The presence of pathogens in milk of ewes in relation to the somatic cell count and subpopulations of leukocytes

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 < 200 000 cells/ml (45 milk samples); 200 000 ≤ SCC2 < 400 000 cells/ml (10 milk samples); 400 000 ≤ SCC3 < 600 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); 600 000 ≤ SCC4 < 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 < 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 < 0.001). In conclusion, the presented results showed that the high SCC was caused by the presence of the pathogen in milk. Thus SCC < 200 000 cells/ml and leukocyte subpopulation, especially PMNs, could be considered as important tools in udder health programs applied in dairy ewes.

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Mastitis pathogens and somatic cell count in ewes milk

Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences ◽

10.5219/1338 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 164-169

Author(s):

Kristína Tvarožková ◽

Vladimír Tančin ◽

Michal Uhrinčať ◽

Lukáš Hleba ◽

Lucia Mačuhová

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Milk Samples ◽

The Third ◽

The Relationship ◽

Mastitis Pathogens

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of pathogens in selected group of ewes and the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and the presence of pathogens. The experiment was carried out on a dairy farm, where predominantly breed was a Tsigai. Sampling was carried out in monthly intervals as part of the milk recording test day from February to July 2019. A total of 303 ewes were included in the survey, during the milk recording test day. The ewes with SCC ≥1000 × 103 cells.mL-1 were selected for further sampling at half udder level. Based on SCC the ewes were divided into five groups: <200 ×103; ≥200 <400 × 103; ≥400 <600 × 103; ≥600 <1000 × 103; ≥1000 × 103 cells.mL-1. The first group of SCC contained 33.9% of milk samples, the second 14.1% of samples, the third 5.7% of samples, the fourth 6.2% and the fifth 40.1% of samples. The most common pathogens were coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS). The most frequent CNS was Staphylococcus (S.) simulans (24.4%). S. aureus was identified in 5.3% of bacteriological positive samples. Almost 70% of ewes with bacteriological positive samples were repeated identified the presence of pathogens during tested period. SCC ≥500 × 103 cells.mL-1 were detected in 92.5% bacteriological positive milk samples. The presence of pathogens increased SCC in milk (p <0.001) as compared to samples free of pathogens. In conclusion, the SCC ≥500 × 103 cells.mL-1 could be important for detection of subclinical mastitis at half udder level in dairy ewes.

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Effect of coagulase-negative staphylococci on somatic cell count in Dutch dairy herds

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029910000191 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 77 (3) ◽

pp. 318-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Otlis Sampimon ◽

Bart HP van den Borne ◽

Inge Santman-Berends ◽

Herman W Barkema ◽

Theo Lam

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Health Management ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Intramammary Infections ◽

Milk Samples

The effect was quantified of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) intramammary infections on quarter- and cow-level somatic cell count (SCC) and on bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) in different BMSCC cohorts in Dutch dairy herds. Two datasets were used for this purpose. In the first dataset, on 49 randomly selected dairy farms a total of 4220 quarter milk samples of 1072 cows were collected of all cows and heifers with a test-day SCC ⩾250 000 and ⩾150 000 cells/ml, respectively, and of 25% of cows and heifers below these thresholds. In the second dataset, on 39 selected dairy farms a total of 8329 quarter milk samples of 2115 cows were collected of all cows with a test-day SCC ⩾250 000 cells/ml following two consecutive SCC <250 000 cells/ml, and of heifers using the same SCC criteria but with a threshold of 150 000 cells/ml. These cows and heifers were defined as new high SCC. In both datasets, CNS was the most frequently isolated pathogen, 11% in the first dataset and 12% in the second dataset. In both datasets, quarters with CNS IMI had a lower SCC than quarters infected with major pathogens, and a higher SCC than culture-negative quarters. The same was found for SCC at cow level. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were more often found in quarters with SCC ⩾200 000 cells/ml in dairy farms with a BMSCC <150 000 cells/ml compared with dairy farms with a higher BMSCC. Prevalence of CNS in cows and heifers with a high SCC was higher in dairy farms with a BMSCC <150 000 cells/ml compared with dairy farms with a medium or high BMSCC: 30, 19 and 18%, respectively. This indicates that CNS IMI as a cause of subclinical mastitis is relatively more important in dairy farms with a low BMSCC and may become a point of attention in udder health management on that type of farm.

