Interquarter comparison of markers of subclinical mastitis: somatic cell count, electrical conductivity, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and antitrypsin

1991 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Einar Jensen ◽  
Kim Knudsen

SummaryWe have evaluated the usefulness in mastitis diagnostics of new diagnostic measures using the continuous nature of the variation in quarter milk samples of four inflammatory markers: somatic cell count, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), electrical conductivity and antitrypsin. A two-way analysis of variance was performed for each of the inflammatory markers on results from 273 cows sampled six times at 14 d intervals. Adjustment for the individual cow's mean removed approximately half the total variation for all four markers, indicating that comparisons in marker levels between quarters without taking the cows' overall level into account, as is done in diagnostic keys based on fixed threshold, is a rash procedure. After adjusting for the individual cow means, the total variation of the marker observations was partitioned in three sources of variation: between the four quarter levels, between different sampling days, and the experimental error, i.e. the variation within each quarter over-the study period. As expected, the variation between quarters accounted for the largest percentage of the variation (44–65%). In contrast the variation between days was only 16–34% and of the same magnitude as the experimental error. These figures can profitably be taken into account when designing experiments in future mastitis research studies. They imply that mastitis diagnostics based on quarter milk samples collected over time will be influenced only slightly by random biological variation and that the same relative differences that exist in marker levels between the four quarters of a cow as a rule will be disclosed irrespective of sampling day. Thus, the udder health state is relatively stable when determined by these inflammatory markers. In addition to simple correlations between markers measured on the same day, correlations of the logarithm of the interquarter ratios and of the experimental errors were computed. Stronger associations between the markers emerged and these correlations reflect more precisely than simple correlations the real diagnostic relations of the markers.

1971 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Schultze ◽  
J. W. Smith ◽  
D. E. Jasper ◽  
O. Klastrup ◽  
F. H. S. Newbould ◽  
...  

The Direct Microscopic Somatic Cell Count can be used advantageously in control of abnormal milk to perform simultaneously screening and confirmation of milk samples. Confidence limits computed according to the individual microscope Strip Factor are used to interpret the count made on a single strip of one of the two milk films. The sample is assigned on the basis of the interpreted count to one of three categories: (a) less than the legal cell concentration maximum ( P <0.05); (b) in the region of the cell concentration maximum and thus subject to confirmation; or (c) greater than the legal cell concentration maximum (P <0.05). For samples in categories (a) or (c) no further counting is required to accept or reject the milk. For samples in category (b), the four-strip confirmatory count may be completed immediately.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (04) ◽  
pp. 219-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Hamedy ◽  
Oliver Passarge ◽  
Axel Sobiraj ◽  
Markus Freick ◽  
Yvonne Frank ◽  
...  

Summary Objective of this study was the improvement of selected parameters of udder health by mastitis vaccination in a dairy herd with elevated bulk milk somatic cell counts and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus as predominant mastitis causing pathogen. Material and methods: On a dairy farm, pregnant heifers (status group [SG] 1; n = 181) as well as cows stratified for their udder health state (classification based on results of cytobacteriological investigations of quarter milk samples obtained before dry cow therapy [MS0]) (SG 2–4; n = 416) were randomly assigned to one of the following vaccination groups (VG): Startvac® (VG SV), Bestvac® Rind Mastitis (containing herd-specific S. aureus-strains; VG BV) and the unvaccinated control (VG Co, placebo), respectively. The collected data (5 [MS5] and 52 [MS52] days in milk [DIM]: quarter milk somatic cell count [QSCC] and bacteriological investigation of quarter milk samples; dairy herd improvement test [DHIT] days 1–10: milk yield and individual cow somatic cell count; until 305 DIM: clinical mastitis cases) were compared between the VG within their SG. Results: S. aureus prevalences were significantly lower in VG SV (p < 0.001) and VG BV (p = 0.006) within SG 3 and in VG SV (p = 0.008) within SG 4, respectively, in comparison to VG Co. Milk yields (DHIT days [p = 0.042] and 305-day milk yield [p = 0.040]) were significantly less in VG SV within SG 4 compared to VG Co. Significant different changes over time in comparison to VG Co indicating a vaccine effect during lactation were only observed for QSCC within SG 4 for VG BV (p = 0.017; increase towards MS52) and for S. aureus prevalence within SG 3 for VG BV (p < 0.001; opposing trends from MS0 towards MS52). All other interactions of time and VG under investigation were not significant in any of the SG. Furthermore, there were no descriptive differences in the incidence of clinical mastitis and duration of a necessary mastitis therapy, respectively, between the VG within their SG. Conclusion: In this field study, the application of two different mastitis vaccines was not an appropriate tool to improve the considered parameters of udder health sustainably.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olufemi Olatoye ◽  
Adesola Amosun ◽  
Uzo Ogbu ◽  
Yemi Okunlade

