Develop vaccines against S. aureus . Determine the feasibility of producing transgenic animals that are resistant to mastitis.
Losses also occur in beef cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
Additional losses include milk discarded due to antibiotic treatment, premature culling, increased labor, costs of surveillance for antibiotics and veterinary fees. Use of antibiotics and other drugs and chemicals to combat mastitis is one of the greatest threats to food safety. This presents a significant human health hazard. Also, antibiotics are increasingly ineffective due to development of resistant strains of pathogens. It is a contagious pathogen capable of penetrating mammary tissue and forming deep-seated foci of infection.