DIAGNOSIS OF SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN IRAQI DAIRY CATTLE

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Dept. of Hygiene and Food Control, Faculty of Vet. Med. Cairo University

Abstract

A total of 559 individual milk samp < /strong>les from clinically normal quarters of dairy cows, were examined bacteriologically as well as by using 6 screening tests: pH, chloride, catalase, DMSCC, MWT and CMT, fo detection of subclini cal mastitis. The bacteriological findings reveal that 25.40% of examined samp < /strong>les p < /strong>roved to be mastitic. Str. agalactia and Staph. aureus were the most prevalent infective agents, while Str, dysaga lactia, Ps. Aeruginosa, E. coli, Str. uberis and C. pyogenes could be isolated in a descen ding manner. The highest percent of accuracy with the bac teriological results was obtained by MWT (95.7%), CMT (93.9), chloride test (93.6%) and DMSCC (91.8%). DMSCC, MWT and CMT can be considered more re liable tests for diagnosis of mastitis than pH, catalase and chloride test due to the high percentage of false negative results obtained with the later tests. Preventive peractices and hygienic measures for mastitis control should be highly recomm ended.