Improvement of traditional and nomadic milk production through dairy development program in Nigeria requires routine quality and safety monitoring of milk both at herd level and milk collection centers. A total of 411 bulk raw milk samples aseptically obtained from Ibarapa, Oyo and Oke-Ogun industrial milk collection centers were subjected to California Mastitis Test (CMT), Bulk Somatic Cell Count (BSCC) and bacteriological analysis for assessment of quality and safety of milk from the herds. One hundred and seven (26.0%) of the samples were CMT positive, while 74.0% were negative to CMT. The overall mean BSCC, TAC and TCC were 1.27×103 ± cells/mL, 1.12×103± 34 cfu/mL, 97.8±9.8 cfu/mL in the CMT negative milk samples while for the strong positive samples the mean BSCC, TAC and TCC were 4.33×106 ± cells/mL, 2.35×106 ± 453 cfu/mL, 189.3±41.1 cfu/mL respectively; these were higher than the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance acceptable limits. Positive correlation was found between CMT scores and bacterial contamination and between CMT scores and SCC was recorded. About 26.0% of the samples with positive CMT could be considered unsafe due to strong correlation with microbial contamination that could result in milk borne zoonoses and public health hazards. However, a greater proportion (76.9%) of the milk with negative CMT scores could be safe for human consumption after post-harvest pasteurization. Consequently, there is need to improve handling, environmental and milking hygiene; as well as proper herd and udder health management to improve quality and safety of Nigeria dairy products.


Author(s):  
Tvarožková ◽  
Vašíček ◽  
Uhrinčať ◽  
Mačuhová ◽  
Hleba ◽  
...  

Mastitis is a major health problem of the udder in dairy sheep breeds. For diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, somatic cell count (SCC) is commonly used. The presence of pathogens in the udder causes the increase of leukocytes and thus SCC in milk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of pathogens in the milk of ewes and the possible relationship with SCC. The changes of leukocytes subpopulation in milk samples with high SCC were evaluated as well. The experiment was carried out on a dairy farm with the Lacaune breed. This study was conducted on 45 ewes (98 milk samples) without signs of clinical mastitis. Based on somatic cell count, samples were divided to five SCC groups: SCC1 &lt; 200 000 cells/ml (45 milk samples); 200 000 ≤ SCC2 &lt; 400 000 cells/ml (10 milk samples); 400 000 ≤ SCC3 &lt; 600 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); 600 000 ≤ SCC4 &lt; 1 000 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); SCC5 ≥ 1 000 000 cells/ml (31 milk samples). No pathogens were observed in the majority of milk samples (60.20%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the most commonly isolated pathogens from the milk of ewes (86.11%). Staphylococcus epidermidis had the highest incidence from CNS (35.48%). In the SCC5 group, up to 79.31% of bacteriological samples were positive. The percentage of leukocytes significantly increased (P &lt; 0.001) in the samples with higher SCC (≥ 200 × 10<sup>3</sup> cells/ml) in comparison to the group SCC1. Also, the percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was significantly higher with increasing SCC (P &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, the presented results showed that the high SCC was caused by the presence of the pathogen in milk. Thus SCC &lt; 200 000 cells/ml and leukocyte subpopulation, especially PMNs, could be considered as important tools in udder health programs applied in dairy ewes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 498-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jale Metin Kiyici ◽  
Bilal Akyüz ◽  
Mahmut Kaliber ◽  
Korhan Arslan ◽  
Esma Gamze Aksel ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Leonardo Cotta Quintão ◽  
Adriano França da Cunha ◽  
Lindomar José Bragança ◽  
Kamila Soares Coelho ◽  
Mariana Fonseca Nunes ◽  
...  

