GB2589856A

GB2589856A - Composition for use of reducing SCC and subsequent mastitis in dairy cows

Info

Publication number: GB2589856A
Application number: GB1917958.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Thorpe Christopher
Original assignee: Christopher Robin Thorpe
Current assignee: Christopher Robin Thorpe
Priority date: 2019-12-09
Filing date: 2019-12-09
Publication date: 2021-06-16
Also published as: GB201917958D0

Abstract

An antimicrobial composition comprising at least 60% by weight allicin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least 20% by weight of an aloe extract, is provided. Preferably the allicin comprises stabilised allicin and/or wherein the aloe extract comprises aloe gelly. Preferably the antimicrobial composition consists essentially of stabilised allicin and aloe extract with minor or other components, wherein the other components are included in an amount of up to 2.5% by weight of the total composition. Preferably the other component is a thickening agent. the composition is preferably for use in the prevention of, reduction in the onset of, or treatment of mastitis in cows by a reduction of somatic cell count (scc) in the cows.

Description

Composition for use of reducing scc and subsequent mastitis in dairy cows.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an anti-microbial composition, in particular a topical antimicrobial composition for the therapeutic reduction of somatic cell count (scc) and prevention of mastitis in dairy herds.

Backqround It is extremely desirable to be able to control mastitis in dairy herds because many factors can lead to an increase in infection throughout the herd which has a marked influence on somatic cell counts. The somatic cell count is an indicator of the health of the udder and the quality of milk produced by a cow, with the majority of somatic cells being leukocytes (white blood cells). These cells are produced as a result of an immune response to a mastitis-causing pathogen, and thus a high somatic cell count (generally above 250,000 cells per ml of milk) is indicative of poor udder health and milk quality whereas a cow with a SCC of 250,000 or less generally indicates an uninfected cow which will produce high quality milk.

The dry period of a cow is one of the most critical times during which scc should be controlled. The dry period, between lactations, is when the cow and her udder are prepared ready for the next lactation. A large proportion of early lactation mastitis cases originate during this dry period and go on to have a negative effect on the cow's health and milk production after calving.

The two most important stages of the dry period are the first week after drying off and the last week prior to calving. During the first week a keratin plug develops in the teat canal which prevents microbes from entering the teat during the dry period. In the final week, this plug is degraded in preparation for lactation. As a result, the udder is most susceptible to infection during the beginning and end of the dry period.

The most common form of dry cow therapy to minimize infection during the dry period is intramammary antibiotic treatment at drying off to eliminate any existing infection and prevent new infections during the dry period. Additionally, or alternatively, an internal teat sealant may be applied to the teats to prevent infection.

There is a considerable amount of public pressure for farmers to significantly reduce the use of antibiotics in view of bacteria becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, especially in relation to widespread, non-selective use of antibiotic treatments such as their general use to treat cows during the dry period. Antibiotics are also only active against certain pathogens and therefore may not completely prevent infection that leads to mastitis. An article in Farmers Weekly in December 2017 identified four campaign groups that have launched a joint attack on antibiotic use in farming, in particular in relation to the treatment of animals when no disease has been diagnosed, such as use during the dry period in low SCC cows. While a number of supermarkets/processors have put protocols in place to ensure milk producers reduce the amount of antibiotics used in dry cow therapy, this has resulted in only cows with high scc being treated with antibiotics, with other cows receiving only a teat sealant or no treatment. Other supermarkets/processors have not made this change at the present time but will follow in due course and there remains a need for a suitable alternative treatment to enable all farmers to minimize their preventative use of antibiotics.

The desire to reduce the use of antibiotics has led to some dairy farmers not treating their dairy cows that have a low SCC with antibiotics at drying off but instead treating them only with a teat sealant or even no treatment at all. However, this means that these cows have minimal or no protection against bacterial infection which could lead to increased occurrences of mastitis in future with a corresponding drop in udder health and milk quality.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an improved anti-microbial composition for the reduction of scc and for the prevention and/or reduction of mastitis in cows that overcomes, or at least alleviates, the abovementioned drawbacks.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an anti-microbial composition comprising at least 60% by weight allicin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and at least 20% by weight of an aloe extract.

Preferably, the allicin comprises stabilised allicin, such as that manufactured by Allicin International Limited. More preferably, the composition includes at least 70% by weight stabilised allicin, especially 75%. Preferably, the aloe extract makes up substantially the remainder of the composition, for example being included in around 23-25% by weight.

Preferably, stabilised aloe is included in the composition, preferably being aloe gelly.

