Camels and Camelids

ESTIMATION OF SOMATIC CELL COUNT, AS GOLD STANDARD TO DETECT SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS, IN DROMEDARY CAMEL

Journal Edition: June 2016
Article DOI: 10.5958/2277-8934.2016.00033.3
Published On: 03-09-2018 19:05

A. Niasari-Naslaji1, H. Pezeshk2, A.B. Atakpour1, S. Ghaffari1, P. Nickchi2, S. Safi3, S.H. Shirazi-Beheshtiha4,H. Arabha1, R. Samiei5, M. Amjadi6, A.A. Haji Moradlou5, I. Narimani7 and A.A. Moosavi-Movahedi8
1Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, 8Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3Department of Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Specialised Veterinary Sciences, Science and
Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
5Pegah Milk Company, Golestan, Iran, 6International Dairy Federation, Tehran, Iran
7Centre for Animal Breeding, Ministry of Jahad-e-Agriculture

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study was to estimate cut-off point of somatic cell count (SCC) to detect subclinical mastitis using mathematical modelling in dromedary camel. Camel milk samples were collected from individual quarters (n=243) of 95 milking camels. Approximately five minutes prior to milking, camel received oxytocin (20 I.U, IM), the teat was washed and the camel calf was released to stimulate the dam. After 2 minutes, the suckling was interrupted and the teat was dried with tissue and sampling was conducted to perform CMT, and to collect milk for SCC. The range of SCC corresponding with CMT scores of 0, T, 1, 2 and 3 were 0-51000, 57000-108000, 116000-306000, 342000-1830000 and 2129000-8435000, respectively. The threshold values for SCC to detect subclinical mastitis in camel were calculated by considering two different approaches: frequentist analysis (306000 cells/ml) and Bayesian analysis (390000 cells/ml). In conclusion, SCC values beyond 306000 cells/ml could be considered as subclinical mastitis in camel.
Key words: Dromedary camel, SCC, subclinical mastitis