Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Published:

The Relationship Between the California Mastitis Test, Whiteside Test, Brabant Mastitis Reaction, Catalase Test, and Direct Cell Counting of Milk

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 10, pages 146–167 (1969)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the relationship between the reactions obtained by indirect methods of testing milk samples and the cell content, determined by direct cell counting after Prescott & Breed (1910). The indirect tests used were the California Mastitis Test (CMT), Whiteside Test (WsT), Brabant Mastitis Reaction (BMR), and the Catalase Test (CT).

The results of the investigations are summarized below.

Samples with cell values lying within fixed limits do not neces¬sarily conform to particular indirect test reactions.

All four indirect tests have wide ranges of variation of cell level within a given reaction with considerable overlapping between reac¬tions.

The standard deviation for cell levels within a given reaction is large, although this can be partly explained by the fact that the cell values are estimated rather than real. Correction for this produces only an insignificant decrease, however.

The coefficient of correlation is a little higher for the correlation CMT—CC than for the other indirect tests and CC.

When sample groups with different mean cell levels (calculated from the whole material) are compared, the variation ranges (dif¬ference between the largest and the smallest observation) and standard deviations arc generally the same for the different CMT reactions. However, the mean cell values, for different reactions lie at higher levels when the mean cell content of the whole material is higher. Similarly they are lower when the mean of the whole material is lower. This is, however, not true for 0 reactions.

The mean cell values for CMT 4- and for 4- 4- reactions varied considerably in different herds.

It was not considered acceptable, for any of the four indirect tests, to substitute reactions by average cell values, either to determine the mean cell value or to decide whether a sample is inacceptable, if this means that the sample has a cell content above a certain value.

Negative and 4- reactions for CMT and WsT could possibly be replaced by a mean cell level, since the range of variation is not so wide here and the majority of samples giving these reactions contain less than 3xl05 cells per ml.

The possibility exists of combining indirect tests and direct cell counting to examine milk samples, so that samples with low reactions could be passed, while those with higher reactions would be examined by cell counting.

The indirect tests differentiate milk at different cell levels. The possibility of using a particular indirect test depends on the cell level to be examined and on the degree of accuracy required.

References

  • Andersen, F.: Undersøgelser over Whitesideprøvens anvendelighed i mælkekontrollen. (Studies of the applicability of the Whiteside Test on milk samples). Nord. Vet.-Med. 1957, 9, 191–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Astermark, S.: Studies in direct cell counting in herd bulk milk. Nord. Vet.-Med. 1969, 21, 23–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Astermark, S., H. Funke & G. Nilsson: 1969. In press.

  • Baier, W.: Der Schalm-Mastitis-Test in der planmässigen Euterkon-trolle. (The Schalm Mastitis Test in organized udder health control). Wien. tierärztl. Mschr. 1964, 51, 11–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnum, D.A. & F.H.S. Newbould: The use of the California mastitis test for the detection of bovine mastitis. Canad. vet. J. 1961, 2, 83–90.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, E.J. & O.W. Schalm: Effect of deoxyribonuclease on the California test for mastitis. J. Dairy Sci. 1962, 45, 1094–1097.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel, B.C.W., G.C. Smith & D.A. Barnum: The relationship of California mastitis test (C.M.T.) scores with leucocyte counts on bucket milk samples. Canad. vet. J. 1966, 7, 80–83.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dédié, Κ. & G. Kielwein: Alkylarylverbindungen ais Reagens zur Er-mittlung von Sekretionsstörungen des Euters beim Rind. (Al-kylaryl compounds as reagents in the detection of bovine udder affections). Rindertuberkulose 1960, 9, 19–27, 35–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, W.J. & F.J. Massey: Introduction to Statistical Analysis, 2nd Ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co. New York, Toronto and London 1957, p. 296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, H.O., J.M. Murphy & O.F. Garrett: Nature of the material in milk responsible for the modified Whiteside test for mastitis. J. Dairy Sci. 1943, 26, 295–303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Easterday, B.C, J. Simon & B.P. Hanson: The use of the modified Whiteside test as a screen test for bovine mastitis. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass. 1958, 133, 470–473.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Egli, Β.: Nachweis euterkranker Milch aus Lieferantenproben. (Detection of mastitis in producer milk samples). Inaugural-Diss., Bern, Schaffhausen 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewbank, B.: An evaluation of the California mastitis test and the Negretti field test as indicators of subclinical bovine mastitis. Vet. Ree. 1962, 74, 1017–1020.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gram, H.J. & J.O. Marker: Celletællingens og teepolprøvens værdi til påvisning af abnormt sekret i leverandørmaelk. (Evaluation of cell counts and teepoltests as means of demonstrating abnormal secretion in producer’s milk). Nord. Vet.-Med. 1959, 11, 681–708.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gratz, O.W. & A. Naray: 1912, as cited by Monlux, A. W.: 1948.

  • Jaartsveld, F.H.J.: Bijdrage tot de diagnostiek van mastitis bij run-deren in het kader van een georganiseerde bestrijding. (Contribution to the diagnosis of bovine mastitis within the scope of an organized eradication). Proefschrift, Breukelen, Utrecht 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaartsveld, F.H.J.: Execution and value of the B.M.R. (Brabant Mastitis Reaction) with an organized mastitis control. T. Dierge-neesk. 1962, 87, 1069–1077.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, P.T.: Undersøgelser over Whiteside-prøven og C.M.T.-prøven til påvisning af mastitissekret i leverandørmælk. (Investigations into the Whiteside-test and the C.M.T.-test for the detection of pathological secretions in herd milk samples). Nord. Vet.-Med. 1957, 9, 590–608.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, H.H. J. Thomas: Erfahrungen mit dem Schalm-Mastitis-Test. (Report on the Schalm-Mastitis-Test). Beri. Münch. tieràrztl. Wschr. 1962, 75, 44–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koning, C.J.: 1908, as cited by Monlux, A. W.: 1948.

