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PubMed1995

A technique for accurate use of CD4+ cell counts.

Despite uncertainty over their reliability, CD4+ cell counts are used extensively in both clinical and research settings to document progression in HIV infection. We examined, therefore, whether the performance of a simple statistical test would facilitate greater accuracy in the use of this marker. CD4+ cell count data were collected from a cohort of deceased (N = 60) and living HIV-positive gay men (N = 100). Pearson's product moment correlation coefficients were calculated for each individual in order to examine the association between CD4+ counts and time since diagnosis. Correlations of 0.7 or greater were obtained in approximately 50 percent of cases in each cohort. For these individuals, CD4+ cell counts were deemed to be a reliable indicator of rate of progression. The results suggest that the proposed technique ensures greater precision in the use of CD4+ cell counts and that the technique cna be used in individuals with either complete (deceased patients) or partial (living patients) CD4+ data.

CD4 Lymphocyte Count↗

PubMed1986

Effective use of dairy herd improvement somatic cell counts in mastitis control.

The single most important factor affecting somatic cell count in milk is mammary gland infection status. In comparison, all other factors are minor. Consideration needs to be given to diurnal effects on Dairy Herd Improvement a.m.-p.m. sampling schemes. Somatic cell count linear score of 5 (283,000) appears to be a good choice of threshold for mastitis control applications. A greater understanding of the nonbacteriological factors affecting somatic cell count is needed so that relative thresholds could be used to improve the clarity of somatic cell count interpretation. Linear score loss estimates are effective educational tools providing motivation for mastitis control implementation. Infection status or milk loss estimates based on single somatic cell count tests on individual cows are weak. A lactational average linear score on individual cows or linear score compilations across a herd provide credible estimates. Treatment of subclinical mastitis based on somatic cell count levels is not economically beneficial and is not recommended. Usefulness of Dairy Herd Improvement somatic cell count data as a mastitis management tool requires measures of mastitis level, new infection rate, and mastitis pattern within the herd over time.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The effects of lamivudine treatment on HIV-1 disease progression are highly correlated with plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4 cell count.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4 cell count as predictors of the clinical benefit of antiretroviral treatment. DESIGN AND SETTING: The CAESAR (Canada, Australia, Europe, South Africa) trial randomized 1840 patients [inclusion CD4 cell count, 25-250 x 10(6)/l] to add either placebo, lamivudine (3TC) or 3TC plus loviride in a double-blinded fashion to baseline treatments (zidovudine, zidovudine-didanosine or zidovudine-zalcitabine) for 1 year. PATIENTS: This analysis included 487 patients with data on CD4 cell count and HIV-1 RNA after 12-20 weeks of treatment and subsequent follow-up for clinical progression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The correlation between 12-20-week change in CD4 cell count, HIV-1 RNA and progression to AIDS or death in the placebo group was used to predict the clinical benefit of the 3TC-containing arms of the trial, given their effects on CD4 cell count and HIV-1 RNA. RESULTS: After 12-20 weeks of treatment, HIV-1 RNA fell by 0.37 log10 copies/ml in the 3TC arms versus a rise of 0.05 log10 copies/ml in the placebo arm. The 12-20-week CD4 cell count rose by 35 x 10(6)/l in the 3TC arm versus a fall of 8 x 10(6)/l in the placebo arm. After 12-20 weeks of treatment, a reduction in HIV-1 RNA of 1 log10 at 12-20 weeks predicted a 49% reduction in progression [hazard ratio (HR), 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.30-0.87] and a rise in CD4 cell count of 50 x 10(6)/l predicted a 51% reduction in progression (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33-0.73). Using the model from the placebo arm, the rises in CD4 cell count and reductions in HIV-1 RNA during 3TC treatment predicted a 59% reduction in progression to AIDS or death. The observed clinical benefit was a 57% reduction in progression for the 3TC arms versus placebo (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26-0.71). CONCLUSIONS: Rises in CD4 cell count and reductions in HIV-1 RNA were reliable in predicting the clinical benefit of 3TC in the CAESAR trial.

