Mastitis: An overview

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by bacteria, virus and fungal infection. It is one of the most prevalent and costly diseases affecting the dairy industry, as it reduces milk production, affects milk quality, and increases culling rates. Bovine mastitis is caused by bacterial infections, which can be either contagious or environmental in origin. Contagious mastitis is primarily caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae, while environmental mastitis is caused by a range of environmental bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Streptococcus uberis.