[Insertion of fine needle biopsy in the diagnosis of nocardia mastitis in cattle].

68 udder quarters of 31 cows suspicious of acute or chronic nocardia mastitis were investigated by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) of udder tissue and by bacteriological examination (BE) of milk samples. The results were compared. Nocardia mastitis was diagnosed in seven cows with corresponding cytological and bacteriological findings, in four cows with positive FNA and negative BE, and in nine cows with negative FNA and positive BE. In eleven animals nocardia mastitis was diagnosed neither cytologically nor bacteriologically. In some of these cases, however, mastitis could be attributed to other pathogens (streptococci, staphylococci, fungi). The FNA is recommended as an additional tool for mastitis diagnosis.