The somatic cell count (SCC) of refrigerated raw milk reflects the occurrence of mastitis in the herd and the management of rural property. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the SCC of the refrigerated raw milk and its determinant factors in dairy properties of Viçosa, State of Minas Gerais. Monthly, milk samples were taken from 44 cooling tanks during 2012. A structured questionnaire was applied to evaluate the production and management characteristics of the herds. There was a significant variation (p < 0.05) in the mean SCC of the milk, which was lower from June to August. Higher mean SCC and percentages of samples above the limit set by the legislation were observed in months of higher rainfall and ambient temperature (p < 0.05). Mechanical milking, lower milk yield, productivity, inadequate milking procedures, equipment hygiene, and water quality were all factors that influenced (p < 0.05) the SCC of raw refrigerated milk. Milker training is required for production of low SCC milk. 


1986 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL R. SAMPLES ◽  
SUSAN L. DILL ◽  
RONALD L. RICHTER ◽  
CHARLES W. DILL

Individual milk samples from 32 cows were analyzed to determine the relationship between somatic cell concentration and total sulfhydryl concentration (cysteine plus reduced cystine). A significant relationship was detected between somatic cell count, which ranged from 1.7 × 104 to 1.0 × 107 cells/ml, and total sulfhydryls per gram of milk protein. The regression equation, total sulfhydryls/g of milk protein = 31.96 + 7.99 (log10 somatic cell count) with r2 = 0.19, was calculated. The mean total sulfhydryl concentration was 73.1 μmol/g of protein. The minimal effect of somatic cell concentration on total sulfhydryl concentration indicates that somatic cell concentration should have little influence on chemical parameters of milk protein determined by sulfhydryl analysis when proper experimental controls are used.


2007 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Åkerstedt ◽  
Karin Persson Waller ◽  
Åse Sternesjö

Milk somatic cell count (SCC) is the gold standard in diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, and is also an important parameter in quality programmes of dairy cooperatives. As routine SCC analysis is usually restricted to central laboratories, much effort has been invested in the search for alternative biomarkers of mastitis and milk quality, including the presence in the milk of the acute phase proteins (APP), haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA). The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between Hp, SAA and SCC in quarter, cow composite, and bulk tank milk samples. Cows (n=165), without any clinical signs of disease or abnormalities in the milk or udder, from three different dairy farms, were used. Cow composite milk samples from all cows delivering milk at the sampling occasion were taken once in each herd. In one of the farms, representative quarter milk samples (n=103) from 26 cows were also collected. In addition, bulk tank milk samples from 96 dairy farms were included in the study. Samples were analysed for Hp, SAA and SCC, and relationships between the parameters were evaluated at quarter, cow and tank milk levels using Chi-square analysis. Milk samples were categorized according to their SCC, and the presence, or no presence, of SAA and Hp, based on the detection limits of the screening methods (0·3 mg/l and 1·0 mg/l for SAA and Hp, respectively). Hp and SAA were found in milk at quarter, cow composite and bulk tank levels. A large proportion (53%) of the animals had detectable milk concentrations of APP, and SAA was detected more frequently, and at higher concentrations than Hp, regardless of sample type. SAA was detected in as many as 82% of the bulk tank milk samples. Significant relationships were found between Hp, SAA and SCC at quarter and cow composite milk levels, but only between SAA and SCC at bulk tank milk level. Detectable levels of APP were more common at high SCC.


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