Authors: Benton F. Allen, Emily M. Hunt, John T. Richeson, Paige Dodge, Robert Miersma.
The transmission of mastitis infections within dairy herds, facilitated by biofilms on dairy liners, presents a significant challenge to animal health and dairy farm productivity. This study introduces novel engineered materials designed to reduce the prevalence of mastitis in dairy herds without escalating antibiotic drug usage. By integrating inherently antimicrobial materials into the polymer matrix of dairy liners, we aim to create a passive barrier against pathogenic organisms, thereby limiting disease transmission among animals. Specifically, the antimicrobial efficacy of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) embedded within a polymer matrix, akin to those utilized in commercial dairy liners, was assessed using two methods. The first method followed the non-GLP ASTM International Method E2180 to evaluate the antibacterial activity of treated articles against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. The results demonstrated a significant log reduction in bacterial count, achieving a 4.28 log reduction with a 2% (weight) ZnO incorporation and a 5.34 log reduction with 4% ZnO. The second method utilized was an augmentation of ASTM E2180-18 with the objective being to develop a pseudo-biofilm on the surface of the polymers by exposing them to raw dairy hospital parlor milk. Results show a decrease in microbiological growth with the addition of ZnO particles in the polymer matrix. This study underscores the potential of utilizing engineered materials with embedded antimicrobial agents to create surfaces that passively neutralize pathogenic organisms. By doing so, it is possible to inhibit disease transmission within dairy herds and decrease the dependency on antibiotics for treating communicable diseases in dairy cattle, thus contributing to sustainable dairy farming practices.
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