Abstract
ABSTRACT Critical gaps exist in our understanding of the diagnostic reliability of subclinical mastitis tests in dromedary camels. Using a retrospective longitudinal cross-sectional approach, 191 lactating camels were randomly sampled from 47 camel herds to investigate at first the practicability of somatic cell count (SCC) and electrical conductivity (EC) tests as subclinical mastitis tests in camels through their validations by California mastitis test (CMT) score, and then through the subsequent employments of those objective means in assessing certain potential risk markers predisposing camels to this disease. Results indicate the reliability and validity of SCC test, in contrast to EC test, in distinguishing subclinical mastitic udders in camels, as demonstrated by the strong interrelationships ( r = 0.83 vs 0.12; R 2 = 0.80 vs 0.02), excellent agreement beyond chance (kappa coefficient = 0.76 vs 0.09) between SCC test and CMT scores, as well as by the high sensitivity of SCC test [Area Under Curve (AUC) = 0.94 vs 0.48] in distinguishing mastitic udders compared to the EC test. Based on the SCC test, the calculated overall prevalence rate for subclinical mastitis was 35 %, and the breed, parity, and lactation period were the only risk markers predisposing camels to subclinical mastitis. Collectively, it can be concluded that the objective SCC test possesses considerable diagnostic merit for early detection of subclinical mastitis in camels, while the EC test was non-satisfactory and non-diagnostic. Accordingly, it seems logical to base herd management decisions on SCC readings using the cut-off Log10SCC value of 5.67 (or SCC = 472.50 × 03 cells mL–1).
Highlights
Mastitis is a complex and multi-etiologic public health disease that is usually associated with suppressed milk production, altered milk composition, impaired preservation and processing, and increased veterinary costs and culling rates, as well as impacted product hygiene and security (Abdelgadir, 2014; Nagy et al, 2013)
Concordance between the California mastitis test (CMT), somatic cell count (SCC), and electrical conductivity (EC) tests for subclinical mastitis diagnosis
The results revealed that the mean values (± SE) for CMT, SCC (103 cells mL–1), log10SCC, and EC were 0.55 ± 0.03, 624.01 ± 34.91, 5.46 ± 0.02, and 7.35 ± 0.06, respectively, while the median values were 0, 285.01, 5.46, and 7.47, respectively
Summary
Mastitis is a complex and multi-etiologic public health disease that is usually associated with suppressed milk production, altered milk composition, impaired preservation and processing, and increased veterinary costs and culling rates, as well as impacted product hygiene and security (Abdelgadir, 2014; Nagy et al, 2013). According to the pathological signs, the inflammatory reaction in the parenchymal tissue of the mammary gland is mainly divided into clinical and subclinical forms (Constable et al, 2016). Several cases of both forms have been reported in camels (AlJuboori et al, 2013; Al-Salihi et al, 2017; Hawari and Hassawi, 2008; Tuteja et al, 2003). Owing to the subjectivity of the CMT, there has been a great deal of research investigating the employment of more objective means of detecting subclinical mastitis and infection status in lactating camels, such as somatic cell count (SCC) and electrical conductivity (EC) tests (Nagy et al, 2013; Samara et al, 2014). The question of whether SCC and/or EC tests may have any reliable agreement with the CMT in diagnosing subclinical mastitic cases will be approached and examined
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