Selective treatment of clinical mastitis (STCM) based on testing at the point of mastitis diagnosis to determine the likelihood bacterial pathogen is growing in popularity.

Although all severe or toxic cases should be treated immediately along with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), a new report concluded that no economic losses or animal welfare issues are expected when adopting a selective vs blanket clinical mastitis treatment protocol in mild to moderate cases.

The idea is that gram-positive mastitis cases are treated with a targeted antibiotic therapy (narrow spectrum), whereas gram-negative bacterial infections, which are most commonly E coli, do not always need to be treated with antibiotics because they are more likely to self-cure. In all cases of clinical mastitis, NSAID treatment should be offered.

“Testing is not only important for the responsible use of antibiotics, but targeted antibiotic therapy may also result in an increased proportion of the EMA Category D narrow spectrum antibiotics being used. Targeting mastitis therapy may also help to improve cure rates,” said vet Dr Jude Roberts from Map of Ag.

“Selective treatment of clinical mastitis on a farm may reduce the risk of antibiotic milk residue failures, result in fewer cows under milk withdrawal and could reduce overall antibiotic use, which can only go to help farmers’ bottom line,” she said.

For vets and farmers to be able to target antibiotic treatment, spotting early clinical signs of mastitis and then testing those animals using new, on-farm rapid diagnostic tests is essential.