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Journal of Applied Veterinary Sciences, 8 (3): 54-66 (July, 2023)
ISSN: Online: 2090-3308, Print: 1687-4072
Journal homepage : https://javs.journals.ekb.eg
Evaluation and Comparison of Four Screening Tests against Milk Culture for
Detection of Subclinical Mastitis in Lactating Cattle and Buffalo in Egypt
Ibrahim N. Alkhouly1, Abdelmoneim M. Moustafa2, Nahla A. Abou El Roos1 and Sahar A.
Kandeel2*
1Animal health Research Institute, Shibin El Koom branch, Agriculture Research center, Egypt
2Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), College of Veterinary Medicine, Benha
University, Kalyobiya, 13637, Egypt
*Corresponding Author: Sahar A. Kandeel, E-Mail: saharkandeel@fvtm.bu.edu.eg
ABSTRACT
Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is an asymptomatic worldwide udder infection that
results in substantial losses to the dairy industry. Our main objective was to
evaluate and compare the clinical performance of 4 commercially available
screening tests for diagnosing SCM. Foremilk samples were collected from 428
quarters of 107 apparently healthy lactating cows and buffaloes from El-Menofia
governorate from 2020 to 2022. Quarter somatic cell count (SCC) was estimated
using the FOSS-BacSomatic® counter and the California Mastitis Test (CMT),
with SCM defined as SCC > 200,000 cells/mL. Milk pH was measured cow-side
using an AD11®pH-meter and BOVIVET® indicator paper. Bacterial cultures of
foremilk samples were used to diagnose SCM as a reference method based on the
isolation of the causative pathogens. The tests’ performance was evaluated by
calculating test sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), and accuracy at the optimal-cut-
point for each test. FOSS-BacSomatic® counter was the best-performing test for
diagnosing SCM (Se = 0.967, Sp = 0.943, accuracy = 0.957) at an optimal-cut-
point of >200,000 cells/mL. For comparison, CMT is the second best-performing
test at an optimal-cut-point of a non-negative score (Se = 0.892, Sp = 0.878,
accuracy = 0.887). The test performance of the AD11® pH-meter and BOVIVET®
indicator paper was fair, however, the AD11® pH-meter performed better than the
BOVIVET® indicator paper with Se = 0.807, Sp = 0.845, and accuracy = 0.822.
We concluded that the FOSS-BacSomatic® counter and CMT are considered
good tests for diagnosing SCM. On the other hand, milk pH doesn’t provide a
clinically useful method for diagnosing SCM. However, based on cost,
availability and analysis time, there doesn't seem to be a persuasive reason to
select the FOSS-BacSomatic® counter over the traditional CMT to diagnose
SCM. |
