Applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfare

Mastitis is an infection of mammary glands caused by microorganisms, which affects the dairy cattle worldwide. Subclinical mastitis are asymptomatic, but with decrease in production. Diagnosis is made through somatic cell count (SCC) in milk, and the greater the amount of these cells, the greater th...

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Main Authors: Clarissa Varajão Cardoso, Alcir das Graças Paes Pinheiro, Alexandre Castro Marques dos Santos, Rossiane de Moura Souza, Eunice Ventura Barbosa, Helena Carla Castro, Maíra Halfen Teixeira Liberal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto de Zootecnia 2015-02-01
Series:Boletim de Indústria Animal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://35.199.65.98/ojs/index.php/bia/article/view/425
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author Clarissa Varajão Cardoso
Alcir das Graças Paes Pinheiro
Alexandre Castro Marques dos Santos
Rossiane de Moura Souza
Eunice Ventura Barbosa
Helena Carla Castro
Maíra Halfen Teixeira Liberal
author_facet Clarissa Varajão Cardoso
Alcir das Graças Paes Pinheiro
Alexandre Castro Marques dos Santos
Rossiane de Moura Souza
Eunice Ventura Barbosa
Helena Carla Castro
Maíra Halfen Teixeira Liberal
author_sort Clarissa Varajão Cardoso
collection DOAJ
description Mastitis is an infection of mammary glands caused by microorganisms, which affects the dairy cattle worldwide. Subclinical mastitis are asymptomatic, but with decrease in production. Diagnosis is made through somatic cell count (SCC) in milk, and the greater the amount of these cells, the greater the productivity loss from the animal. In this research we tested the applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the rapid diagnosis of Subclinical Mastitis, by the use of the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and a modified Wisconsin Mastitis Test (Somaticell®) at the time to perform manual milking. Forty five 45 lactating cows, belonging to three family dairy farms located at the following Regions of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: Coastal Lowlands; Metropolitan; and Northwest, were analyzed. From 177 mammary quarters tested, 73 (41.2%) presented positive result at CMT (Figure 1), and 82 (46.3%) positive result at Somaticell® (Figure 2). There was a variation of 5.1% between one test and the other; 17 teats (7 animals) presented positive result at Somaticell® and negative at CMT, while 8 teats (2 animals) presented positive result at CMT and negative at Somaticell®. Three cows had already lost one mammary quarter. Both tests have a visual reading, although CMT is a qualitative test with subjective reading of positivity: negative (-), positive (+, ++, +++ e ++++), and Somaticell® has a quantitative scale reading as manufacturer's labeling (69x103 a 197x104 somatic cells/mL). The results show that on-farm tests can be used for rapid detection of subclinical mastitis, and it is an important finding for public health because pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus have been isolated from raw milk, collected from mammary quarters with high SCC. The use of on-farm testing methodologies will allow the producer to take quick decision avoiding sending contaminated milk for human consumption. The diagnosis of subclinical mastitis and the proper treatment of sick cows will result in decreased inflammation and pain of the udder of the animal in the act of milking, and during sucking milk by the calves, helping to promote animal welfare and also the reduction of yield loss milk and premature culling of unproductive animals.
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spelling doaj.art-cccf3b44f4674178b9f85f731a94c2532022-12-22T03:07:59ZengInstituto de ZootecniaBoletim de Indústria Animal1981-41002015-02-0171Applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfareClarissa Varajão CardosoAlcir das Graças Paes PinheiroAlexandre Castro Marques dos SantosRossiane de Moura SouzaEunice Ventura BarbosaHelena Carla CastroMaíra Halfen Teixeira LiberalMastitis is an infection of mammary glands caused by microorganisms, which affects the dairy cattle worldwide. Subclinical mastitis are asymptomatic, but with decrease in production. Diagnosis is made through somatic cell count (SCC) in milk, and the greater the amount of these cells, the greater the productivity loss from the animal. In this research we tested the applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the rapid diagnosis of Subclinical Mastitis, by the use of the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and a modified Wisconsin Mastitis Test (Somaticell®) at the time to perform manual milking. Forty five 45 lactating cows, belonging to three family dairy farms located at the following Regions of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: Coastal Lowlands; Metropolitan; and Northwest, were analyzed. From 177 mammary quarters tested, 73 (41.2%) presented positive result at CMT (Figure 1), and 82 (46.3%) positive result at Somaticell® (Figure 2). There was a variation of 5.1% between one test and the other; 17 teats (7 animals) presented positive result at Somaticell® and negative at CMT, while 8 teats (2 animals) presented positive result at CMT and negative at Somaticell®. Three cows had already lost one mammary quarter. Both tests have a visual reading, although CMT is a qualitative test with subjective reading of positivity: negative (-), positive (+, ++, +++ e ++++), and Somaticell® has a quantitative scale reading as manufacturer's labeling (69x103 a 197x104 somatic cells/mL). The results show that on-farm tests can be used for rapid detection of subclinical mastitis, and it is an important finding for public health because pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus have been isolated from raw milk, collected from mammary quarters with high SCC. The use of on-farm testing methodologies will allow the producer to take quick decision avoiding sending contaminated milk for human consumption. The diagnosis of subclinical mastitis and the proper treatment of sick cows will result in decreased inflammation and pain of the udder of the animal in the act of milking, and during sucking milk by the calves, helping to promote animal welfare and also the reduction of yield loss milk and premature culling of unproductive animals.http://35.199.65.98/ojs/index.php/bia/article/view/425California Mastitis TestWisconsin Mastitis TestSomaticell®
spellingShingle Clarissa Varajão Cardoso
Alcir das Graças Paes Pinheiro
Alexandre Castro Marques dos Santos
Rossiane de Moura Souza
Eunice Ventura Barbosa
Helena Carla Castro
Maíra Halfen Teixeira Liberal
Applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfare
Boletim de Indústria Animal
California Mastitis Test
Wisconsin Mastitis Test
Somaticell®
title Applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfare
title_full Applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfare
title_fullStr Applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfare
title_full_unstemmed Applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfare
title_short Applicability of on-farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfare
title_sort applicability of on farm testing methodologies for the detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows and their contribution for animal welfare
topic California Mastitis Test
Wisconsin Mastitis Test
Somaticell®
url http://35.199.65.98/ojs/index.php/bia/article/view/425
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