Acetamides↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of cell counts and indices in testicular FNAC with histology in male infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of percentage cell counts and cell indices in testicular fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in male infertility and their correlation with histologic categories as seen in open testicular biopsies. STUDY DESIGN: Differential cell counts were performed, and cell indices, including spermatic index, Sertoli cell index and sperm-Sertoli cell index, were calculated in testicular fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears in 30 azoospermic males whose open testicular biopsies were classified as normal spermatogenesis in 10 cases, maturation arrest in 5, hypospermatogenesis in 6, Sertoli cell only syndrome in 5 and tubular/peritubular sclerosis in 4. RESULTS: In normal spermatogenesis, FNA smears showed up to 40% Sertoli cells, and spermatozoa were the predominant spermatogenetic cell type. There was a progressive increase in Sertoli cell percentage and Sertoli cell index and reduction in spermatozon percentage, spermatic index and sperm-Sertoli cell index with increasing severity of reduction in spermatogenesis in different histologic categories. The differences between mean counts and indices in normal spermatogenesis and other histologic categories were statistically significant (P < .01). CONCLUSION: The percent cell counts and cell indices in testicular FNAC correlate with histologic categories and are useful in evaluating male infertility.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Langerhans' cell counts and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The mean counts of Langerhans' cells were evaluated in cervical biopsies obtained from 30 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and from 30 HIV-seronegative control patients. Each HIV-seronegative control was matched to a seropositive case with respect to grade of CIN, age, and smoking habits. Langerhans' cells were identified by immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein. In situ hybridization with biotinylated probes was performed to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA 6/11, 16/18, and 31/35/51. The mean counts of S-100 positive cells per 100 basal cells were lower in HIV-seropositive patients than in controls (0.99 +/- 0.08 vs 1.9 +/- 0.2 P = 0.024). These differences occurred independent of any coexisting HPV infection. Positive correlations between S-100 positive cell counts and CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts were found in HIV-infected women. AIDS patients had lower Langerhans' cell counts compared both to patients with AIDS-related complex or asymptomatic HIV infection. Our results suggest that local cervical immunity, as evaluated by Langerhans' cell counts, is impaired in HIV-seropositive women. The severity of impairment seems to correlate with the stage of the HIV disease.

Carcinoma in Situ↗

PubMed1986

Relationship of milking rate to somatic cell count.

