Nutraceuticals in Mastitis

Abstract

Acute and chronic forms of mastitis are the costliest disease in the dairy industry. Resistance of microbial pathogens to antimicrobials approved for clinical use is a significant threat to controlling mastitic pathogens and is a public health issue. In some countries, the cost of antimicrobial drugs reduces their usage, and ethnic remedies are being used. Organic dairies have prioritized the maintenance of mammary health and the use of nutraceuticals to prevent and treat mastitis. In some jurisdictions, dairy animals on organic farms that receive antibiotics are disqualified for life as dairy animals. There is conflicting evidence on the efficacy of nutraceuticals, homeopathy, and traditional medicine in treating mastitis and a lack of standards for evaluation of these remedies. Studies are showing that nutraceuticals can be efficacious. Phytotherapeutics generally are complex chemical mixtures and can be multifaceted in mechanisms of action. Intramammary infusions of probiotics and bacteriocins are being shown to be efficacious, and their mechanisms of action include being an immune stimulant. Immunotherapy with antibodies and immune system components can be efficacious. Intermingled treatments with nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals can be more efficacious than either treatment alone.