Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
J Dairy Res. 2014 Feb;81(1):9-15. doi: 10.1017/S0022029913000472. Epub 2013 Oct 9.
The objective of the present paper is to review the significance of administration of antibiotics at the end of a lactation period/beginning of the dry-period in ewes. During the stage of active involution, there is an increased risk of new mastitis cases and recrudescence of subclinical infections that had occurred during the previous lactation period. The main pathogens involved in the so-called 'dry-period mastitis' are coagulase-negative staphylococci. The principle of antibiotic administration at the end of a lactation period involves the intramammary infusion of a preparation to both mammary glands of ewes in the flock. Although a variety of products is licensed for administration in ewes, preferably the product for administration should be selected on the results of susceptibility testing of bacteria to be isolated from samples from ewes in the flock. In many clinical studies from around the world, performed in dairy- or mutton-production flocks, administration of antimicrobial agents at the end of a lactation period has been found beneficial in curing intramammary infections present at cessation of a lactation period, as well as in minimising the risk for intramammary infections during the dry-period. In dairy flocks, there are also benefits from increase in milk yield and decrease flock bulk milk mean somatic cell counts during the subsequent lactation period. Antibiotic administration at drying-off may be performed to all animals in a flock ('complete') or only to those considered to be infected ('selective'). In all cases, after administration of the antibiotic, definite and complete cessation of the lactation period is essential for success of the procedure. Moreover, maintenance of the prescribed withdrawal periods is essential to safeguard public health. The procedure should always be applied as part of a strategic udder health management plan in a flock; implementation improves the welfare of animals and affords significant financial benefits to the farmer. A mastitis prevention scheme during lactation will minimise the incidence of the disease; effective treatment of cases of the disease during lactation will decrease the bacterial populations in the flock and limit risk of infection of other animals. Administration of antibiotics at the end of a lactation period will complement the above procedures and will contribute to improved mammary health for the forthcoming lactation period.
本文旨在回顾在绵羊哺乳期结束/干奶期开始时给予抗生素的意义。在活跃的 involution 阶段，新乳腺炎病例和前一哺乳期发生的亚临床感染复发的风险增加。所谓“干奶期乳腺炎”的主要病原体是凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌。哺乳期结束时给予抗生素的原则涉及向羊群中每只母羊的两个乳腺内输注制剂。尽管有多种产品获准在绵羊中使用，但最好根据从羊群中母羊样本中分离的细菌对药物的敏感性测试结果选择要使用的产品。在世界各地的许多临床研究中，在奶牛或羊肉生产羊群中进行，在哺乳期结束时给予抗菌药物已被发现有益于治愈哺乳期结束时存在的乳腺内感染，并降低干奶期乳腺内感染的风险。在奶牛群中，随后的泌乳期产奶量增加和群体牛奶体细胞计数降低也有好处。在干奶时，可以对羊群中的所有动物（“完全”）或仅对那些被认为感染的动物（“选择性”）进行抗生素给药。在所有情况下，在给予抗生素后，明确和完全停止泌乳期对于该程序的成功至关重要。此外，为了保障公众健康，遵守规定的停药期至关重要。该程序应始终作为羊群中乳房健康管理计划的一部分来实施；实施可以改善动物福利，并为农民带来显著的经济效益。在泌乳期实施乳腺炎预防计划将最大限度地减少疾病的发生；在泌乳期有效治疗病例将减少群体中的细菌数量，并限制其他动物感染的风险。在哺乳期结束时给予抗生素将补充上述程序，并有助于改善即将到来的泌乳期的乳房健康。
