Background

The final antisepsis of nipples is performed with aqueous solutions containing Propolina® to prevent mastitis. The aim of this paper was to determine the antimicrobial activity of different concentrations of Propolina® against mastitis-causing microorganisms.

Materials and Methods

The microorganisms were isolated from the milk of cows having three mastitis crossings. The antimicrobial activity of aqueous Propolina® solutions between 2.5 and 60.0 mg.ml-1 was tested against isolated bacteria and Gram-negative Escherichia coli strain ATCC 25922 by spraying the solution in plate wells containing agar. A one-way ANOVA was used to determine the effect of the propoline dose on the bacterial species associated with mastitis; the Duncan’s multiple rank-sum test was used for dose comparisons.

Results

The Gram-positive bacteria were identified: Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp. and Corynebacterium sp., which were sensitive to the Propolina® solutions, while Gram negative Escherichia coli strain ATCC 25922 showed no sensitivity. The 60, 30, and 20 mg.ml-1 concentrations were more effective against Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp.

Conclusions

Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp., and Corynebacterium sp. were isolated and identified, as causing subclinical mastitis. The Propolina® solutions were highly effective against Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp., which were sensitive to the 20, 30, and 60 mg.ml-1, and 30 and 60 mg.ml-1 concentrations of Propolina®, respectively.