Additionally, minor amounts of other constituents may be included, preferably comprising a maximum of 2.5 % of the total weight of the composition. An optional ingredient may comprise a thickening agent such as a gelling agent.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the composition consists essentially of stabilised allicin and aloe with minor other components, the minor other components being included in amount up to 2.5% by weight of the total weight of the composition.

A second aspect of the present invention provides the composition according to the first aspect for use in the prevention, reduction in the onset of, or treatment of mastitis in cows by a reduction in scc in the cows.

Preferably, the composition is administered after the last milking of the lactation Preferably, the use according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises administering the composition to a cow after the last milking.

It is preferable for 5-20 mls of the composition to be administered to the cow, more preferably 8-12m1s, especially 10 mls. Preferably, the composition is administered to each teat, being introduced into the teat canal, and dispersed into the lower part of the udder quarter. Ideally, a single application of the composition is made to each teat on the last day of lactation prior to a cow's dry period. However, additional applications may be provided and it is to be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a single application per lactation.

The composition for use according to the second aspect of the present invention is particularly suitable for the prevention and/or treatment of mastitis in cows having a low somatic cell count, preferably being less than 250,000 cells per ml of milk. Preferably, these cows are not provided with any antibiotic treatment during the dry period.

A third aspect of the present invention comprises a method for preventing, reducing the onset of, or treating mastitis in a dairy herd by reducing the scc in the cows, the method comprising administering to each cow a composition according to the first aspect of the present invention once after the last milking of the cow.

More preferably, the composition is administered to cows having a low somatic cell count.

Brief Description

The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following drawings and examples in which: Figure 1 is a photograph of a culture dish showing the biological activity of a composition according to the present invention against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Figure 2 is a photograph of a culture dish showing biological activity of a composition according to the present invention against Staphylococcus aureus; and Figure 3 is a photograph of a culture dish showing biological activity of a composition according to the present invention against Escherichia coll.

Detailed Description

The present invention provides a new antimicrobial composition which is effective in preventing or reducing SCC in dairy herds, thereby reducing or preventing subsequent mastitis in the cows. The antimicrobial composition consists essentially of stabilised allicin (the principal active ingredient in garlic or Allium satiyium) and an aloe extract. Minor other components, such as a thickening or gelling agent, may also be included in the composition.

In a preferred embodiment the composition comprises 65-75% stabilised allicin and 2035% aloe gelly, Allicin is derived from garlic and is a sulphur compound having the formula: 0-Y In its natural state, garlic does not contain allicin but its precursor, alliin [S-allyl-Lcysteine sulphoxide]. Alliin is converted to the active allicin by the action of an enzyme in the garlic. When garlic is cut or crushed, the enzyme acts on alliin to produce the active ingredient allicin but the enzyme is rapidly deactivated by this product and furthermore, the active ingredient is not stable. As such, the amount of the active ingredient in garlic is minimal.

Allicin International Limited of East Sussex, United Kingdom manufacture liquid and spray-dried forms of stabilised allicin, i.e. allicin that remains in its active form. The stabilised allicin is produced by their patented process. The inventor has found that a composition comprising this stabilised allicin and aloe gelly may be infused into the teats of cows at the beginning of their dry period to significantly reduce infections that would lead to mastitis during the dry period and following lactation. Such a preventative treatment for mastitis in dairy herds has not previously been considered. This is of substantial benefit since it enables farmers to reduce their use of antibiotics in all except those cows having a high SCC while still treating the rest of the herd that have lower SCCs to protect them against a range of both gram negative and gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus Aureus, Strep Uberis, E coli and Pseudomonas.

The composition is particularly desirable because it comprises natural products that are known to be safe to humans, animals and the environment.

Example 1: In vitro study investigating the effectiveness of a composition according to an embodiment of the present invention against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

A liquid composition comprising 75% stablilised allicin and 25% aloe gelly was supplied to Gloucester Laboratories of Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK to carry out efficacy testing of the composition on mastitis-causing bacteria.

Three tests were conducted. In the first test, bacteria were made up in 6 dilutions; dilution 1 (the biggest concentration of bacteria) had 3m1 of the composition, dilution 3 had 2m1 of the composition and dilution number 6 (the most dilute) had 1m1 of the composition added. The composition was given approximately 90 seconds to act on the bacteria. Only dilution 6 (highest concentration) gave countable numbers.

