The impact of intramammary pirlimycin hydrochloride on the fecal microbiome of dairy cattle

The long-term goal of the proposed project is to determine the effects of intramammary antimicrobial usage on microbial populations of the dairy cow and the dairy environment. The effects of antimicrobial usage in food-producing animals is a growing global concern. This project is a step towards understanding the broader impacts of antimicrobial use (beyond the immediate treatment effect on specific disease pathogens) in food-producing animals. Changes in the fecal microbiome could cause increased shedding of pathogenic flora, such as Salmonella. Increased shedding of Salmonella and other pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria could be a concern for both animal and human health. The research conducted in this study could potentially build into the investigation of the effects of intramammary antimicrobials on antimicrobial resistance in fecal flora.The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of intramammary pirlimycin hydrochloride on the fecal microbiome of dairy cattle.