Mastitis in dairy herds can usually be brought under control by following the basic Program of the National Mastitis Council. Two points of this Program involve the use of antibiotics, one to treat clinical mastitis and the other to treat cows at the beginning of the nonlactating period. Antibiotic therapy, without identifying the mastitis causing organisms, is frequently the veterinarian and d...

The M protein of Streptococcus canis (SCM) is a virulence factor and serves as a surface-associated receptor with a particular affinity for mini-plasminogen, a cleavage product of the broad-spectrum serine protease plasmin. Here, we report that SCM has an additional high-affinity immunoglobulin G (IgG) binding activity. The ability of a particular S. canis isolate to bind to IgG significantly c...

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse the results of milk samples obtained from South African dairy herds during the period 1996 to April 2007 in order to identify possible trends in isolates of microorganisms and their pathogenicity under field conditions. Milk samples were obtained from 7 of the 9 provinces in South Africa where there are low numbers of dairy cows. Although the...

Streptococcus spp are common opportunistic pathogens of mammals and are associated with a variety of diseases affecting multiple organ systems. Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe, debilitating disease in adult dogs that can result in systemic illness and death. Toxic shock– like syndrome, a typically fatal sequel of necrotizing fasciitis in dogs. In dogs, S. canis is the most common streptococca...

The objective of this study was to determine whether somatic cell count (SCC) was an effective test, with a sensitivity exceeding 85%, to determine species-specific bacterial infections. In addition, the relation between the SCC and various udder pathogen groups was investigated. SCC thresholds of greater than 200 000 cells/mL were used in quarter and greater than 150 000 cells/mL in composite ...

* Correspondence: [email protected] Brucella canis is an etiological agent of canine brucellosis, a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to humans. B. canis is associated with dogs, which are its natural host. In some cases, dogs can also be infected with other Brucella species such as B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis; however, B. canis is the primary etiological agent responsible for can...