13TSB_ACT: Evaluation of MALDI-TOF-MS to differentiate sub species of the pathogen S uberis to provide an improved approach to mastitis control

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Bovine mastitis is an inflammatory disease of the udder and is a major barrier to the sustainability of dairy farmingworldwide. The health, welfare, economic and environmental impacts of bovine mastitis are severe. It is the most commoncause of on-farm death and premature culling. With an incidence rate of clinical mastitis of 60/100 cows/year more thanone million cows are affected per annum in the UK alone. Mastitis treatment and control accounts for over 30% of allantibiotic use in dairy cattle. Annual losses exceed £170M in the UK; 38% of the total direct costs of disease. Thereforemastitis substantially reduces the efficiency of dairy farming and an increased rate of culling of mastitic animals adverselyaffects the environment and the drive towards national and international food security, while antibiotic use in cattle mayalso spread resistance to bacteria that impact on human health.Mastitis is caused by a bacterial infection; the bacteria enter the mammary gland via the teat canal. The central premise ofmastitis control is to minimise the risk of infection by reducing transmission of bacterial pathogens into the udder. In orderto control mastitis, it is necessary to understand how and when bacterial infections occur and how the pathogens cause aninfection. Although only a few species of bacteria commonly cause bovine mastitis, it is now recognised that sub species(strains) of these bacteria behave in different ways in terms of disease transmission and outcome. The aim of this researchis to develop a method to differentiate strains of the most common mastitis pathogen, S uberis, according to their diseasetransmission characteristics. To do this, a modern, high throughput method of mass spectrometry (matrix-assisted laserdesorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry - MALDI-TOF-MS) will be used to differentiate strains of S uberis.These strains will be grouped according to how they cause mastitis and the outcome of disease. This information will thenbe used to inform mastitis control programmes which will include reduced use of antibiotics on farm.If successful, his research will pride a new and improved approach to mastitis control in dairy cows. This would be to thebenefit of dairy farmers (reduced disease costs), veterinary surgeons and advisors (improved ability to advise on mastitiscontrol), the dairy industry (improved sustainability, welfare and image by reducing mastitis) and consumers (improved cowwelfare and food security).