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The detection of subclinical mastitis in the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) by somatic cell count and California mastitis test

  • Bacteriology
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Abstract

Milk samples (n=160) from 7 clinically healthy bactrian camels were cultured to detect subclinical udder infection. The samples were assessed by the Californian mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). Bacteria were recovered from 36 (22.5%) of the milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the main organisms found.

Infected quarters had significantly higher mean values for the SCC (p<0.01) and CMT (p<0.001) than non-infected quarters. All 7 camels were infected with CNS but only 4 with S. aureus. CMT values for S. aureus-infected camels were significantly higher than for those only infected with CNS. The values for SCC and CMT were significantly influenced by the stage of lactation (p<0.05). No significant difference was found from the effect of the quarters. Both SCC and CMT were of value in predicting the infection status of the udder.

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Abbreviations

CMT:

California mastitis test

SCC:

somatic cell count

CNS:

coagulase-negative staphylococci

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7039, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    O. A. Sh. Abdurahman

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  1. O. A. Sh. Abdurahman
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Abdurahman, O.A.S. The detection of subclinical mastitis in the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) by somatic cell count and California mastitis test. Veterinary Research Communications 20, 9–14 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346570

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346570

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