scholarly journals Milk Somatic Cell Count and Polymorphonuclear Cells in Healthy Quarters of Cows That Underwent Blanket and Selective Dry Therapy: An Italian Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Angela Costa ◽  
Massimo De Marchi ◽  
Daniele Sagrafoli ◽  
Hillary Lanzi ◽  
Simonetta Amatiste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Polymorphonuclear Cells ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
The Impact

The incidence of mastitis increases with parity in dairy cattle and multiparous cows are often treated at drying off to limit the risk of udder health issues and support mammary gland tissues recovery. Milk somatic cells count (SCC, cells/mL) comprises different white blood cells fractions and is worldwide used to monitor and genetically improve udder health. Nevertheless, only certain SCC fractions increase when an udder inflammation occurs. Considering that antibiotic use for preventive purposes will be forbidden in 2022, we compared two different dry therapy protocols, blanket (BDCT) and selective (SDCT), on different SCC fractions in healthy quarters milk. Multiparous Holstein cows were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and SCC, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and differential somatic cell count (DSCC) recorded after the experimental drying off were available. Significant differences were observed between the two protocols, with more favorable parameters in BDCT than SDCT cows. Results showed that moving from BDCT to SDCT is expected to significantly increase some SCC fractions, such as PMN, in healthy quarters. The baseline SCC level at the onset of lactation was greater in cows under SDCT than BDCT. Although not significant, clinical mastitis prevalence was numerically lower in BDCT (7.32%) than SDCT (8.62%). In this study we referred to a limited number of cows, but still findings will be useful to improve the knowledge on the impact of SDCT on milk SCC fractions in healthy quarters.

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

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tvarožková ◽  
Vašíček ◽  
Uhrinčať ◽  
Mačuhová ◽  
Hleba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Polymorphonuclear Cells ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Major Health Problem ◽  
Milk Samples

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.

Mastitis vaccination using a commercial polyvalent vaccine or a herd-specific Staphylococcus aureus vaccine

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (04) ◽  
pp. 219-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Hamedy ◽  
Oliver Passarge ◽  
Axel Sobiraj ◽  
Markus Freick ◽  
Yvonne Frank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Health State ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Cell Counts

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.

Milk yield and somatic cell count during the following lactation after selective treatment of cows at dry-off

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Päivi J Rajala-Schultz ◽  
Audrey H Torres ◽  
Fred J DeGraves
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Clinical Mastitis ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Selective Treatment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
To Receive

Selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) has received increasing attention in recent years owing to global concerns over agricultural use of antimicrobial drugs and development of antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of SDCT on milk yield and somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy herds in the USA. Cows in four Ohio dairy herds were categorized into two groups (low-SCC and high-SCC) at dry-off based on their SCC and clinical mastitis (CM) history during the lactation preceding the dry-off. Low-SCC cows were randomly assigned to receive or not to receive intramammary antibiotics at dry-off. Milk yield and SCC of these cows during the following lactation were compared using linear mixed effects models, adjusting for parity, calving season, stage of lactation, previous lactation milk yield and herd. Milk yield of untreated and treated low-SCC cows at dry-off did not differ significantly during the following lactation. Overall, treated low-SCC cows had 16% lower SCC (approximately 35 000 cells/ml, P=0·0267) than the untreated cows during the following lactation; however, the effect was variable in different herds. Moreover the impact of treatment, or the lack thereof, on milk yield varied considerably between herds. The results suggested that in some herds treating all cows at dry-off may be beneficial while in other herds leaving healthy cows without antibiotic dry cow treatment has no negative impact on milk yield or milk quality (SCC), and in fact, may be beneficial. Further studies are needed to identify characteristics of herds where treating all cows routinely at dry-off may be needed for maintaining good udder health and where switching to selective treatment of cows at dry-off would be the optimal approach to achieve best results.

scholarly journals Milk somatic cell count-derived traits as new indicators to monitor udder health in dairy buffaloes

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 548-558
Author(s):  
Angela Costa ◽  
Massimo De Marchi ◽  
Gianluca Neglia ◽  
Giuseppe Campanile ◽  
Mauro Penasa
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Udder Health

Evaluation of the udder health status in subclinical mastitis affected dairy cows through bacteriological culture, somatic cell count and thermographic imaging

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bortolami ◽  
E. Fiore ◽  
M. Gianesella ◽  
M. Corrò ◽  
S. Catania ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Bacteriological Culture ◽  
Udder Health ◽  
Streptococcus Uberis ◽  
Thermographic Imaging

Abstract Subclinical mastitis in dairy cows is a big economic loss for farmers. The monitoring of subclinical mastitis is usually performed through Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in farm but there is the need of new diagnostic systems able to quickly identify cows affected by subclinical infections of the udder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential application of thermographic imaging compared to SCC and bacteriological culture for infection detection in cow affected by subclinical mastitis and possibly to discriminate between different pathogens. In this study we evaluated the udder health status of 98 Holstein Friesian dairy cows with high SCC in 4 farms. From each cow a sample of milk was collected from all the functional quarters and submitted to bacteriological culture, SCC and Mycoplasma spp. culture. A thermographic image was taken from each functional udder quarter and nipple. Pearson’s correlations and Analysis of Variance were performed in order to evaluate the different diagnostic techniques. The most frequent pathogen isolated was Staphylococcus aureus followed by Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS), Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae and others. The Somatic Cell Score (SCS) was able to discriminate (p<0.05) cows positive for a pathogen from cows negative at the bacteriological culture except for cows with infection caused by CNS. Infrared thermography was correlated to SCS (p<0.05) but was not able to discriminate between positive and negative cows. Thermographic imaging seems to be promising in evaluating the inflammation status of cows affected by subclinical mastitis but seems to have a poor diagnostic value.

Udder and teat conformational risk factors for elevated somatic cell count and clinical mastitis in New York Holsteins

2019 ◽  
Vol 163 ◽  
pp. 7-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asha M. Miles ◽  
Jessica A.A. McArt ◽  
Francisco A. Leal Yepes ◽  
Cassandra R. Stambuk ◽  
Paul D. Virkler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
New York ◽  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Clinical Mastitis

scholarly journals Impact of policy-induced structural change on milk quality: evidence from the Flemish dairy sector

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Van der Straeten ◽  
Jeroen Buysse ◽  
Guido Van Huylenbroeck ◽  
Ludwig Lauwers
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Bacterial Count ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Total Bacterial Count ◽  
Coliform Count ◽  
Exchange Policy ◽  
The Impact

This paper uses a Markov chain model to analyse the dynamics in farm-size distribution among the Flemish dairy sector and the impact of quota policy regulation on such changes. The model predicts a decline of 24% in number of farms in 2014 compared with the current situation with a more liberal exchange policy and a decline of 18% with a restricted quota exchange policy. From these Markov chain model results, we analysed the impact of farm-size distribution on eight different milk quality parameters (total bacterial count, somatic cell count, coliform count, freezing point, urea-N, fat content and protein content and penalty-points). In general, larger farms produce higher quality milk than smaller farms, especially with respect to the microbiological parameters (total bacterial count, somatic cell count and coliform count). The change in farm-size distribution from a liberal quota exchange policy would decrease the average total bacterial count by 18·0%, the somatic cell count by 2·1% and the coliform count by 11·0%. The aggregate performance of the other parameters are smaller with improvements in all cases of <1%.

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