Differences in severity of mastitis and the pathogens causing various oxidative product levels

Abstract

Differences in severity of mastitis and their causing pathogens might be associated with oxidative product levels occurring during the inflammatory process in infected udders. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship of oxidative product levels, using malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker on both mastitis severity and its causing pathogens. Quarter milk samples of all lactating cows in the selected farms were primarily tested for mastitis severity levels including clinical and subclinical mastitis. All quarter milk samples from mastitis cows were separately collected for MDA measurement and bacteriological analyses. Results showed that MDA in clinical mastitis quarters was highest in comparison to sub-clinical mastitis and healthy quarters. MDA in milk samples with Strep. uberis and coagulase negative staphylococci was higher than in milk samples without any pathogens (p < 0.05). In conclusion, differences in both severity of mastitis and mastitis pathogens were associated with differences of oxidative products in infected udders.