Sources of Streptococcus uberis in the dairy herd: II. Evidence of colonization of the bovine intestine by Str. uberis

Abstract

SUMMARYSwabs taken from the rectum and vulva of 14 dairy cows on 7 occasions at approximately weekly intervals revealed a pattern of isolations of Streptococcus uberis which were not random. Two of the 14 cows were responsible for 80 and 40% respectively of the swabs of the rectum and vulva which were found to be positive. It is suggested that these patterns are consistent with these 2 cows being intestinally colonized with Str. uberis. The implications of this work are discussed with reference to the sources of Str. uberis in the dairy herd.