Role of biofilm in animal health

Biofilms protect bacteria, and you’re probably familiar with them as build-up on surfaces of equipment around the farm. However, new research reveals some mastitis-causing bacteria use biofilms to survive inside the mammary gland.

A group of Canadian researchers recently examined some of the genes that characterise intramammary infections from S. aureus, an infection-causing bacterium. Their findings indicate that S. aureus strains that persist through the dry period produce more biofilm than those that do not. These results demonstrate the importance of biofilm formation as a survival strategy of this infection-causing bacterium.

Many producers are aware that biofilms can form on milking equipment and in tanks. Many materials, including plastic, glass, stainless steel, and others, serve as attachment surfaces for biofilms. Raw milk provides an ideal medium to facilitate the formation of a biofilm as it contains bacteria and is nutrient-rich. Another common place to find a biofilm on a dairy farm is in a watering cup or watering trough. The aqueous environment on the side of a trough or watering cup is a place that may be overlooked when cleaning or not cleaned as frequently as desired. Cows introduce bacteria and organic matter into the water each time they drink, providing a prime environment for biofilm formation when temperatures are warm and water flow is low. To read further, click HERE.