Early diagnostic methods for latent mastitis in lactating cows

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast caused in most cases by a bacterial infection of the udder. The clinical form of mastitis can be detected during milking by examining the first trickles of milk in a dish with a dark bottom and palpation of the udder, with inflammation of which painfulness occurs. It is more difficult to diagnose the latent form of mastitis. The methods of diagnosis of latent (subclinical) mastitis can be divided into biological, bacteriological and pathological. For practical research, fast, simple methods, suitable for mass surveys of cow populations and easily feasible in production conditions, are important The aim of the work was to determine the extent of mastitis spread in the farm using express methods at an early stage of development and their reliability. The object of the study was lactating cows of the Holstein breed at 3-5 lactation, the material was the secret of the mammary gland. The cows were examined during milking using Healthmate LDH Milk test strips to detect the level of lactate dehydrogenase enzyme in milk, and a diagnostic lactic test using a milk plate. The number of somatic cells was determined using the Ekomilk Scan device. As a result of a study using Healthmate LDH Milk test strips, it was found that its color did not change in the milk of eight cows. The color of the test strip, while checking milk taken from the left hind quarter of two cows, changed to pale purple, which indicates an increase in the level of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. The studies with a diagnostic lactic test gave a negative reaction in eight cows and two cows in three quarters of the udder, except for the left rear ones. In milk from these quarters, the reaction was questionable. The content of somatic cells in the milk of eight cows was 1,2±0,25×105 in 1 cm3, in two cows from the quarters that gave a negative reaction according to express methods 1,3±0,35×105, from the left rear it was 2,3±0,36× 105 in 1 cm3.