Effects of storage time and thawing methods on the recovery of Mycoplasma species in milk samples from cows with intramammary infections.

This study was executed to determine the effects of storage and thawing on the viability of Mycoplasma spp. in milk from cows with intramammary infections. The trial was designed using a control sample and seven handling regimens subjected to two methods of thawing. There was a significant treatment effect on the recovery of colony-forming units in milk samples when comparing the control sample with handling regimens 1 through 7. There was a continuous decline in log (10) mean number of cfu/mL recovered. Mean concentrations were 6.29, 4.64, 3.69, 3.01, 1.86, 4.41, 4.13, and 3.18 for control and handling regimens 1 to 7, respectively. To determine the best thawing method, handling regimen 1 through 7 samples were thawed using two methods. On average, more mycoplasma were recovered from milk samples thawed at ambient temperature (4.04 cfu/mL) than milk samples thawed in a 37 degrees C water bath (3.76 cfu/mL). A final comparison was made between individual treatments. With the exception of the handling regimen 5 to 6 pair-wise comparison, all pair-wise comparisons between handling regimens were significantly different. The results of this study indicate that storage and thawing of milk samples is harmful to mycoplasma organisms. Fresh samples should be used to improve detection of Mycoplasma spp. from milk of infected cattle. If frozen samples are used, then length of storage time should be minimized, and thawing milk at ambient temperature will improve recovery of mycoplasma as opposed to thawing in a 37 degrees C water bath.