# US 2010/0166807 A1 · Methods for reducing the incidence of mastitis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166807 A1 - Document ID: US20100166807A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/377,967 - Filed: 2007-08-17 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-18 - Assignees: Massey University - Inventors: Norman Bruce Williamson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166807A1 ## CPC - A61K 38/39: Connective tissue peptides, e.g. collagen, elastin, laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, cold insoluble globulin [CIG] - A61K 31/20: having a carboxyl group bound to a chain of seven or more carbon atoms, e.g. stearic, palmitic, arachidic acids - A61K 38/40: Transferrins, e.g. lactoferrins, ovotransferrins - A61P 15/14: for lactation disorders, e.g. galactorrhoea - A61P 31/02: Local antiseptics - A61P 37/04: Immunostimulants - A61P 43/00: Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00 - A61D 1/02: Trocars or cannulas for teats (milking catheters A01J3/00); Vaccination appliances - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS - A61D: VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS ## Abstract The invention encompasses methods of reducing the incidence of mastitis in an animal, and compositions and devices therefor. The methods and other aspects of the invention can be used to reduce the incidence of infection in the teat or mammary gland. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention encompasses a method of applying to the teat canal and/or teat sinus a composition comprising exogenous keratin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for reducing the incidence of mastitis in an animal including the step of: introducing a composition comprising keratin into the teat canal of the animal, thereby reducing the incidence of mastitis in said animal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 where the method is employed during the non-lactating period of the animal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2 where the animal is a cow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 where the composition is in a form suitable for introduction by means of a syringe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4 where the composition is a paste. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4 where the composition has a viscosity of between 0.1×106 cP and 1.5×106 cP. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 where the composition is in a form suitable for introduction by hand. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7 where the composition is a wax-like solid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 where the composition is pre-formed into a stick or peg shape. ### Claim 10 A composition comprising keratin formulated for introduction into the teat canal of an animal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The composition according to claim 10 where the animal is a cow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The composition according to claim 10 where the composition is a paste. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The composition according to claim 12 where the composition has a viscosity of between 0.1×106 cP and 1.5×106 cP. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The composition according to claim 10 where the composition is a wax-like solid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The composition according to claim 14 where the composition is pre-formed into a stick or peg shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The composition according to claim 10 where the composition comprises keratin dispersed in a milk derived medium. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The composition according to claim 10 where the composition comprises keratin dispersed in an aqueous medium. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The composition according to claim 10 where the composition comprises keratin dispersed in a food grade lipid medium. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The composition according to claim 18 where the food grade lipid is a fatty acid or glyceride. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The composition according to claim 19 where the food grade lipid is stearate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The composition according to claim 10 where the composition additionally comprises one or more exogenously provided antibacterial substances selected from the group consisting of: fatty acids and lactoferrin. ### Claim 22 An apparatus adapted for introducing a composition comprising keratin into the teat canal of an animal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus according to claim 22 where the apparatus contains a composition comprising keratin with a viscosity of between 0.1×106 cP and 1.5×106 cP. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus according to claim 23 where the keratin has been physically processed to provide the composition with a viscosity of between 0.1×106 cP and 1.5×106 cP. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The apparatus according to claim 23 where the apparatus is a syringe. ### Claim 26 A method for inducing leucocytosis in the mammary gland of an animal including the step of: introducing a composition comprising keratin into the teat canal of the animal, thereby inducing leucocytosis in said mammary gland of said animal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 where the method is employed during the non-lactating period of the animal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 where the animal is a cow. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 where the composition is in a form suitable for introduction by means of a syringe. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29 where the composition is a paste. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method according to claim 29 where the composition has a viscosity of between 0.1×106 cP and 1.5×106 cP. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 where the composition is in a form suitable for introduction by hand. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32 where the composition is a wax-like solid. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method according to claim 33 where the composition is pre-formed into a stick or peg shape.