We found little association between udder shape and SCC score
or IMI but there was evidence of some association between infection
with nearly all of the major pathogens and CNS and type of
teat-end lesion. Significantly higher proportions of quarters with
‘very rough/severely hyperkeratotic’ teat-ends and with unclassified
teat-end lesions, were infected with the major pathogens (except
S. dysgalactiae) and with CNS and other minor pathogens.
Previous studies have shown that the presence of teat-end lesions
are associated with increased risk of clinical mastitis but most of
the lesions observed in the present study were chronic in nature.
Although there are clear associations between acute, severe teat lesions
and clinical mastitis (Sieber and Farnsworth, 1981), the role
of chronic lesions in this disease is more controversial. While Seykora
and McDaniel (1985a) identified a positive association between
teat-end lesion score and SCC, Farnsworth (1995) found no relationship
between infection prevalence and the presence of hyperkeratotic
teat lesions.