Abstract
The study evaluated the dynamics of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes milk-secreted by Mediterranean Buffaloes (MBs). Sixty quarter-milk-samples were collected and divided into three groups (n = 20 units each one): clinical mastitis (CM), subclinical mastitis (SCM), and intramammary infection (IMI). The control group consisted of an additional 20 healthy quarters. Their health status was assessed by clinical examination, quantitative somatic cell count (QSCC) and bacteriological milk culture. Finally, a differential somatic cell count (DSCC) was performed on all the milk samples. The mean percentage of macrophages, both in CM- and SCM-quarters, showed a significant difference as compared with the healthy-ones. Significant differences were also detected comparing the mean percentages of polymorphonuclear leukocytes between CM- and healthy-quarters, SCM and healthy, IMI and healthy. The QSCC revealed a weak-significant-negative-correlation with the quantitation of macrophages (r = −0.388), and a moderate-significant-positive-correlation with the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (r = 0.477). Macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes showed a weak-significant-negative-correlation between them (r = −0.247). The interpretation of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes dynamics in milk provided beneficial information regarding the clinical status of the quarters enrolled. Future studies exploring the potential use of DSCC to improve udder health represent an interesting perspective in these ruminants.
Highlights
The general examination of the udder did not reveal systemic signs of disease in any of the Mediterranean Buffaloes (MBs) affected by clinical mastitis (CM)
Two MBs, each having one quarter affected by CM, lameness with the abduction of the limb adjacent to the painful quarter has been observed
Analyzing the data according to the different quarters’ health status, those affected by CM showed values between 6.07 and 7.39 Log10 cells/mL, while those with subclinical mastitis (SCM) between 5.34 and 5.94
Summary
Mastitis can be considered one of the costliest and most prevalent diseases of the dairy. It has detrimental effects on animal health, welfare, and profitability of a dairy food chain able to produce an overall turnover of EUR. Competencies on MBs’ mastitis are improving remarkably in the last years, buffalo medicine suffers from poor scientific knowledge compared to the bovine one [4]. In this context, the role of innate immunity in MBs affected by mastitis still represents one of the main unknowns [5,6]. As for other mammals, the latter constitutes the first line of host defence for the early recognition and removal of pathogens, as well as for the subsequent triggering of inflammation and adaptive response [7]
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