with mastitis may indicate their role in maintaining a healthy milk microbiome. Antibiotics reduced the levels of Streptococcus in milk compared to those in the healthy group and cows before antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic therapy also contributed to an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria of the genus Asticcacaulis.

Conclusion: This study expands our understanding of the association between milk microbiota and mastitis.