HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Williams, W. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Williams, W. L.

The Detection of Shedders of the Streptococcus of Mastitis in Composite Control Milk Samples¹

Louisville City Hospital, Louisville, Ky.

ABSTRACT

In the examination of milk samples for the purpose of control, high cell counts and streptococci indicate that routine dairy inspection, including physical examination of animals and chemical tests (1) on the milk, does not detect all shedders of the streptococcus of mastitis. It has been shown by the most recent investigators (Bryan (2), Hucker and Hansen (3), Minett (4), and Plastridge, Anderson, Brigham and Spaulding (5)) that about 90 per cent of the strains causing infectious bovine mastitis belong to a well-defined group to which the specific name Streptococcus agalactiae has been given.

While the characteristics of Streptococcus agalactiae (6) are well known, it is sometimes difficult for the laboratory, using as samples milk from individual cows, to do the work necessary to its identification. The purpose of this paper is to describe a routine procedure which can be carried out in a public health laboratory, using composite producer-control samples, and to demonstrate that the quality of the milk supply can be improved by the application of this procedure and consequent elimination of infected individuals in the herd.

¹ Department of Public Health and Bacteriology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, and the Bacteriological and Serological Laboratories, Louisville City Hospital, Louisville, Ky.