Abstract:
cells count (SCC) of two successive samplings. The analysis was performed to identify the associations between SCC trend with retrospective and transversal milk quality indicators, and mastitis. From a BIOAMR database, 28 cows with a posteriori diagnosed mastitis with Staphylococcus aureus (4/28 cases were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – MRSA) were sampled. The trend of SCC was Spearman's rho correlated with previous lactose (rs = +0.785, p=0.03), pH (rs = +0.662 at p=0.019), and current SCC measurements (rs = +0.781, at p=0.000). Increasing trend of SCC was retrospectively associated with lactose content (Z = -2.152 at p = 0.031), pH (Z = -2.152 at p = 0.031) SCC at first measurement (Z = - 1.764 at p = 0.078) and currently associated with SCC (Z = -3.316 at p = 0.001), fat content (Z = -1.88 at p = 0.060) and fat/protein ratio (Z = -1.717 at p = 0.086). The 28 samples of the study did not revealed strong association between SCC trend and type of Staphylococcus aureus (p = 0.186 by Mann-Whitney test), even if MRSA had a higher increasing trend of SCC in comparison whit S. aureus (non-MRSA) infections (1403.5 vs. 288.2 thousands somatic cells). By preliminary results the trend of somatic cells could be an indicator in detection of mastitis but more case studies are necessary.