Information on milking rate, monthly bucket somatic cell counts, mastitis treatment, and milk production was obtained from 284 lactations of Holstein cows separated into three lactation groups. Significant correlations between somatic cell count (linear score) and other parameters included production in lactation 1 (-.185), production in lactation 2 (-.267), and percent 2-min milk in lactation 2 (.251). Somatic cell count tended to increase with maximum milking rate in all lactations, but correlations were not statistically significant. Twenty-nine percent of cows with milking rate measurements were treated for clinical mastitis. Treated cows in each lactation group produced less milk than untreated cows. In the second and third lactation groups, treated cows had a shorter total milking time and a higher percent 2-min milk than untreated cows, but differences were not statistically significant. Overall, the data support the concept that faster milking cows tend to have higher cell counts and more mastitis treatments, particularly beyond first lactation. However, the magnitude of the relationship was small.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Correlation of CD34+ cell yield in peripheral blood progenitor cell product with the pre-leukapheresis cell counts in peripheral blood.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate timing of the leukapheresis procedures is of paramount importance to get the best possible CD34+ cell yield in the minimum number of leukapheresis procedures. AIM: To find if pre-harvest CD34+ cell concentration in peripheral blood correlates with CD34+ cells in the product. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty Leukapheresis procedures were performed for 25 patients (8 autologous and 17 allogeneic transplants) with hematological malignancies. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate the pre-harvest CD34+ cell count and the CD34+ cell yield. Volume processed during PBPC harvests was three times the blood volume. RESULTS: The best correlation was found between the leukapheresis product CD34+ cell count and the pre-harvest PB-CD34+ cell count (PCC=0.674) when compared with the other pre-harvest PB cell counts viz., WBC (PCC=0.229) and MNC (PCC=0.324). This correlation was better in the allogeneic harvest (PCC = 0.645) than the autologous harvest procedures (PCC = 0.348). Correlation analysis based on paired samples from the 60 leukapheresis procedures showed that when the pre-leukapheresis PB-CD34+ cell count was >20x10(3)/ul a yield of >1x10(6) CD34+ cells/Kg could be obtained in 95% of the cases and >2x10(6) CD34+ cells /Kg could be harvested in 68% of cases whereas when the pre-leukapheresis PB-CD34+ cell count was <5x10(3)/microl the yield was <1x10(6) CD34+ cells/Kg in 81% of the procedures. CONCLUSION: The yield of CD34+ cells in PBPC harvests depends on the pre-harvest CD34+ cell concentration and therefore it is more useful than the pre-harvest WBC or MNC counts for predicting the appropriate timing of the harvests and also to achieve the best possible yield of CD34+ cells.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Neutralizing antibodies are positively associated with CD4+ T-cell counts and T-cell function in long-term AIDS-free infection.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the dynamics of neutralizing antibodies (NAb) in long-term AIDS-free HIV-1-infected subjects and establish correlations with known markers of disease progression. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using sera collected from long-term non-progressors (LTNP) 8 years after seroconversion or study entry. Longitudinal study using sera collected from LTNP at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years after seroconversion and, as controls, from rapid progressors. METHODS: Individuals with documented AIDS-free HIV-1 infection for at least 8 years were evaluated for NAb against five heterologous HIV-1 primary isolates. In the cross-sectional study, serum viral RNA levels, CD4+ T-cell numbers and T-cell function were determined on samples collected during the eighth year of follow-up. For the longitudinal study, NAb were assessed in sequential sera taken from LTNP and rapid progressors. RESULTS: Serum neutralization titres found in individual sera differed from one HIV-1 isolate to another, were detected in 49-76% of LTNP, without correlation with the coreceptor usage of the isolate, and were positively associated with CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts (P = 0.0041) and T-cell function (P = 0.04). No correlation was found between NAb and the level of viral RNA in serum or the rate of CD4+ T-cell decline. Longitudinal analysis of sera from LTNP and rapid progressors showed that although several subjects in both groups had neutralizing activity at seroconversion, it thereafter became lower or no longer detectable. NAb were again found 1-4 years later and stably persisted in LTNP, but remained undetectable or at low levels in rapid progressors. CONCLUSIONS: NAb were preferentially found in subjects with relatively preserved T-cell function and CD4+ T-cell numbers. In these individuals, neutralizing activity against heterologous isolates increased with time. These data suggest that the capacity to produce broadly NAb is a function of the integrity of the immune system.

CD4 Lymphocyte Count↗

PubMed1989

Cell count and ratio of helper/inducer to suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis.

The cell count and the helper/inducer to suppressor/cytotoxic T-cell ratio (T4:T8) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were compared in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases. The T4:T8 ratio was higher in patients with MS than in patients with other neurological diseases. A low or normal CSF cell count was associated with a more significant increase in the T4:T8 ratio in patients with MS. These findings imply that the increased T4:T8 ratio found in MS is masked by an inflammatory pleocytosis or that the shift appears only when pleocytosis is absent.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

