Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:51:48.175Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Relationship between the level of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) in bovine milk and the presence of mastitis pathogens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

Barry J. Kitchen
Affiliation:
Otto Madsen Dairy Research Laboratory, Department of Primary Industries, Hamilton, Brisbane 4007, Australia
W. Seng Kwee
Affiliation:
Otto Madsen Dairy Research Laboratory, Department of Primary Industries, Hamilton, Brisbane 4007, Australia
Gordon Middleton
Affiliation:
Otto Madsen Dairy Research Laboratory, Department of Primary Industries, Hamilton, Brisbane 4007, Australia
R. Jeffrey Andrews
Affiliation:
Otto Madsen Dairy Research Laboratory, Department of Primary Industries, Hamilton, Brisbane 4007, Australia

Summary

Changes in the level of the tissue damage marker enzyme, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) in quarter fore milks were found to be related to the presence and types of pathogenic bacteria present and to somatic cell counts (SCC). Minor pathogens (coagulase-negative staphylococci, Corynebacterium bovis) elicited a mild SCC increase (from a mean of 243 × 103/ml in healthy quarters to 504 × 103/ml in infected quarters) with marginal tissue damage (mean NAGase activity increased from 21 in healthy quarters to 28 in infected quarters). Major pathogens (i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Str. dysgalactiae and Str. uberis) caused more severe tissue damage (mean NAGase of 48) and SCC increases (mean, 2803 × 103/ml). The NAGase test could also be used effectively on composite milk samples where regular monthly NAGase analysis was able to identify correctly 74% of animals having infected quarters. The possibility of combining SCC and NAGase data in order to give a more definite diagnosis of bovine mastitis is discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Andrews, R. J., Kitchen, B. J., Kwee, W. S. & Duncalfe, F. 1983 Relationship between individual cow somatic cell counts and the mastitis infection status of the udder. Australian Journal of Dairy Technology, 38 7174.Google Scholar
Bramley, A. J. 1975 Infection of the udder with coagulase negative micrococci and Corynebacterium bovis. International Dairy Federation Annual Bulletin, Document 85 377381Google Scholar
Brown, R. W., Morse, G. E., Newbould, F. H. S. & Slanetz, L. W. 1969 Microbiological procedures for the diagnosis of bovine mastitis. Washington, DC: National Mastitis CouncilGoogle Scholar
Cullen, G. A. 1967 Short term variation in the cell count of cow's milk. Veterinary Record 80 649653CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frost, A. J., Hill, A. W. & Brooker, B. E. 1980 The early pathogenesis of bovine mastitis due to Escherichia coli. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London B 209 431439Google ScholarPubMed
Giesecke, W. H. 1975 The definition of bovine mastitis and the diagnosis of its subclinical types during normal lactation. International Dairy Federation Annual Bulletin, Document 85 6270Google Scholar
Hill, A. W. 1981 Factors influencing the outcome of Escherichia coli mastitis in the dairy cow. Research in Veterinary Science 31 107112CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kitchen, B. J. 1976 Enzymic methods for estimation of the somatic cell count in bovine milk. I. Development of assay techniques and a study of their usefulness in evaluating the somatic cell content of milk. Journal of Dairy Research 43 251258CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kitchen, B. J. & Middleton, G. 1976 Enzymic methods for estimation of the somatic cell count in bovine milk. II. N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase test for routine estimation of the somatic cell count in milk. Journal of Dairy Research 43 491494CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kitchen, B. J., Middleton, G. & Salmon, M. 1978 Bovine milk N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase and its significance in the detection of abnormal udder secretions. Journal of Dairy Research 45 1520CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kitchen, B. J., Middleton, G., Durward, I. G., Andrews, R. J. & Salmon, M. C. 1980 Mastitis diagnostic tests to estimate mammary gland epithelial cell damage. Journal of Dairy Science 63 978983CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Neave, F. K. 1975 Diagnosis of mastitis by bacteriological methods alone. International Dairy Federation Annual Bulletin, Document 85 1936Google Scholar
Schalm, O. W., Carroll, E. J. & Jain, N. C. 1971 Bovine Mastitis pp. 8089. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger.Google Scholar
Tolle, A. 1971 A monograph on bovine mastitis - Part 1. International Dairy Federation Annual Bulletin part 2 p. 3Google Scholar