Etiological agents of bovine mastitis.

A total of 137 microbial species, subspecies and serovars have been isolated from the bovine mammary gland. Nucleic acid hybridization studies have restructured the classification of many mastitis pathogens. Availability of defined species descriptions has permitted greater insight into the distribution and pathogenicity of many previously unrecognized microorganisms associated with bovine mastitis. Precise epidemiological studies are needed to better delineate the role of some microorganisms in bovine mastitis and to aid development of improved control methods.