CD4 cell counts in adults with newly diagnosed HIV infection in Barbados.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the absolute CD4 cell counts of all the newly diagnosed HIV-infected persons who presented at the Ladymeade Reference Unit (LRU), which serves as the national HIV/AIDS referral and treatment center for the country of Barbados. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study group was comprised of HIV-infected adults who had been diagnosed with HIV infection and referred to the LRU between January and December 2002. All the patients referred to the LRU had a CD4 cell count done at their first visit to the unit, as part of the routine workup to assess their disease status and need for antiretroviral therapy. RESULTS: Of the 106 newly diagnosed adults, 62 of them (58.5%) were males, who had a median age at presentation of 40 years; the other 44 of them (41.5%) were females, and their median age at presentation was 36 years. Nearly one-fifth (18.2%) of the females were aged 16-25 years, whereas only 8.1% of the males were in this age group. The majority (57.6%) of the study group were diagnosed because they presented with an HIV/AIDS-related illness. Overall, the median CD4 cell count at the time of diagnosis was 183/microL; 52 of 103 adults (50.5%) with a newly diagnosed HIV infection had a CD4 cell count that was < 200. Among males, the median CD4 cell count was 161/microL, and 32 (53.3%) of 60 males had CD4 cell counts < 200. In contrast, among females, the median CD4 cell count was 223, and 20 (46.5%) of 43 females had a CD4 cell count that was < 200/microL. However, this difference in the proportion of males and females with a CD4 cell count less than 200/microL was not statistically significant (P = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: At the time of HIV diagnosis, over one-half of the adults had an initial CD4 cell count that was consistent with relatively advanced disease. Proportionally more women than men presented at a younger age, and proportionally more women than men presented in the early stages of the disease. These patterns indicate a clear need for enhanced educational efforts regarding the importance of HIV testing for at-risk individuals across Barbados. This testing could improve efforts to reduce transmission as well as the prognosis for patients who receive antiretroviral therapy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1992

Prognostic value of S-phase white blood cell count in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Eighty previously untreated patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were analyzed to study the proliferation rate of their peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes to determine its relationship with the extension of the disease and its value in discriminating among patients with similar tumor cell mass. The 80 B-CLL patients were distributed into two different groups according to the absolute count of PB S-phase leukocytes: a low proliferative group (less than 1 x 10(9)/I) of 48 patients and a high proliferative group (greater than or equal to 1 x 10(9)/I) of 32 patients. The high proliferative group displayed a higher incidence of splenomegaly (p less than 0.005), hepatomegaly (p less than 0.08), anemia (p less than 0.02) and thrombocytopenia (p less than 0.03) as well as a higher lymphocytic infiltration both in PB (p less than 0.0004) and in bone marrow (BM) (p less than 0.003). These patients also showed a higher incidence of a diffuse pattern of BM involvement (p less than 0.04), advanced clinical stages [stage III/IV (p less than 0.03) and group C (p less than 0.04)] and infections (p less than 0.0008) together with significantly lower IgG (p less than 0.03) and IgM (p less than 0.03) serum levels. Regarding the immunophenotype, there was a greater percentage of either CD19+ (p less than 0.06) and CD19+ CD5+ (p less than 0.05) B-cells, together with a greater reactivity for both the CD25 (p less than 0.04) and CD9 (p less than 0.08) antigens in the high proliferative group. According to the prognostic value of the PB S-phase leukocyte count it was seen that patients with low S-phase white blood cell (WBC) numbers displayed a significantly higher survival (p less than 0.03). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that the S-phase WBC count, although partially related to other clinical and biological prognostic factors, displayed an important independent value in predicting early deaths in patients with B-CLL.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Effect of saliva contamination on induced sputum cell counts, IL-8 and eosinophil cationic protein levels.

Excessive salivary contamination of induced sputum samples prevents the satisfactory examination of lower airway inflammation. The effects of salivary contamination on different sputum fluid phase measures and the levels of salivary contamination preventing analysis are not defined. The present study sought to examine this by investigating the effect of increasing salivary contamination on induced sputum samples. Sputum and saliva samples from subjects with asthma and healthy controls were collected, and treated with dithiothreitol (DTT). Saliva was then added to aliquots of dispersed sputum in increasing proportions (0% to 100%). The effect of increasing saliva contamination was assessed on sputum total cell count, viability, differential cell count and fluid phase levels of interleukin (IL)-8, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and total protein. The addition of saliva to induced sputum reduced total cell counts and absolute cell counts but did not change the differential cell count. Levels of fluid phase ECP and IL-8 were significantly reduced with increased salivary contamination. There was a progressive reduction in ECP and IL-8, which reached significance at 70% and 80% saliva contamination, respectively. IL-8 levels corrected for total protein showed no change with increasing saliva concentrations. Induced sputum differential cell counts expressed as the proportion of nonsquamous cells are robust measures that are not influenced by salivary contamination. Studies reporting total and absolute cell counts and fluid phase mediator levels require control for squamous contamination.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Prognostic indicators for AIDS and infectious disease death in HIV-infected injection drug users: plasma viral load and CD4+ cell count.

