Changes of physicochemical indicators during mastitis and the effects of milk ejection on their sensitivity

We examined the relationship between physicochemical indicators and somatic cells in the milk of dairy cows during experimentally induced mastitis and their significance as indicators for use in controlling udder health. We were concerned particularly with the effect of alveolar milk ejection on the sensitivity of these indicators. In Expt 1, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (Esch. coli LPS) was injected into the left rear quarter to induce an inflammatory reaction in one quarter in each of six cows. The contralateral control quarter was injected with a solution of NaCl (9 g/l). Nine milk samples were taken from both quarters until 60 h after injection. In Expt 2, repeated milk samples were taken every 20 s from one quarter during a 120-s teat stimulation in 20 cows with different somatic cell counts (SCC). Quarters were clustered for low (<5·0 log cells/ml), mid (5·0–5·7 log cells/ml) and high (>5·7 log cells/ml) SCC of the sample taken at t=0 s. Samples were analysed for SCC, electrical conductivity (EC) and Na+ and Cl− concentrations. During the experimental inflammation SCC, EC, Na+ and Cl− peaked at 12 h from LPS administration and values in treated quarters (T) at this time were elevated to 7900, 157, 501 and 169% of the values in untreated quarters, respectively. In Expt 2, SCC, EC, Na+ and Cl− in high SCC quarters were 2520, 121, 283 and 141% of low SCC quarters at the start of stimulation (t=0 s), respectively. Highly significant (P<0·001) differences in EC, Na+ and Cl− between high and low SCC quarters disappeared owing to the onset of alveolar milk ejection 100 s after the first contact with the teat. In conclusion, SCC in cows' milk provided the strongest amplitude in the case of an intramammary inflammation. EC, Na+ or Cl− were useful tools only if the measurements were performed in cisternal milk before the start of alveolar milk ejection.

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Subclinical mastitis in dairy cows: somatic cell counts and associated bacteria in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University ◽

10.3329/jbau.v15i2.35073 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

SMMR Sumon ◽

MA Ehsan ◽

MT Islam

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Mixed Infections ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Bacillus Spp

Subclinical mastitis is an economically important disease of dairy cows and has a prominent place amongst the factors that limit milk production. This study was undertaken to determine the association of somatic cell counts (SCC) and occurrence of bacteria with SCM in smallholder dairy cows in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. A total number of 240 quarters milk samples from apparently healthy lactating cows were subjected to SCC using NucleoCounter® SCC-100 ™ (Chemo Metec). A quarter was considered SCM positive if the quarter had SCC>100 x 103 cells/ml. All subclinical mastitis positive quarter milk samples were subjected to bacteriological examination and isolates were classified into major, minor, uncommon and mixed pathogens. The overall quarter-level prevalence of subclinical mastitis of dairy cows in Mymensingh district was 25% (95% CI, 19.52% to 30.48%). The most frequently isolated bacterial species were Staphylococcus aureus (18.33%) followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (10%), Enterobacter spp. (6.67%), Escherichia coli (5%), Bacillus spp. (5%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5%). Different bacterial isolates were associated with 90% cases of subclinical mastitis as mono infections or mixed infections. Mono and mixed infections significantly influenced SCC and were the most prominent factors responsible for increasing SCC. Mean SCC was the highest for Bacillus spp. (713.67 x 103 cells/ml) followed by Enterobacter spp. (395.75 x 103 cells/ml), Escherichia coli (386.00 x 103 cells/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (373.82 x 103 cells/ml), coagulase-negative staphylococci (182.67 x 103 cells/ml) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (138.67 x 103 cells/ml). Major pathogens induced higher SCC (380.72 x 103cells/ml) than minor and other pathogen groups.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 15(2): 266-271, December 2017

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Prediction of total quarter milk somatic cell counts based on foremilk sampling

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029909004166 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 76 (3) ◽

pp. 326-330 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Olga Wellnitz ◽

Marcus G Doherr ◽

Marta Woloszyn ◽

Rupert M Bruckmaier

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Practical Reasons ◽

Udder Health ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Cell Numbers ◽

Cell Counts

Determination of somatic cell count (SCC) is used worldwide in dairy practice to describe the hygienic status of the milk and the udder health of cows. When SCC is tested on a quarter level to detect single quarters with high SCC levels of cows for practical reasons, mostly foremilk samples after prestimulation (i.e. cleaning of the udder) are used. However, SCC is usually different in different milk fractions. Therefore, the goal of this study was the investigation of the use of foremilk samples for the estimation of total quarter SCC. A total of 378 milkings in 19 dairy cows were performed with a special milking device to drain quarter milk separately. Foremilk samples were taken after udder stimulation and before cluster attachment. SCC was measured in foremilk samples and in total quarter milk. Total quarter milk SCC could not be predicted precisely from foremilk SCC measurements. At relatively high foremilk SCC levels (>300×103 cells/ml) foremilk SCC were higher than total quarter milk. At around (50–300)×103 cells/ml foremilk and total quarter SCC did not differ considerably. Most interestingly, if foremilk SCC was lower than 50×103 cells/ml the total quarter SCC was higher than foremilk SCC. In addition, individual cows showed dramatic variations in foremilk SCC that were not very well related to total quarter milk SCC. In conclusion, foremilk samples are useful to detect high quarter milk SCC to recognize possibly infected quarters, only if precise cell counts are not required. However, foremilk samples can be deceptive if very low cell numbers are to be detected.

