MMA is a complex syndrome seen in sows how many hours after farrowing?
12 hours to three days (72 hours)
It caused by?
Bacterial infection of the mammary glands and/or urogenital tract
Why is MMA complex a misleading term?
Metritis is only seen occasionally in affected cows and instead of total agalactia, cows still produce milk but at a reduced level
Important risk factors of MMA:
a. Traumatic lesions to teats
b. Inaccessibility of teats to piglets
Infected mammary glands show:
Inflammation, edema, skin congestion
Fever (>40.3 - 40.5 °C) and anorexia (in the sow)
Most frequent etiologic agents of mastitis:
Escherichia, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Klebsiella
Mechanism of metritis:
Noise causes stress during farrowing -> Oxytocin and Prostaglandin F2a secretion decreases -> Postpartum discharge remains + bacteria invades the open cervix
Mechanism of agalactia:
Noise causes stress during farrowing -> Oxytocin and Prostaglandin F2a secretion decreases -> Prolactin secretion decreases -> Agalactia
Mechanism of Mastitis:
Wet and slippery floor + low hygiene + bad ventilation -> bacteria enters teat canal -> mastitis
Wrong feeding method, lack of nutrients + teat damage -> mastitis
Locally, mastitis manifests by:
Marked induration of the mammary glands
Metritis is characterized by:
a. purulent and profuse discharge with a brown-reddish color
b. presence of necrotic and foul-smelling debris
Acute symptoms in the sow:
Fever and anorexia
Bacteria that colonize the endometrium after birth:
E. coli, S. hyicus, S. aureus
Dx is through:
Clinical signs, inappetence of the sow and reduced condition of the litter
Individual glands affected by mastitis are:
Firm and hot
Presence of mastitis can be confirmed through
Mikk testing
Most effective prevention of MMA
Good hygiene
Water requirement of lactating sows
15-30 L per day
Treatment is given:
a. as soon as MMA is diagnosed
b. body temp above 39.4, 12-18 hrs after farrowing
