Mastitis PCR Lab
PCR Advantages
- Fast: The different Mycoplasma species are identified directly in milk in just 4 hours compared with 7 days with traditional culture and additional days if speciation is carried out.
- Highest accuracy (sensitivity and specificity): PCR will detect many infectious that culture will miss. Very sensitive to detect contagious pathogens (ex. Mycoplasma) on bulk tank and string samples.
- Not inhibited by antibiotics: Detects the bacteria even the cow started antibiotic treatment.
Contagious Pathogens / Mycoplasma Speciation Panel
- Mycoplasma bovis
- Mycoplasma spp. (Mycoplasma bovigenitalium, Mycoplasma californicum, Mycoplasma alkalescens, Mycoplasma canadense, and others)
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus agalactiae
Once Mycoplasma is detected at the bulk tank, or in string samples, cows from infected strings are sampled and pooled at the lab in pools of 5 to reduce costs. Cows from negative pools are negative and cows from positive pools are tested to identify the infected cow or cows.
Complete Panel
Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma spp, ß-Lactamase gene (BlaZ gene), Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus, Prototheca, E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterococcus/Lactococcus lactis, Pseudomonas, Bacillus/Clostridia, Trueperella pyogenes and Enterobacteriace.
Useful when bacteria are not identified by traditional microbiology or when cow has started antibiotic treatment before sample collection or to evaluate bacteriological cure during the treatment course.
DNA Fingerprinting
The line between classic contagious and environmental behavior of mastitis pathogens has become blurred. Epidemiological and molecular studies suggest that a variety of Streptococcus uberis strains could result in within-cow and between-cow transmission, with possible transfer of bacteria via the milking machine. At DairyExperts, using DNA fingerprinting we are able to differentiate if bacteria traditionally considered environmental is acting as contagious solving the problem by focusing on the parlor instead of the environment.