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Frequency of subclinical mastitis and observations on somatic cell counts in ewes' milk in northern Greece

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800013539 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 69-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

A. Stefanakis ◽

C. Boscos ◽

C. Alexopoulos ◽

F. Samartzi

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Coulter Counter ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Northern Greece ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Ewe's Milk ◽

Normal Somatic Cell

AbstractSomatic cell counting by the Coulter Counter method, California mastitis test and bacteriological examination were performed on milk samples taken at fortnightly intervals throughout lactation from healthy primiparous and iniiltiparous ewes of the Chios and Karagouniki breeds and from healthy ewes in five grazing flocks in northern Greece.The proportion of the bacteriologically positive milk samples was 0·22. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis ranged, between the flocks, from 29 to 43% of the ewes. Subclinical mastitis occurred more frequently in Karagouniki than in Chios eives and in multiparous than in primiparous ewes of both breeds. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and S. aureus were isolated in 44 and 33% of the bacteriologically postive samples, respectively. No parity, breed or flock differences in normal somatic cell count were noticed, but stage of lactation influenced normal somatic cell count both in primiparous and multiparous ewes. The results of this investigation also suggest that (a) ovine milk samples with somatic cell count more than 1000 × 103 cells per ml, should be tested bacteriologically, (b) somatic cell count values between 1000 and 2000 × 103 cells per ml should cause suspicion about the presence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in the milk, and (c) the presence of S. aureus in ewe's milk results in a significant increase in somatic cell count, but the wide range of the values does not permit us to suggest any threshold value. The significant correlation between the results of the Coulter Counter somatic cell count method and the Califortiia mastitis test, indicates that the latter can be used for the determination of somatic cell count in ewe's milk.

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Farm records in investigation of epidemiology, symptomatology and causes of clinical mastitis in a dairy farm

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah1901097h ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 97-110

Author(s):

Dino Haracic ◽

Sabina Seric-Haracic ◽

Ermin Saljic ◽

Nihad Fejzic

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Infectious Agents ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Causative Agents ◽

On Farm

Mastitis is one of the most important diseases in dairy cow farms and one of the most common cause for antibiotic treatment. Aims of this study were: to investigate frequency and trends of clinical mastitis in cows on a large dairy farm, describe clinical characteristics of mastitis and investigate causative infectious agents in selected cases alongside antimicrobial resistance. In our study we used farm records for clinical mastitis recorded for period 2016 and 2017. We also used results of the regular on farm testing of the somatic cell count for 2017. Samples of milk from all clinical mastitis cases were taken during November and December 2017 in order to investigate causative agents and their antimicrobial resistance. Occurrence of clinical mastitis was 205 cases (47.7%) in 2017 compared to 93 cases (29.7%) recorded in 2016. In 2017 reoccurrence of clinical mastitis in same animal was recorded for 93 cows (45.4%). In 2016 reoccurrence of clinical mastitis in same animal was recoded for 49 cows (29.7%). Average course of clinical mastitis in 2016 was 3 days, while in 2017 4.5 days (continuous days of recording a case in farm records). Somatic cell count in more than half of tested animals was higher than 200.000 SC/ml according to the measurements from February and July 2017 (number of cows tested 236 and 169, respectively). Out of 23 milk samples, 20 had bacteriological growth. In 9 samples we identified S.aureus, in 6 streptococcus spp., in 4 coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) and one sample contained E.coli. Most common resistance was found for lincomycin-spectinomycin (100%) gentamicin (92%), followed by cefquinome (65%), linkomycin (53%) and erythromycin (47%). Isolates of S.aureus were resistant on the largest number of investigated antibiotics.

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Sub-Clinical Mastitis and Reproduction: Season, Parity and Stage of Lactation Effects on Conception Rate and Milk Somatic Cell Count

10.21203/rs.3.rs-185675/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Abdolah Mirzaei ◽

