We are looking for a dry cow mastitis challenge model that involves inducing clinical or subclinical mastitis consistently in ≥ 70% of challenged cows, or in ≥70% of the individually challenged sections of the udder (quarters) across enrolled cows.
We are also open to models involving heifers of breeding age, if not already pregnant. Some consideration will be given for models in dairy goats or sheep, but common dairy cattle breeds are preferred. Ideally, we would like an established model, but we are also open to co-developing a model with partners who have demonstrated expertise in mastitis or similar disease model development.
Solutions of interest include:
- Challenge model in cows or heifers using commonly observed mastitis pathogens (e.g., E. coli, Streptococcus uberis, and Staphylococcus aureus)
- Small ruminant challenge model in dairy goats or sheep using commonly observed mastitis pathogens
Our must-have requirements are:
- Delivered to dairy animals during the dry period when no residual milk is left in the mammary gland
- Delivered locally to the mammary gland of dairy animals via common methodology (i.e., intramammary infusion or dip cup)
- Models using other pathogens or delivery routes must come with scientific evidence as to their relevance to mastitis observed in the field
Our nice-to-have's are:
- Reproducible across 2-3 studies with at least 8 animals per study
What's out of scope:
- Models in non-dairy production animals, including humans or rodents
- Models using pathogens not relevant to mastitis
- Models involving challenge delivered to lactating animals