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Subclinical mastitis in dairy cows in Swiss organic and conventional production systems

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s002202990600210x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 86-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Markus Roesch ◽

Marcus G Doherr ◽

Walter Schären ◽

Melchior Schällibaum ◽

Jürg W Blum

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Production Systems ◽

Post Partum ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Milk Samples ◽

California Mastitis Test ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Conventional Production

The objective was to compare the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SM) and of udder pathogens in 60 Swiss organic (OP) and 60 conventional production systems (CP). Cows (n=970) were studied for SM prevalence and udder pathogens at median 31 d and 102 d post partum. Cows showing a [ges ]1+ positive California Mastitis Test (CMT) in at least one quarter were considered to have SM. Cow-level prevalences of SM for visits at 31 d and 102 d post partum (39% and 40% in OP and 34% and 35% in CP) were similar, but quarter-level prevalences of SM were higher (P<0·02) in OP than CP (15% and 18% in OP and 12% and 15% in CP). Median somatic cell counts in milk at 31 d post partum were higher (P<0·05) in OP than CP cows (43000 and 28000 cells/ml, respectively), but were similar at 102 d post partum in OP and CP cows (45000 and 38000 cells/ml, respectively). In milk samples from quarters showing a CMT reaction [ges ]2+ the prevalences of coagulase negative staphylococci were lower (P<0·05) at 102 d post partum, whereas prevalences of non-agalactiae streptococci were higher (P<0·05) in OP than in CP cows at 31 d and 102 d post partum. In conclusion, under Swiss conditions, subclinical mastitis is a greater problem in organic than in conventional production systems, but differences are not marked.

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A comparison of selected public health criteria in milk from milk-shops and from a national distributor

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v74i2.501 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 74 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. More O'Ferrall-Berndt

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Escherichia Coli ◽

Alkaline Phosphatase ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Salmonella Spp ◽

E Coli ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Minimum Standards ◽

Cell Counts

Selected public health criteria of pasteurised milk available to the consumer from milk-shops in a pre-defined area of Pretoria compared with a national distributor's milk was evaluated. Of the 135 milk samples purchased from milk-shops, 87 % were not fit for human consumption on the basis of the minimum standards prescribed in the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of1972). The national distributor's milk (n = 79) did not contain any pathogens, toxins nor inhibitory substances and passed all the criteria laid down in the Act. Even though milk-shop milk was sold as having been pasteurised, 38.5% of samples were alkaline phosphatase positive, indicating probable inadequate pasteurisation. Milk-shop milk quality varied between milk-shops and between sampling days and differed significantly (P <0.05) from the national distributor's milk. Total aerobic plate and coliform counts were generally high for all milk-shop milk samples. Somatic cell counts of milk-shop milk differed significantly (P < 0.05) from the national distributor's milk. Escherichia coli was detected in 1 ml of 17% of milk-shop milk, 95% of which originated from milk which was alkaline phosphatase positive. Salmonella spp. could not be detected in 1 ml in any of the E. coli-positive milk tested. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 40% of milk-shop milk samples, and S. aureus enterotoxins from 7.8 % of 51 cultures. Inhibitory substances were detected in 54.1 % of milk-shop milk. The presence of inhibitory substances and the isolation of E. coli and S. aureus (some of which were able to produce enterotoxins) indicated potentially unsafe milk and poses a serious public health risk to consumers.

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A pathogen-specific approach towards udder health management in dairy herds: Using culture and somatic cell counts from routine herd investigations

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v83i1.1146 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 83 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Inge-Marié Petzer ◽

Joanne Karzis ◽

Edward F. Donkin ◽

Edward C. Webb

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Health Management ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

False Negative ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Udder Health ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Negative Results ◽

Cell Counts

A dedicated udder health diagnostic programme was developed and used over a 15-year period in South Africa to analyse milk samples based on microbiological and cytological patterns within various groups and for individual cows and udder quarters in dairy herds. These pathogen-specific analyses are utilised for pro-active improvement and management of udder health in South African commercial dairy herds. The programme acts as a monitoring tool and identifies management areas at risk and individual cows with udder disease and uses both quarter and composite milk samples. Intra-mammary infection (IMI) is a dynamic situation and depending on the time a milk sample is taken, false-negative results may be obtained. A new IMI and an infection that is curing may both have low somatic cell counts (SCCs), masking the true bacterial status. SCC in individual infected udder quarters may differ greatly depending on the causative bacterial species, its pathogenicity, the host immune status and the environmental factors involved. A pathogen-specific udder health approach was followed with repeated herd tests to take account of these udder health dynamics. The results of the herd IMI investigation are applied in practice to assist veterinarians, udder health consultants and managers to make informed and specific detailed decisions at both a herd and on an individual cow basis regarding udder health.

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