Tahereh Ararooti ◽

Mohsen Ghavami ◽

Amin Tamadon

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Conception Rate ◽

Stage Of Lactation ◽

Lactation Stage ◽

Reproduction Season

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of subclinical mastitis (somatic cell count (SCC)>250000 cells/ml) on the fertility of Holstein dairy cows in different parities, lactation stages and seasons. Data of 2437 SCC in a dairy farm including number of insemination, pregnancy detection, date of calving and insemination, SCC after insemination (maximum of 30 days), and parity were evaluated. The rate of subclinical mastitis in the first, second, third and fourth and more lactation number was 18.8%, 25.7%, 26.5% and 35.4%, respectively and in spring, summer, autumn and winter was 24.5%, 19.7%, 18.5% and 33.6%, respectively. Conception rate of cows with subclinical mastitis (24.6%) was lower than cows without subclinical mastitis (30.9%; P=0.003). In addition, the conception rate in the second and third lactation in cows with subclinical mastitis was significantly lower than in cows without subclinical mastitis. The conception rate of cows with subclinical mastitis in summer in the second lactation and in winter in the second and third lactation was significantly lower than in cows without subclinical mastitis. Therefore, subclinical mastitis in mid lactation stage and also in the second and third parities especially in summer and winter can disturb fertility more than the other conditions. Also, considering these facts during these periods of times in managing of subclinical mastitis can improve fertility outcome of the herd.

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Somatic cell count in the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in sheep of different breeds

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2018v39n4p1555 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 1555

Author(s):

Luiz Francisco Zafalon ◽

Raul Costa Mascarenhas Santana ◽

Sérgio Novita Esteves ◽

Guilherme Aparecido Fim Júnior

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Control Measures ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Stage Of Lactation ◽

Santa Inês ◽

Etiological Agents

The aims of this study were to determine the occurrence of subclinical mastitis in sheep of different breeds and the values for somatic cell count (SCC) in milk for the diagnosis of the disease at lactation and weaning, a fundamental prerequisite for identifying animals in need of control measures. Milk samples were obtained from 1,457 mammary halves of Santa Inês, Texel, Ile de France, and Dorper sheep at two different periods, during the second week of lactation and at weaning. After teats antisepsis, the samples were collected, and identification of the infectious etiology of mastitis and determination of SCC were performed. Microorganisms were identified in 117/762 (15.3%) mammary halves in the second week of lactation and in 86/694 (12.4%) at weaning. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were the etiological agents with the highest incidence alone and in association with other microorganisms, with percentages of 58.1% and 60.6%, respectively. The Santa Inês presented a higher incidence of subclinical mastitis when compared to the other breeds. The cut-off values of SCC for subclinical mastitis were determined at both sampling periods and varied according to stage of lactation, as well breed. These results illustrate the lack of a universal value that can be used for the diagnosis of mastitis and suggests the need for permanent follow-up in herds in order to control the disease.

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Prevalence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in bovine mastitis in Zimbabwe

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v73i2.557 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 73 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

T. Kudinha ◽

C. Simango

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Enteric Bacteria ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Bacillus Species ◽

Small Scale ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Cell Counts

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in clinical and subclinical mastitis in commercial and small-scale farms in Zimbabwe. Thirty five quarter milk samples from clinical mastitis cases and 371 quarter milk samples from cows with subclinical mastitis were cultured for bacterial pathogens. The most frequent pathogens isolated in clinical mastitis were the enteric bacteria (31.4 %), followed by coagulase negative staphylococci (22.9 %) and then Staphylococcus aureus (17.1 %), whereas in subclinical mastitis S. aureus (34.2 %) and coagulase-negative staphylococci were (33.2 %) the most common. Bacillus species were only isolated in milk samples from subclinical mastitis. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were observed in mixed infections with other bacteria in only 2.2 % of the 406 milk samples from clinical and subclinical mastitis where they were isolated together with Bacillus species in 6 of the 9 mixed infection cases. About 95 % of the milk samples from which 131 coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated had correspondingly high somatic cell counts. The coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated most frequently were S. chromogenes (7.9 %), S. epidermidis (7.4 %) and S. hominis (5.9 %). They were all associated with high somatic cell counts. All the coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates were susceptible to cloxacillin and erythromycin, and more than 90 %of the isolates were susceptible to neomycin, penicillin and streptomycin. The highest resistance was to tetracycline (17.6 %), followed by lincomycin (13.7 %). About 8 % of the isolates were resistant to both penicillin and streptomycin.