CONTEXT: Plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral load and CD4+ cell count are used to predict prognosis of persons infected with HIV. However, whether combining these markers improves prognostic accuracy and whether they predict prognosis for injection drug users (IDUs) and nonwhite persons infected with HIV has not been extensively investigated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate plasma viral load and CD4+ cell count as prognostic indicators for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and infectious disease deaths. DESIGN: Cohort study initiated in 1988 and 1989 with follow-up for up to 7.9 years. PARTICIPANTS: Injection drug users infected with HIV recruited from the community in Baltimore, Md. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma HIV-1 RNA and CD4+ cell count measured at baseline compared with time to first clinical AIDS diagnosis and death due to an infectious disease. RESULTS: Of 522 subjects, 96% were African American, 80% were male, 96% injected drugs within the past 6 months, and the median age was 33 years. A total of 146 cases of AIDS and 119 infectious disease deaths were seen during a median follow-up period of 6.4 years. Time-fixed baseline levels of viral load and CD4+ cell count were independent predictors of progression to AIDS and infectious disease deaths, but in proportional hazards models, viral load had better predictive value than CD4+ cell count. Kaplan-Meier analysis of time to AIDS and to infectious disease deaths by viral load (<500, 500-9999, 10000-29 999, > or =30000 copies/mL) at 3 levels of CD4+ cell count (<0.20, 0.20-0.49, and > or =0.50x10(9)/L [<200,200-499, and > or =500/microL]) was reduced to a 5-stage classification scheme using a backward stepwise regression procedure. The 5-year cumulative probabilities for AIDS and infectious disease deaths ranged from 0% and 0%, respectively, for group I (viral load, <500 copies/mL; CD4+ cell count, 0.50x10(9)/L) to 81.2% and 76.1% respectively, for group V (viral load, > or =10000 copies/mL; CD4+ cell count, 0.20x10(9)/L). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, plasma HIV-1 viral load independently and in combination with CD4+ cell count measurements provided powerful prognostic information for progression to AIDS and death caused by infectious disease in a population of predominantly African American IDUs. Combining categories of both markers provided a simple method for prognostically staging HIV disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed1986

Epidemiologic considerations in reporting herd somatic cell counts.

The reporting of herd summaries of individual cow somatic cell counts differs between the nine Dairy Records Processing Centers. The objectives of this paper are to review the present reporting; to compare the methods used to calculate herd somatic cell counts; and to discuss the epidemiologic implications of these methods. Estimates of central tendency and frequency distributions are the most commonly used herd summary statistics for somatic cell counts. Analyses of the frequency distributions are less widely available. Potential uses of herd somatic cell counts are to measure one aspect of herd milk quality; to estimate the prevalence of mastitis; to analyze mastitis patterns within the herd; and to investigate new areas for mastitis control research. Presently, the best available methods for these applications appear to be bulk tank somatic cell counts or weighted arithmetic means for gauging milk quality; frequency distributions for estimating mastitis prevalence; analyses of frequency distributions of mean linear score by lactation and stage of lactation for identifying mastitis patterns within a herd; and frequency distributions or estimated incidence rates, adjusted for differences in age and stage of lactation, for investigating new areas for mastitis control research.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed2006

