The mastitis effect on somatic cells counting (SCC) in Bergamacia breed ewes.

Abstract

Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary gland, mainly of infectious origin, characterized for physical-chemical and microbiological alterations of the milk and pathological of mammary gland tissue. In this study milk samples (n=241) of Bergamacia breed ewes were analyzed, during eight weeks of lactation, to see subclinical mastitis response through California Mastitis Test (CMT) and microbiological culture, in the Somatic Cells Counting (SCC) proceeded in electronic equipment. Milk samples obtained of healthy mammary glands showed average values corresponding to 36,285 cells/mL and milk samples reactive to CMT represented by +, 2+, or 3+, according to inflammation degree, average values equivalents to 70,600 cells/mL, 288,714 cells/mL, and 653,285 cells/mL, respectively. Regardless to inflammation score, positive response to CMT milk samples showed average values at about 267,579 cells/mL in microorganisms absence and 489,400 cells/mL when associated to microbial isolation, i.e., in mammary infection conditions. The microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus spp. (59.46%) Streptococcus spp. (16.22%), Bacillus spp. (16.22%), Corynebacterium spp. (5.40%), and Serratia spp. (2.7%). Through CMT results and bacterial culture a significative effect (P<0.0001) of inflammation and mammary infection in SCC was observed. Therefore, it can conclude that the increase of milk somatic cells was related with the results of the CMT as well as with the presence of isolated microorganisms that reinforce the importance of these tests as complementary methods in the diagnosis of mastitis in flock ewes.