Comparative Efficacy of Different Mastitis Markers for Diagnosis of Sub-Clinical Mastitis in Cows

Abstract

Seven hundred ninety six milk samples from 266 quarters of 69 lactating cows were subjected to microbiological investigations for identification of pathogens. One hundred ninety bacterial isolates were recovered from 89 infected quarters, among these monomicrobial infection was found in 50 (56.2%) quarters, whereas, mixed infection was observed in 39 (43.8%) quarters. Bacterial isolates identified were Staph. chromogenes (49.47%), Staph. hyicus (21.1%), Staph. epidermidis (11.05%), Str. agalactiae (5.8%), Staph. aureus (4.2%), Staph. intermedius (3.1%), Enterobacter sp. (1.5%), Klebsiella sp., E. coli (1.05%), Micrococcus sp. (1.05%) and Serratia marcescens (0.52%). Milk samples from every quarter of each cow were also subjected to 6 mastitis marker tests named Somatic cell count (SCC), California mastitis test (CMT), electrical conductivity (EC) by EC-meter as well as by hand-held mastitis detector, pH detection by impregnated paper strip and also by pH meter. Efficacy of mastitis markers for diagnosis of sub-clinical mastitis was determined by comparing results of mastitis marker tests with microbiological findings. Mean value of SSC in milk from healthy quarters was significantly lower (p≤ 0.01) than that in milk from infected quarters. Significantly higher (p≤ 0.01) value of SSC was observed in milk samples having coagulase positive staphylococci as compared to that in milk from quarter with coagulase negative pathogens. The mean electrical conductivity (EC) in milk samples from infected quarters was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that from healthy quarters. Numbers and percentages of samples showing true positive, true negative, false positive and false negative results with SSC, CMT, EC by EC-meter, EC by hand-held meter, pH by impregnated strips, pH by digital pH-meter tests were evaluated and compared. The sensitivity and specificity of impregnated pH paper strip, CMT, pH-meter test, SCC, electrical conductivity by EC-meter and the same by hand-held mastitis detector were evaluated The compatibility between the results of SCC, impregnated pH paper strip, CMT, EC-meter, pH-meter, hand-held mastitis detector and bacteriological culture examination (reference test) was found to be 64.4, 63.4, 61.5, 59, 59 and 53 respectively.

Detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows using California and Draminski mastitis test

“…These results correspond with the findings of Galfi et al (2015). Chahar (2007) andLanger et al (2014) have reported lower percentage of true positive cases detected by Draminski mastitis test (38% and 7.6% respectively). Langer et al (2014) indicated that detection of subclinical mastitis with hand-held electrical conductivity meter was very low.…”

“…Chahar (2007) andLanger et al (2014) have reported lower percentage of true positive cases detected by Draminski mastitis test (38% and 7.6% respectively). Langer et al (2014) indicated that detection of subclinical mastitis with hand-held electrical conductivity meter was very low. Henningsson et al (2005) indicated that milk electrical conductivity is determined by type and concentration of ions, interactive influence of the ions and components contributing to milk viscosity (protein, fat, lactose).…”

Subclinical mastitis in dairy camels in Algeria: Comparison of screening tests

“…However, our current findings are in disagreement with the findings of Tuteja et al (2013) who reported that a threshold of 6.4 or more is indicative of sub-clinical mastitis in dairy camels. Sensitivity of pH test observed in present study was higher than that reported by Langer et al (2014) for cows. Although, the specificity of this test was much lower than that reported by those authors, the low specificity observed for pH test suggests that pH of milk is not suitable method L.…”

Detection and characterization of pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa from bovine subclinical mastitis in West Bengal, India

“…Again, Langer et al . [ 18 ] and Shitandi et al . [ 19 ] also reported average SCC values of 3-9 lakh cells/ml of milk in their study of bovine subclinical mastitis from Bikaner and Kenya.…”