Ecotoxic and preventive effect of the use of essential oils in bovine mastitis

Abstract

The essential oils of Lippia citriodora (Ort.) and Lippia origanoides (Kunth) have shown antimicrobial activity associated with mastitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate its ecotoxic effect with the Artemia salina bioassay and the prevention of mastitis through an in vivo test in cattle (n=20) with a product based on these oils using a conventional product as a control. Contact hypersensitivity, the effect on somatic cells, and residuality in milk samples were evaluated. The results of the Artemia salina bioassay were 10.05 and 19.36 (μg/mL) respectively. No negative effects or contact hypersensitivity were observed, and no residual metabolites were found in post-test milk. The somatic cell count showed 75% effectiveness in the prevention of mastitis with essential oils compared to 62.5% with the conventional product. The evaluated formulation could be used in the prevention of bovine mastitis safely, further investigation is required.