Biofilm Dynamics in Bovine Mastitis
Summary
Bovine mastitis remains a major challenge for the dairy industry, owing in large part to the capacity of pathogens to form biofilms within the udder. Biofilms are structured communities of bacteria encased in a self-produced matrix that attach to mammary epithelial surfaces or milking equipment. Within this matrix, bacteria exhibit enhanced tolerance to host immune responses and antimicrobials, leading to chronic or recurrent infections. Key features of biofilm dynamics include initial adhesion to host tissue or abiotic surfaces, maturation into multilayered communities embedded in extracellular polymeric substances, and eventual dispersal of cells to new sites. Environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, mechanical agitation during milking and nutrient composition of milk influence both biofilm architecture and pathogen dissemination. The persistence of biofilm-associated infections drives antibiotic overuse and elevates somatic cell counts, with significant economic and welfare implications worldwide.
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Biofilm Dynamics in Bovine Mastitis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biofilm dynamics in bovine mastitis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biofilm: A multicellular assembly of bacteria encased in a self-secreted matrix adhering to surfaces, conferring protection against host defences and antimicrobials.
Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS): The complex mix of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids that forms the structural scaffold of a biofilm.
Intramammary infection (IMI): Infection of the mammary gland, often chronic in nature when biofilm-forming pathogens are involved.
Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): The lowest concentration of an antibiotic that prevents visible growth of planktonic bacteria, which may differ for cells within a biofilm.
References
- Evaluating the effects of temperature and agitation on biofilm formation of bacterial pathogens isolated from raw cow milk. BMC Microbiology (2024).
- Biofilm Research in Bovine Mastitis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2021).
- In vitro antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm production of Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from bovine intramammary infections that persisted or not following extended therapies with cephapirin, pirlimycin or ceftiofur. Veterinary Research (2017).
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