Relationship between antiretrovirals used as part of a cART regimen and CD4 cell count increases in patients with suppressed viremia.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown if the CD4 cell count response differs according to antiretroviral drugs used in combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in patients with maximal virological suppression [viral load (VL) < 50 copies/ml]. OBJECTIVES: To compare the change in CD4 cell count over consecutive measurements with VL < 50 copies/ml at both time-points according to nucleoside backbones and other antiretrovirals used. METHODS: Generalized linear models, accounting for multiple measurements within patients, were used to compare CD4 cell count changes after adjustment for antiretrovirals, time from starting cART, age, CD4 at first VL < 50 copies/ml, prior antiretroviral treatment, and change in CD4 cell count since starting cART. RESULTS: We studied 28418 instances of VL < 50 copies/ml in 4041 patients. The mean annual change in CD4 cell count was +45.5/microl [95% confidence interval (CI) +39.4 to +51.6/microl). Comparing two drug nucleoside backbones, there was a lower annual change in CD4 cell count for zidovudine/lamivudine (n = 13038; -15.4/microl; P = 0.012) and for those on tenofovir (n = 1809; -27.3/microl; P = 0.029) compared to lamivudine/stavudine (n = 7339). Compared to the boosted-protease inhibitor regimen (n = 5915), use of an abacavir-based triple-nucleoside regimen was associated with a lower annual change in CD4 cell count (n = 2504 pairs; -26.1/microl; P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: A nucleoside backbone of zidovudine/lamivudine or any tenofovir-based backbone was associated with significantly poorer increases in CD4 cell count compared to a nucleoside backbone of stavudine/lamivudine, as was an abacavir-based triple nucleoside regimen compared to a boosted protease inhibitor regimen. Long-term studies are needed to determine whether the differences in immunological response seen here translate into differences in the risk of clinical disease.

Adenine↗

PubMed1997

CD4 cell counts in human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients with tuberculosis.

We evaluated 85 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients with tuberculosis for clinical features and CD4 cell counts. Thirty-seven patients had low CD4 cell counts (mean +/- SD, 341 +/- 116 cells/microL), and 48 patients had normal CD4 cell counts (mean +/- SD, 830 +/- 254 cells/microL). CD4 cell counts were most strongly correlated with total lymphocyte counts (r = 0.84). If total lymphocyte count was excluded, depressed CD4 cell counts were significantly associated with low serum albumin levels, extensive pulmonary disease, low body-mass index, and low hematocrit. Of these four variables, multivariate linear discriminant analysis revealed that the serum albumin level was the best single predictor of low CD4 cell counts and that the other three variables did not improve predictive value. Because these four variables are markers of severe tuberculosis, these findings suggest that disease severity is associated with greater depression of the total lymphocyte and CD4 cell counts. The CD4 cell counts returned to normal levels in most patients after 1 month of therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

Effect of stress on blood leucocyte and milk somatic cell counts in dairy cows.

Blood and milk samples from Holstein cows were examined for total blood leucocyte count, differential blood leucocyte count, milk quality test, and somatic cell count in milk while the cows were stressed by corticotropin injection, confinement in a heat-humidity chamber, or environmental-heat stress by exposure during the hot summer months of June through November in southern Arizona. All three stressing conditions resulted in a moderate blood leucocytosis. Modest increases in somatic cell counts of milk were associated with corticotropin injection and environmental-heat stress. Positive correlations were recorded between blood leucocytes and somatic cell counts of milk in mastitis-free cows injected with corticotropin and between percent blood neutrophils and somatic cell counts of milk in environmental-heat stressed cows with no evidence of current mastitis.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed1987

[Milk cell count as a selection criterion in breeding dairy cattle with improved resistance to mastitis].

The cell counts in the milk of female progeny of thirty-one bulls of the Meuse-Rhine-IJssel breed were determined in three breeding areas in the Netherlands, viz., in the provinces of Overijssel, Gelderland and North Brabant. The individual cell counts of the milk of 1,741 females in their first lactations were determined in study I. Eleven bulls, the female progeny of which showed high or low average cell counts in the milk, were selected on the basis of these results. The quarter milk of older females sired by these eleven bulls was studied (bacteriological examination and determination of cell counts). Females in their first and second lactations were examined in study II. This was done in 1,071 females sired by ten of the initially selected eleven bulls. The heritability of the cell counts in the milk of the females sired by thirty-one bulls, which cows were in their first lactations, was 0.081. On the basis of geometric means of the cell counts in the milk of the females in their first lactations, the rank order of the bulls which had sired them corresponded inadequately with that of half-sibs in their third and fourth lactations. In study II, the similarity in rank order of these two age groups was much better: groups of female progeny averaging low cell counts and percentages in their first lactations corresponded with low cell count averages and percentages of quarters of older half-sib progeny in their third and fourth lactations, which quarters were found to be positive on bacteriological examination. There were some differences in rank order.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