Question

Which of the following best describes mastitis?

• A. Metabolic disease in high-performance dairy cows during early lactation
• B. A condition where cows produce less milk due to stress
• C. A viral infection affecting the cow's udder
• D. Inflammation of the mammary gland, often caused by bacterial infection

Hint:

The suffix "-itis" in medical terminology always indicates inflammation (e.g., Mast- = Mammary gland, -itis = Inflammation). Therefore, Mastitis = Inflammation of the mammary gland.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Mastitis is a highly prevalent and economically significant disease affecting dairy herds worldwide, characterized by physical and chemical changes in milk and pathological changes in glandular tissue.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Definition: Mastitis is defined as the inflammation of the parenchyma of the mammary gland (udder).
- It is most commonly caused by bacterial pathogens (such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, or coliforms) entering through the teat canal, leading to an inflammatory response.
- Ketosis and milk fever are metabolic diseases, not mastitis.
- Stress can lower milk yield but does not cause the tissue inflammation characteristic of mastitis.
- While some viral infections can affect the teat skin, the vast majority of mastitis cases are bacterial in origin.

Step 3: Final Answer
Mastitis is best described as the inflammation of the mammary gland, typically caused by bacterial infection.