The results are shown in Table 1 below:

Table 1

Bacteria Pure Culture / cfum14 Bacteria + Percentage difference Composition / cfuml-1 / % Staph aureus 646 386 -40 Strep uberis 68 28 -59 E.coli 336 156 -54 Pseudomonas 367 211 -43 A second test was conducted using the same composition. Bacteria were made up in 6 dilutions; only dilutions 3 and 6 were used. These dilutions had 15m1 (15mg) of product added and were given approximately 90 seconds to act before being plated. Only dilution 6 gave countable numbers. In Staph aureus the pure culture at dilution 103 had > 1600 cfu/ml, but with the addition of the composition gave a result of 11 cfu/ml.

The results are shown in Table 2 below:

Table 2

Bacteria Pure Culture / cfumtl Bacteria + Percentage difference Composition / cfuml-1 / % Staph aureus 31 1 -96.7 Strep uberis 18 17 -5.6 E.coli 27 15 -44.4 Pseudomonas 7 4 -42.9 A third test was then carried out in relation to 9m1 bacteria broths made up to a known quantity. These had 3m1(3mg) of the composition added and were given 90 seconds to act before being plated.

The results are shown in Table 3 below:

Table 3

Bacteria Pure Culture / cfumr1 Bacteria + Percentage difference Composition / cfumr1 / % Staph aureus 258 274 -24.3 Strep uberis 98 86 -31.6 E.coli 65 6 -90.8 Pseudomonas 125 82 -34.4 The results indicated that the composition of the present invention was active against various pathogens that can cause mastitis in dairy herds and therefore had potential use as a preventative treatment against mastitis.

Example 2: In vitro study investigating the biological activity of a composition according to an embodiment of the present invention against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

A thick, pale yellow liquid comprising 75% stablilised allicin and 25% aloe gelly was supplied to Microtech Services (Wessex) Ltd of Bournemouth, UK to investigate the biological activity of testing of the composition on mastitis-causing bacteria.

pl of the composition was applied to various cultures of different types of bacteria. The results are shown in Table 4 below and with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Table 4

Method Number Test Weight/Volume of Size of Inhibition product (100 pl) Zone (mm) B:9b Biological activity of 100 9 composition against NCTC 10662 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (clear, no satellite colonies; see Fig. 1) B:9b Biological activity of composition against NCTC 6571 Staphylococcus aureus 100 30 (clear, no satellite colonies; see Fig. 2) B:9b Biological activity of composition against NCTC 9001 Escherichia co/i 100 19 (clear, no satellite colonies; see Fig. 3) The results support the composition being effective against mastitis-causing bacteria.

Example 3: Preliminary farm trials testing the efficacy and safety of a composition according to the invention in relation to cows.

Two field trials have been conducted wherein a number of cows in a dairy herd have been treated with a composition of the present invention by applying the composition to the cow teats at the beginning of the dry period. The results of the first trial are provided below and show a significant reduction in average SCC across three different ways of presenting the data, demonstrating that the claimed composition is a suitable candidate for use in reducing scc/mastitis in dairy herds.

A first trial was conducted and the results are shown below in Tables 5 and 6 below. Table 5 below illustrates the results for cows treated with a composition according to the invention during the dry period:

Table 5

Cow No. Lactation TKI last Last Calving 1st 2,0 recording recording Date Recording Recording

SCC SCC SCC SCC

182 5 to 6 141 212 12/12/2018 8 9999* 186 4 to 5 242 992 22/11/2018 17 152 212 3 to 4 434 786 31/12/2018 52 332 275 2 to 3 238 197 17/11/2018 24 16 331 1 to 2 316 301 11/11/2018 25 61 257 3 to 4 141 1900* 21/10/2018 10 25 Total SCC 1512 2470 136 586 Average 252 494 23 117

SCC

The very high SCC* recording indicate a cow with mastitis which would need to be treated with antibiotics. These readings were excluded from the total and average SCC results as these cows would not be suitable for the preventative treatment according to the invention. It is clear that use of the composition at the start of the dry period in low SCC cows resulted in an overall lowering of SCC post-calving indicating that the cow is less susceptible to developing mastitis.

This was compared against control cows that received no treatment during the dry period, the results of which are shown in Table 6 below:

Table 6

Cow No. Lactation 2"d last Last Calving 1st 2nd recording recording Date Recording Recording

SCC SCC SCC SCC

5 to 6 22 59 31/12/2018 89 27 246 3 to 4 46 78 30/08/2018 26 44 248 3 to 4 11 786 30/01/2018 32 nr 332 260 3 to 4 202 14 30/11/2018 243 17 269 2 to 3 27 41 04/06/2018 14 7 277 2 to 3 20 58 11/08/2018 41 19 Total SCC 334 261 445 114 Average 55 43 74 22

SCC

The 1" recording SCC after the calving date had increased in the control cows whereas it was significantly less in the treated cows, illustrating that these cows had acquired some natural protection against mastitis-causing pathogens which the control cows did not possess.

