Changes in blood and milk DLC and its effect on milk composition in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) suffering from clinical mastitis.

摘要

A comparative study of differential leukocyte counts in the blood and milk of 9 Murrah buffaloes and its effect on milk composition when they influxed from blood to milk was carried out during days 1, 3 and 5 of mastitis until the animals became normal. Due to the localized infection in the mammary glands, an insignificant increase in the blood total leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage during different days of mastitis was observed. The values of milk fat, lactose, alpha -lactalbumin, beta -lactoglobulin, alpha -casein, beta -casein and potassium significantly decreased (P<0.01) in mastitic quarters, but the values of bovine serum albumin, kappa -casein, sodium and chloride significantly increased (P<0.01) due to increased leakage of milk constituents from blood into milk. The increase in Na and Cl and the decrease in K were significantly less than that reported for cows. A positive correlation was observed between the somatic cell counts and Na and Cl (P<0.01). A negative correlation of SCC with fat, lactose and K was observed. The influx percentages of neutrophils in the infected quarters on days 1, 3 and 5 of mastitis were 74, 65 and 41%, respectively. On days 3 and 5 of treatment, the values of SCC decreased in infected quarters but were still significantly higher (P<0.01) than the normal value. Percentage change in neutrophils in conjunction with SCC might provide a more reliable method of assessing the quality of milk in buffaloes. After treatment of mastitis, although the buffalo milk might appear normal, its composition did not reach its normal values and SCC remained very high (P<0.01).