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Genetic associations for pathogen-specific clinical mastitis and patterns of peaks in somatic cell count

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800058926 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 187-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Y. de Haas ◽

H.W. Barkema ◽

Y.H. Schukken ◽

R.F. Veerkamp

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Genetic Selection ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Genetic Associations ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Streptococcus Uberis ◽

Lactation Curve

AbstractGenetic associations were estimated between pathogen-specific cases of clinical mastitis (CM), lactational average somatic cell score (LACSCS), and patterns of peaks in somatic cell count (SCC) which were based on deviations from the typical lactation curve for SCC. The dataset contained test-day records on SCC in 94 781 lactations of 25 416 cows of different parities. Out of these 94 781 lactations, 41 828 lactations had recordings on occurrence of pathogen-specific CM and on SCC, and 52 953 lactations had recordings on SCC only. A total of 5 324 lactations with cases of CM were recorded. Analysed pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, and culture-negative samples. Pattern definitions were based on three or five consecutive test-day recordings of SCC. They differentiated between short or longer periods of increased SCC, and also between lactations with and without recovery. Occurrence of pathogen-specific CM and presence of patterns of peaks in SCC were both scored as binary traits. Variance components for sire, maternal grandsire, and permanent animal effects were estimated using AS-REML. The estimated heritability for overall CM was 0·04, and similar heritabilities for pathogen-specific CM were estimated. Heritabilities for the patterns of peaks in SCC ranged from 0·01 to 0·06. Heritabilities for LACSCS were 0·07 to 0·08. Genetic correlations with patterns of peaks in SCC differed for each pathogen. Generally, genetic correlations between pathogen-specific CM and patterns of peaks in SCC were stronger than the correlations with LACSCS. This suggests that genetic selection purely on diminishing presence of peaks in SCC would decrease the incidence of pathogen-specific CM more effectively than selecting purely on lower LACSCS.

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Reliability of the bulk milk somatic cell count as an indication of average herd somatic cell count

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029909990264 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 76 (4) ◽

pp. 490-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jan Lievaart ◽

Herman W Barkema ◽

Henk Hogeveen ◽

Wim Kremer

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Management Practices ◽

Dairy Herd ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Bulk Milk ◽

Sampling Variation ◽

The Difference

Bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) is a frequently used parameter to estimate the subclinical mastitis prevalence in a dairy herd, but it often differs considerably from the average SCC of all individual cows in milk. In this study, first the sampling variation was determined on 53 dairy farms with a BMSCC ranging from 56 000 to 441 000 cells/ml by collecting five samples on each farm of the same bulk tank. The average absolute sampling variation ranged from 1800 to 19 800 cells/ml. To what extent BMSCC represents all lactating cows was evaluated in another 246 farms by comparing BMSCC to the average herd SCC corrected for milk yield (CHSCC), after the difference was corrected for the sampling variation of BMSCC. On average BMSCC was 49 000 cells/ml lower than CHSCC, ranging from −10 000 cells/ml to 182 000 cells/ml, while the difference increased with an increasing BMSCC. Subsequently, management practices associated with existing differences were identified. Farms with a small (<20%) difference between BMSCC and CHSCC administered intramuscular antibiotics for the treatment of clinical mastitis more often, used the high SCC history when cows were dried off more frequently and had a higher number of treatments per clinical mastitis case compared with farms with a large (⩾20%) difference. Farms feeding high-SCC milk or milk with antibiotic residues to calves were 2·4-times more likely to have a large difference. Although sampling variation influences the differences between BMSCC and CHSCC, the remaining difference is still important and should be considered when BMSCC is used to review the average herd SCC and the subclinical mastitis prevalence.

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A COMPARISON OF MASTITIS DETECTION METHODS IN DAIRY CATTLE

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas84-036 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 305-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

T. R. BATRA ◽

A. J. McALLISTER

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Good Accuracy ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Detection Methods ◽

Considerable Proportion ◽

Milk Samples ◽

California Mastitis Test

The potential value of electrical conductivity, somatic cell count, and California Mastitis Test (CMT) Score in composite milk samples as a screening test for subclinical mastitis was evaluated. The effect of genetic group was significant (P < 0.05) for conductivity and somatic cell count while the effects of parity and month of lactation were significant (P < 0.01) for all the three traits studied. Somatic cell count and CMT score increased from first to fourth parity while there was general trend for increasing conductivity from second to fourth parity. All the three methods identified healthy cows with a good accuracy but failed to recognize a considerable proportion of infected cows. The error rate for misclassification was lowest for CMT score (9.1%), followed by somatic cell count (13.9%) and conductivity (29.4%). Composite strict foremilk samples from cows infected with primary pathogens had significantly (P < 0.01) higher conductivity than those from uninfected cows. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in 60% of the milk samples and appeared to be in the major organism causing mastitis in this herd. Key words: Dairy cattle, mastitis detection methods

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