Antimicrobial activity of copper sulphate and zinc sulphate on major mastitis causing bacteria in cattle

A study was undertaken on bovine mastitis in Ganderbal district of Kashmir valley so as to identify major mastitis causing pathogens and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of copper sulphate and zinc sulphate solutions in vitro on pure cultures of major mastitis causing pathogens. The major mastitis causing bacteria isolated from clinical cases were Staphylococcus (46.4%), Streptococcus (18.4%) and E.coli (14.4%). In-vitro antimicrobial property of copper sulphate and zinc sulphate was carried out using aqueous solutions of different concentrations of copper sulphate and zinc sulphate (2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%). The antimicrobial property of copper sulphate and zinc sulphate was established and increase in zones of inhibition against each organism were found with increasing concentrations of these compounds. The zones of inhibition were compared with the standard antibiotic enrofloxacin. It is concluded that the use of these solutions as teat dips could prove beneficial in terms of efficacy and economy in comparison to conventional teat dips in prophylaxis of bovine mastitis.