U. Wernery, St. Fischbach, S. Kletzka, B. Johnson and Sh. Jose
Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, PO Box 597, Dubai, UAE
ABSTRACT
Somatic cell count (SCC), California Mastitis Test (CMT) and total plate count (TPC) are potent parameters to monitor the health of the camel’s mammary gland. We found a significant positive correlation between CMT and SCC in quarter camel milk samples. Samples with CMT scores of – and + had SCCs between 60,000 and 100,000 cells per ml, whereas, CMT scores of ++ and +++ revealed SCCs between 350,000 to 1,700,000 cells/ml. When 264 raw camel bulk milk samples were tested, a mean SCC of 340,000 cells/ml was found which meets the EU regulation No. 853/2004 for raw cow milk which is less than 400,000 cells/ml. The TPC of the 264 raw camel bulk milk samples with a mean of 2,300 CFU/ml was surprisingly low, and would also meet the EU regulation of less than 100,000 CFU/ml.
Moreover, CMT and SCC can undoubtedly identify infected quarters of the camel udder. It can be stated that our results show that parameters which are used to monitor the health of the bovine mammary gland can also be applied to dromedaries, and the values achieved with these parameters are very similar to parameters of bovine milk.
Key words: Camel milk, somatic cell count (SCC), california mastitis test (CMT), total plate count (TPC)
Home