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Mastitis vaccination in dairy cattle: a meta-analysis of field case-control trials

Lookup NU author(s): Fernando Ribeiro da Mata

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Abstract

Mastitis is the first cause of economic loss in the dairy sector. The efficacy of the existing vaccines against mas­titis is questioned by several authors. It is the aim of this pa­per to shed some light on this question. A meta-analysis was conducted on 15 field research trials, which included a total of 7941 cows (4317 vaccinated and 3624 used as control). A random-effects model was adjusted and found significant (P<0,01). The unit used was the rate ratio between vaccinated cows and controls and was found to have a value of 0,604 with a 95% confidence interval of [0,373; 0,979], after correction for publication bias. It was concluded that vaccination to con­trol mastitis has a slight advantage, but the economics of its use depends on the weighting between its cost and its benefit, and therefore traditional preventive measures still have an im­portant role to play; Mastitis vaccines can be used as a comple­ment of all the other preventive measures but not as a substitute of these.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Mata F

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Revista Portuguesa de Ciencias Veterinarias

Year: 2013

Volume: 108

Issue: 585-586

Pages: 17-22

Print publication date: 01/01/2013

Date deposited: 14/03/2014

ISSN (print): 0035-0389

Publisher: Sociedade Portuguesa de Ciencias Veterinarias

URL: http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf12_2013/17-22.pdf

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