Evaluation of Field Techniques to Diagnose Early Subclinical Mastitis in Relation to Hygiene Score in a Buffalo Farm

Saber, Alyaa; Hassan, Marwa; El Nabtiti, Adel; Hassan, Ahmed; Mansour, Samira

doi:10.21608/cat.2017.14274

Evaluation of Field Techniques to Diagnose Early Subclinical Mastitis in Relation to Hygiene Score in a Buffalo Farm

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

² Department of Animal Hygiene, Zoonoses and Behaviour, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt

³ Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt

10.21608/cat.2017.14274

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate several diagnostic tests that could be used in early detection of subclinical mastitis in apparently healthy dairy buffaloes in a dairy farm, Ismailia, Egypt, in correlation to their hygienic status. In parallel, bacteriological examination of milk samples was carried out as a standard golden test. Recorded data showed that hygiene score was significantly influenced by seasonal variations at different sampling periods. California Mastitis Test (CMT) and electric conductivity (EC) measurements also displayed a significant variation between healthy buffaloes and those have subclinical mastitis along the year at different seasons. A significant correlation (r=0.752) between CMT and EC measurements was verified and both tests showed the same prevalence of detecting subclinical mastitis among investigated samples. Bacteriological examination of milk samples was significantly different at sampling periods and was significantly correlated with EC measurements. A mixed infection of buffalo's udder was reported where Enterobacter spp. and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) were the most common bacteria isolated from milk samples. Depending on the data obtained, the indirect screening tests such as CMT and EC could be used as reliable tests to monitor the udder health and the hygienic status in general. These ensure, on the spot, the high raw milk quality in the buffalo’s farm. Therefore, this study suggests using these simple and fast tests for the early detection of the subclinical mastitis in lactating buffaloes.

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