Mastitis is one of the most important diseases in dairy cow farms and one of the most common cause for antibiotic treatment. Aims of this study were: to investigate frequency and trends of clinical mastitis in cows on a large dairy farm, describe clinical characteristics of mastitis and investigate causative infectious agents in selected cases alongside antimicrobial resistance. In our study we used farm records for clinical mastitis recorded for period 2016 and 2017. We also used results of the regular on farm testing of the somatic cell count for 2017. Samples of milk from all clinical mastitis cases were taken during November and December 2017 in order to investigate causative agents and their antimicrobial resistance. Occurrence of clinical mastitis was 205 cases (47.7%) in 2017 compared to 93 cases (29.7%) recorded in 2016. In 2017 reoccurrence of clinical mastitis in same animal was recorded for 93 cows (45.4%). In 2016 reoccurrence of clinical mastitis in same animal was recoded for 49 cows (29.7%). Average course of clinical mastitis in 2016 was 3 days, while in 2017 4.5 days (continuous days of recording a case in farm records). Somatic cell count in more than half of tested animals was higher than 200.000 SC/ml according to the measurements from February and July 2017 (number of cows tested 236 and 169, respectively). Out of 23 milk samples, 20 had bacteriological growth. In 9 samples we identified S.aureus, in 6 streptococcus spp., in 4 coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) and one sample contained E.coli. Most common resistance was found for lincomycin-spectinomycin (100%) gentamicin (92%), followed by cefquinome (65%), linkomycin (53%) and erythromycin (47%). Isolates of S.aureus were resistant on the largest number of investigated antibiotics.

Animals have always been a source of food, materials, protection and wellbeing for humans; however, animal diseases, including zoonoses, have both direct and indirect negative effects on human health, economy and the society. Since its establishment, the veterinary profession has provided crucial input in eradicating disease, increasing animal production and reducing losses due to diseases. Currently, foodborne diseases and zoonoses have raised awareness in developed countries, which have excellent systems for disease surveillance and reporting both in humans and animal populations. Due to lack of modern, integrated surveillance and reporting, the burden of zoonoses and foodborne diseases in developing European countries is much harder to assess. Differences in countries’ animal health status (demonstrated through disease surveillance) have been a main pivot point for international trade of animals and animal products. However, rapid and dramatic evolvement of the health trends in the world changed the principles of animal disease surveillance. Approaches requiring lower cost (i.e. risk-based surveillance) are now proposed, not only due to less available public funding, but also because the costs are harder to justify to policy makers if a disease is exotic and/or rare. Therefore, the veterinary profession has faced insufficient interest of governments and funds for further research into many persistent endemic animal diseases and zoonoses. On the other hand, eradication of selected diseases in some areas while elsewhere they still persist, and the continuous emergence of new diseases, cannot guarantee permanent epidemiological stability. As food safety and security become more important, global trends and events have highlighted the biological, health and economic inseparability of the relationships between humans, animals as pets and/or food sources and wildlife within the social and ecological framework of living space that these species share. Veterinarians are called on and expected to offer strategic and operational solutions for better integration of public health systems (i.e. One Health), animal health, food safety and environmental protection. At the same time, the profession faces challenges in the organisation and implementation of surveillance and disease mitigation measures.

Beta lactam antibiotics are widely used in therapy of cattle, particularly for the treatment of mastitis.  Over 95% of residue testing in dairies in Bosnia and Herzegovina is for Beta lactams. The aim of this paper is to compare the efficacy of three most common screening tests for Beta lactam residues in cow's milk in our country. The tests used in the study are SNAP β Lactam test (Idexx), Rosa Charm β Lactam test and Inhibition MRL test. Study samples included: standardized concentrations of penicillin solution (0, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ppb). In addition we tested milk samples from three equal size study groups (not receiving any antibiotic therapy, treated with Beta lactams for mastitis and treated with Beta lactams for diseases other than mastitis). Sensitivity and specificity were determined for each test, using standard penicillin concentrations with threshold value set at concentration of 4 ppb (Maximum residue level - MLR). Additionally we determined proportions of presumably false negative and false positive results for each test using results of filed samples testing. Agreement of test results for each test pair was assessed through Kappa coefficients interpreted by Landis-Koch scale. Detection level of all tests was shown to be well below MRL. This alongside with effects of natural inhibitors in milk contributed to finding of positive results in untreated and treated animals after the withholding period. Screening tests for beta lactam residues are important tools for ensuring that milk for human consumption is free from antibiotics residues.

The current animal health situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina requires the prioritization of diseases for the application of control measures. One of the diseases requiring high priority is brucellosis of ruminants. Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease and one of the most important zoonoses in the world. Brucellosis has been recognized during the past five decades as an important infectious disease in ruminants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Control and eradication of brucellosis in animals is based on test and slaughter control policy. When the existing brucellosis control program was instituted, the veterinary and animal production sector was almost exclusively owned by the government, an arrangement that promoted compliance with the program and resulted in the successful control of the disease. This paper provides an overview of the current institutional and legislative framework for brucellosis control including the laboratory detection system and the epidemiological status of brucellosis in ruminants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Relevant data were collected during the period spanning from the beginning of 2001 until the middle of 2007. Data we collected reveal an increase in the number of reported outbreaks in ruminants as well as a related increase in the number of human cases. This has brought serious consequences to public health, animal health and production and international trade.