The results demonstrate that the topical application of the composition according to the present invention to cows at the beginning of their dry period is able to reduce SCC effectively and shows a significant reduction in scc compared to the control group (Table 6) that received no treatment.

Table 7 below provides the results for the second field trial.

Table 7

Previous lactation New lactation Cow No Lactation rd last recording scc Last Calving Date 15 recording scc rd recording scc recording scc 156 6 20 182 16-Jun 30 30 4 m m 05-Jul nt nt 173 5 58 138 19-Jun 113 125 203 5 141 123 30-Jun 536 103 208 5 204 26 20-Jun 318 121 228 3 128 812 06-Jun 180 34 241 4 610 124 07-Jun 134 179 287 3 506 nt 28-Jun 310 17 291 3 201 359 30-Jun 22 59 294 4 83 35 24-Jun 137 26 307 3 49 83 10-Jun 44 41 309 3 21 29 30-Jun 52 29 328 3 28 26 05-Jul 144 14 339 3 66 455 18-Jun 209 61 340 3 107 38 26-Jun 55 12 342 3 47 88 26-Jun 148 54 346 3 24 50 30-Jun 15 m 378 2 13 36 30-Jun 84 37 381 2 19 18 20-Jun 50 29 385 2 12 17 23-Jun 24 11 386 2 52 62 27-Jun 58 38 392 2 158 32 06-Jul nt 294 2 21 59 18-Jun 12 m 397 2 27 31 23-Jun 29 175 399 2 379 94 06-Jul nt 15 401 2 16 41 06-Jul nt 9 403 2 29 1254 06-Jun 18 27 Total SCC: 1931 2791 2394 1246 Ave SCC: 91.9 132.9 114 54.7 Reviewing the above results, the following comparisons were made to assess the efficacy of the treatment.

A comparison of the last 2 tests compared to the first 2 tests (112.4 compared to 84) show a 25% reduction in SSC.

A comparison of the last test to the first test (132.9 compared to 114) show a 14.2% reduction in SSC A comparison of the penultimate test compared to the second test (91.9 to 54.7) show a 40.4% reduction in SSC.

Thus, a significant reduction in average SSC was seen across all three ways of presenting the data.

Claims

Claims 1 An anti-microbial composition comprising at least 60% by weight allicin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and at least 20% by weight on an aloe extract.
2. An anti-microbial composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the allicin comprises stabilised allicin and/or wherein the aloe comprises aloe gelly.
3. An anti-microbial composition as claimed in claim 2 wherein the composition includes at least 70% by weight stabilised allicin, especially 75% with aloe gelly making up substantially the remainder of the composition.
4. An anti-microbial composition as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising minor amounts of other constituents, preferably wherein the other constituents comprise a maximum of 2.5 % of the total weight of the composition.
5. An anti-microbial composition as claimed in claim 4 wherein the optional ingredient is a thickening agent.
6. An anti-microbial composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition consists essentially of stabilised allicin and aloe extract with minor other components, the minor other components being included in amount up to 2.5% by weight of the total weight of the composition.
The composition according to any one of the preceding claims for use in the prevention of, reduction in the onset of, or treatment of mastitis in cows by a reduction of scc in the cows.
The composition for use according to claim 7 wherein the use comprises administering the composition to each teat of a cow after the last milking of a lactation.
9. The composition for use according to claim 8 wherein 5-20 mls of the composition is administered as a single application to each teat on the last day of lactation prior to a cow's dry period.
10. The composition for use according to claim 9 wherein 8-12 mls of the composition is administered as a single application on the last day of lactation prior to a cow's dry period.
11. The composition for use according to any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the composition is administered to cows having a low somatic cell count.
12. A method for reducing the scc of dairy cows to prevent mastitis in a dairy herd, the method comprising administering to each teat of a cow a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6 on the last day of her lactation prior to the dry period of the cow.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein 5-20 mls of the composition is administered as a single application to each teat on the last day of lactation prior to a cow's dry period.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein 8-12 mls of the composition is administered as the single application.
15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14 further comprising administering the composition to cows having a low somatic cell count.