  • Kästli, P.: Schnellmethoden zum Nachweis euterkranker Milch. (Rapid methods to detect anomalies of milk (mastitis milk)). Schweiz. Milchztg. 1963, 89, 693–700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leidl, W. & O.W. Schalm: Die Anwendung des Schalm-Mastitis-Testes (SMT) bei Sammelmilch zur Bestimmung minderwertiger Milch, bedingt durch hohen Zellgehalt. (The application of Schalm Mastitis Test to bulk milk for the determination of low quality milk due to high cell count). Tierärztl. Umsch. 1961, 16, 219–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leidl, W., O.W. Schalm, A. Krieger & H. Lagemann: Vergleich des Schalm-Mastitis-Testes mit dem Zellgehalt, der Katalase-Thy-bromol-Probe und dem Chlorgehalt in der Milch. (Comparison of Schalm-Mastitis-Test with the cell count, Catalase-Thybromol-Test, and the chloride content of the milk). Beri. Münch. tierärztl. Wschr. 1961, 74, 382–384.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Little, R.Β. & W.Ν. Plastridge: Bovine Mastitis. McGraw-Hill Co., New York and London 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loew, O., 1901, as cited by Monlux, A. W.: 1948.

  • McKenzie, D.A. & E. Cameron-Mackintosh: A simple test for the detection of subclinical mastitis using the surface active agent teepol. J. Soc. Dairy Technol. 1958, 11, 178–180.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D.D. & J.V. Kearns: Effectiveness of the California mastitis test as a measurement of the leucocyte content of quarter samples of milk. J. Dairy Sci. 1967, 50, 683–686.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monlux, A.W.: The catalase test in the diagnosis of infectious bovine mastitis. Cornell Vet. 1948, 38, 389–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, J.M. & J.J. Hanson: A modified Whiteside test for the detection of chronic bovine mastitis. Cornell Vet. 1941, 31, 47–55.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson, G.: Personal communication, 1964.

  • Obiger, G.: Der Wert des Whiteside-Testes im Rahmen der Mastitis-Diagnose. (The value of the Whiteside test in the diagnosis of mastitis). Beri. Münch. tierärztl. Wschr. 1957, 70, 290–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obinger, G.: Warum ist der Schalm-Test kein zuverlässiges Mastitis-Diagnostikum? Versuch einer Deutung seines Wirkungsmecha-nismus. (Why is the Schalm Test not a reliable diagnostic method for mastitis? An attempt to illustrate its mechanism). Arch. Lebensmitt.-Hyg. 1961, 12, 226–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, E.: Nogle undersøgelser over „Whiteside-Prøven“ med sær-ligt henblik på dens anvendelse i den praktiske maelkekontrol. (Studies on the “Whiteside Test” with special reference to its employment in practical milk control). Nord. Vet.-Med. 1952, 4, 225–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, W.E., J.F. Grimmell & L.A. Schipper: Factors involved in the Whiteside reaction. J. Dairy Sci. 1950, 33, 384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Postle, D.S. & H. Blobel: Studies of bulk milk screening procedures for mastitis. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1965, 26, 90–96.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prescott, S.C. & R.S. Breed: The determination of the number of body cells in milk by a direct method. J. infect. Dis. 1910, 7, 632–640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prouty, C.C: A comparison of the leucocyte count, the brom thymol blue reaction and the catalase content of freshly drawn milk. J. Dairy Sci. 1934, 17, 75–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van der Schaaf, A., F.H.J. Jaartsveld & A. Kramer-Zeeuw: Influence of pH and temperature on the Brabant mastitis reaction (B.M. R.). J. comp. Path. 1964, 74, 255–262.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schalm, O.W. & D.O. Noorlander: Experiments and observations leading to development of the California mastitis test. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass. 1957, 130, 199–204.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schultze, W.D. & J.W. Smith: The cellular content of cows milk. II. Comparison of the CMT and microscopic count for estimating cell concentrations in quarter samples. J. Milk Food Technol. 1966, 29, 126–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J.W. & W.D. Schultze: The cellular content of cows milk. I. An evaluation of the California mastitis test as a method of estimating the number of cells in milk. J. Milk Food Technol. 1966, 29, 84–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, G.R. & J. Simon: The catalase, California, and cell count tests for detecting abnormalities in milk. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1960, 21, 578–584.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strozzi, F. & F. Νegretti: Valore e limiti della prova di Whiteside nell’esame citologico del latte. (The value and limits of the Whiteside test in the cytological examination of milk). Arch. vet. ital. 1959, 10, 311–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thörne, H.: Ein automatischer Apparat in der Mastitisdiagnostik. (An automatic apparatus for use in mastitis diagnosis). Beri. Münch. tierärztl. Wschr. 1962, 75, 47–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside, W.H.: Observations on a new test for the presence of mastitis in milk. Canad. pubi. Hlth J. 1939, 30, 44.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Veterinary College, Stockholm, and Veterinary Medical Laboratory, Örebro, Sweden

    S. Astermark, H. Funke & I. Engan-Skei

Authors
  1. S. Astermark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Funke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Engan-Skei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Astermark, S., Funke, H. & Engan-Skei, I. The Relationship Between the California Mastitis Test, Whiteside Test, Brabant Mastitis Reaction, Catalase Test, and Direct Cell Counting of Milk. Acta Vet Scand 10, 146–167 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548286

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548286

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147