 Article written by Zana van Dijk on Dairy Global A new sustainable solution could help eliminate mastitis. To reduce reliance on antibiotics and combat mastitis, international researchers have developed an innovative method that lowers the risk of udder infections in dairy cows through a novel mechanism. Scientists have recently unveiled research that aims to offer “an alternative class of potent antimicrobial compounds that could be used in the agriculture industry to combat multi-drug-resistant bacteria,” says Prof Mary Chan, one of the co-leads of the research from Nanyang Technological University‘s School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine. The novel compounds called oligoimidazolium carbon acids (OIMs) were initially developed to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause mastitis. Chan, a principal investigator at the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) interdisciplinary research group at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) in Singapore, explained that the compounds are designed as a preventive post-milking teat dip that effectively reduces the risk of udder infection before bacteria can establish. The novel compounds called oligoimidazolium carbon acids (OIMs) have initially been developed as an alternative to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria which causes mastitis. Farm trials At a dairy farm with Holstein cows, the research team tested OIMs as an antiseptic dip to prevent bovine mastitis in a preliminary farm trial. Cows whose teats were dipped in the compounds did not develop udder infections over time despite exposure to bacteria, the researchers reported. They found that OIMs kill bacteria by converting parts of the compounds into structures called carbenes, allowing them to quickly slip past the bacteria’s protective membranes and damage their DNA. Because this method is potent against bacteria such as S. aureus, lower doses of OIMs are needed. The scientists highlight that the trial has also shown that the compounds could easily be cleaned away and washed off and they do not leave detectable residues behind. The trial showed that they also had absolutely no effect on milk production, milk quality or safety. In addition, there were no signs of skin irritation and the OIMs had no negative effect on animal behaviour – for example, they were not restless and did not kick, which are signs of itching and irritation, the researchers added. However, Chan noted: “One challenge was adapting our initial lab-based prototype of the compounds for real farm conditions while ensuring practicality and ease of use for farmers – an essential step in the product development process.” This will be further investigated as the scientists are extending their studies to assess longer-term use in farm settings to further substantiate safety and reliability. Mastitis and economic impact The effect of mastitis can be devastating, sweeping through farms and causing major economic losses to farmers. The disease is estimated to cost the sector billions per year in lost milk production. Although it’s too early to provide an exact dollar value at this stage of development of the compounds, Chan mentioned that preventing mastitis can significantly reduce veterinary treatment costs, decrease milk withholding due to contamination and improve overall milk yield. Piquing global interest…” “Today, farmers lose roughly US$147 per cow per year because of insufficient protection against the disease, highlighting the economic potential of better products to prevent infection,” she stated. In addition to cost savings and reducing the financial burden on farmers, the new compounds also offer a sustainable advantage. “The OIMs are biodegradable and break down into natural molecules that are neither toxic nor polluting, so we expect them to be more environmentally friendly,” explained Dr Kaixi Zhang, research scientist at SMART AMR and a co-author of the study. Dr Kaixi Zhang from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology preparing a sample of a safer and more sustainable antimicrobial compound developed to prevent cow udder infection. Scaling up and further studies Following successful lab and field studies, plans are now underway to collaborate with industry partners to scale up and conduct larger trials with dairy cattle. The aim is to commercialise the antimicrobial compounds and bring them to market. According to the scientists, they are commercialising the OIMs through a spin-off company and a large farm trial has been started in Malacca, Malaysia, to optimise the antimicrobial compounds. Piquing global interest, the scientists say that agricultural companies in Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and New Zealand are exploring its commercial use to prevent and potentially treat bovine mastitis in dairy cattle. The larger trials, which are taking place over the coming 6 months, will also refine the optimal dosage for the compounds. “We are working closely with industry partners to advance development and hope to see the compounds move towards commercial use once larger trials and approvals are successfully completed,” Chan added. What about other species? Prof Chan says that there are plans for use in other species, with applications in mind for other food producing livestock like poultry and swine. “We are exploring broader applications in other livestock species, including poultry and swine, as the mechanism of the compounds’ bacteria-killing action is broadly effective even in the presence of organic matter including those present in different farming environments,” said Chan, highlighting that the compounds are a game-changer and offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional antiseptics. “They have the potential to reshape mastitis prevention practices, as well as many other livestock sectors,” she concluded. The scientists were led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), in collaboration with the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Interdisciplinary Research Group at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) research enterprise in Singapore. Their findings were recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Original article posted in Dairy Global animal welfareantibioticsantibiotic newsComments are closed.
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