MASTITIS IN DAIRY HERDS: AN SAFETY AND QUALITY HAZARD FOR RAW MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

Mastitis, milk quality and dairy food safety are all very much interrelated. The present study was aimed at discussing the epidemiology of mastitis in dairy herds and their public health importance as well as the health hazard of the udder pathogens. Mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by bacterial infection, trauma, or injury to the udder, remains the most common and most expensive disease affecting dairy cattle throughout the world. Mastitis risk factors or disease determinants can be classified into three groups: host, pathogen and environmental determinants. Many studies conducted in different countries under varying conditions reported that annually 20 to 40% of dairy cows have expressed clinical mastitis during lactation. Data from dairy farms in Republic of Macedonia reported that annual prevalence of clinical mastitis was 45.86%. Major mastitis pathogens are classified as being either environmental or contagious. Treatment of the cows suffering from mastitis, ejection of chronic illness and reduction of the number of new infections is the main goal of the mastitis control program. Mastitis is the most common cause of the use of antimicrobials in dairy cows. The biggest problem in the treatment of mastitis in dairy cows is the resistance of microorganisms to the specific group of antibiotics. Another public health concern regarding mastitis are antibiotic residues in milk due to extensive use of antibiotics in the treatment and control of the disease. Developing uniform national regulations including microbial standards for raw milk, labeling of raw milk, improving sanitation during milking, and enhancing and targeting educational efforts are potential approaches to this issue.