G Mencaroni | PubMed Health

PubMed1998

Relationship between cell counts in bovine milk and the presence of mastitis pathogens (yeasts and bacteria).

Bovine mastitis is an economically important disease in dairy industry and a variety of pathogen microorganisms are involved. The AA carried out a study to investigate the prevalence of yeasts and bacteria in milk samples (794) from dairy cows of Umbria (Central Italy), belonging to 19 herds, and the relationship between cell counts in bovine milk and the presence of these pathogens. 29.7% milk samples were positive for pathogen microorganisms, of those 4.9% were positive for yeasts and bacteria, 4.4% for yeasts and 20.4% for bacteria. The species of yeasts and bacteria most frequently encountered were Trichosporon capitatum (31.2%), T. beigelii (18.72%) and Candida albicans (12.48%), C. guillermondii (12.48%), C. tropicalis (12.48%); with regard to bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (34.3%) and S. albo (19.8%). The presence of yeasts and bacteria in milk samples are correlated to an increase of somatic cell counts even if with different degree. Epidemiological and sanitary correlation were carried out.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Total and differential cell count by direct microscopic method on ewe milk.

On 700 milk samples from single half udders of Comisana ewes, somatic cell count (SCC) and differential cell count (DCC) were determined, using a Fossomatic 90 cell counter (Foss Electric, Denmark) (SCCF) and milk smears stained with May Grünwald-Giemsa (DCCS). SCC and DCC were also determined with modified KOVAH SYSTEM (Hicor Biomedical Inc. Irvine, CA, USA) (SCCK and DCCK, respectively). Out of 665 milk samples from half udders without clinical signs of mastitis, 640 (Class I) were sterile, while 25 (Class II) were bacteriologically positive. Out of 35 milk samples (Class III) from half udders with clinical signs of mastitis, 25 were bacteriologically positive. Mean results (after logarithmic transformation of cells/ml/10(3)) of SCCF and SCCK for all the 700 milk samples were 1.89 +/- 0.58 and 1.86 +/- 0.60 with linear correlation coefficient (r) of 0.960, while least squares means for Class I, II and III were 1.78, 2.23 and 3.73 respectively and 1.75, 2.19 and 3.74 with r of 0.894, 0.979 and 0.987. Mean results of DCCS and DCCK were 38.1 +/- 23.3, 34.9, 52.1, and 82.2 PMNL% and 41.8 +/- 21.7, 38.6, 60.2, and 87.3 PMNL% with r of 0.855, 0.812, 0.697 and 0.805. The results showed high correlation coefficients and a good reliability between SCCK and SCCF and high correlation coefficients for DCC methods. In conclusion, it could be suggested that the possibility of routine use of the KOVAH SYSTEM method is particularly useful in detecting if an abnormal SCC is due to a polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes increase.

Animals↗