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Relations Between Udder Infection and Somatic Cells in Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Milk

Samband mellan juverinfektion och somatiska celler i mjölk från kamel (Camelas dromedarius)

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 36, pages 423–431 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Quarter milk samples (n = 391) from 101 camels were examined to study the occurrence and causes of mastitis in traditionally managed camels in eastern Sudan and to evaluate the value of the California Mastitis Test (CMT), somatic cell count (SCC) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the detection of subclinical mastitis in the camel.

One hundred and seventy (43.5%) of the quarter milk samples yielded pathogenic bacteria. Streptococcus agalactiae, other Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, coag–ulase–negative staphylococci, and Escherichia coli were isolated from milk. Thirty–two (8.2%) quarter milk samples yielded mixed cultures, and 189 (48.3%) yielded no growth.

Mean values for CMT, SCC and ATP were higher for quarters infected with major pathogens. However, a significant number of quarter milk samples had elevated values in these tests but were from quarters from which no bacteria were isolated. The ability of the tests to predict a positive bacteriology increased slightly when 2 or 3 tests were combined. kw|Keywords|k]inflammation; k]diagnostic tests; k]Mastitis; k]CMT; k]ATP; k]bacteriology; k]Sudan

Sammanfattning

Mjölkprov från individuellajuverfjädedelar (n = 391) från 101 kameler undersöktes i syfte att studera förekomst av och orsaker till mastit hos traditionallt skötta djur i östra Sudan. Syftet var också att utvärdera olika metoder, California Mastitis Test (CMT), cell räkning (SCC) och bestämning av adenosintrifosfat (ATP) för diagnostik av subklinik mastit,

I mjölken från 170 (43.5%) juverfjärdedel ar växte patogena bakterier. Streptococcus agalactiae, andra streptokocker. Staphylococcus aureus, och Escherichia coli isolerades från mjölken. I mjölken från 32 (8,2%) fjärdedelar isolerades biandkulturer. Ingen bakterieväxt noterades i 189 (48.3%) prover.

Medelvärdet för CMT, SCC, och ATP var förhöjda i mjölk från fjärdedelar som var infekterade med utpräglat patogena bakterier (major pathogens). Ett signifikant antal prover från icke infekterade fjärdedelar hade emellertid också forhöjda värden. Möjligheten att med hjälp av dessa test förutsäga huruvida infektion föreligger ökade svagt när resultaten av 2 eller 3 test kombinerades.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the camel owners and herders for their cooperation, and to Agr. Dr. Ulf Emanuelson for help with statistical analysis. This study was supported by Swedish Agency for Research and Cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaeocology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7039, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    O.A. Sh. Abdurahman & G. Åström

  2. Camel Research Centre, Showak, Sudan

    H. Agab

  3. Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan

    B. Abbas

Authors
  1. O.A. Sh. Abdurahman
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  2. H. Agab
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  3. B. Abbas
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  4. G. Åström
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Abdurahman, O.S., Agab, H., Abbas, B. et al. Relations Between Udder Infection and Somatic Cells in Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Milk. Acta Vet Scand 36, 423–431 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547657

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147