The antimicrobial activity of enhanced virgin coconut oil (EVCO) on growth of mastitis pathogens

Aims: The effect of EVCO, containing about 57.48% triglycerides, 26.88% diglycerides, 1.51% monoglycerides and 14.13% free fatty acids, against clinical mastitis pathogens, bought from American Type Cultures Collection (ATCC), was investigated. The present study aims to determine the efficacy of EVCO against three potent mastitis causal agents, namely S. aureus (ATCC 31885), S. agalactiae (ATCC 12927) and S. dysagalactiae (ATCC 27957). Methodology and results: The In-vitro study showed that EVCO can act as a potent agent to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 31885), Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 12927) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (ATCC 27957). A time kill study showed that EVCO at 2.5% is able to kill both Streptococcus spp. (ATCC 12927 ATCC 27957) in 5 min of incubation time. Among three mastitis pathogens, S. aureus was the most difficult to eradicate and required at least 5% EVCO for 100% inhibition after 30 min of treatment. The In-vivo study on mastitis-induced lactating cows showed the amount of EVCO introduced into the infected mammary gland was considered over dosage; 50% concentration of EVCO was over dosage, even though it reduced the growth of pathogens from 10^4 to 10^0. The acidic characteristics of EVCO caused the protein in milk to clot and the udders to swell, even after several days of treatment. Conclusion, significance and impact study: The EVCO had shown its antimicrobial efficacy against three potent mastitis causal agents. The amount of EVCO used to treat mastitis-induced cows and the number of treatments applied needed to be reduced to avoid the milk clotting and udders swelling as a result of the acidic characteristics of EVCO.