A Comparison of Two Dose Levels of Antibiotics for Intramammary Treatment of Clinical Mastitis in Cows

A clinical trial was conducted in Nordre Valdres, Norway, to examine the effect of a low-level vs. a high-level intramammary antibiotic treatment of clinical mastitis. It was also of interest to identify significant risk factors and to estimate the probability of no recovery for given defined levels of risk factors. Quarter milk samples from 166 cows with clinical mastitis were examined before and after treatment, at 3 weeks interval. The two treatment levels did not differ significantly with respect to recovery rate. The probability of no recovery could be estimated by using information on the severity of general clinical signs, lactation number, bacteriological findings, and quarter location.     

An explosion caused by microbial hydrogen formation

Summary A gas phase explosion in a storage tower with semichemical pulp at a paper mill has possibly been caused by combustion of a mixture of hydrogen and air. The hydrogen was formed by microorganisms in the pulp. Ignition may be due to electric sparks in connection with an electric field in the mist above the pulp.