EFFECT OF IMMUNOPOTENTIATING AGENTS ON SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN CATTLE AND BUFFALOES

Different parameters of subclinical mastitis were compared in 327 cattle and 493 buffaloes and the effect of immunopotentiating agents on subclinical mastitis in these animals was studied. Subclinical mastitis was detected in 8.2 percent buffalo and 24.0 percent cow quarter by modified whiteside test (MWT). In both the species there was decrease in lactose contents with increase in the degree of MWT reactivity i.e. $4.8{\pm}1.14$ to $2.31{\pm}0.82$ in cattle and $5.01{\pm}1.47$ to $2.36{\pm}1.02$ in buffaloes. While the chloride contents of the milk increased with increase in the MWT reactivity i.e. $0.19{\pm}0.4$ to $0.30{\pm}0.06$ in cattle and $0.20{\pm}0.04$ to $0.31{\pm}0.13$ in buffaloes. Micro-organisms belonging to Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Enterobacteria, Corynebacterium groups and yeasts were isolated from subclinical mastitis cases. Vitamin E and Levamisole cured 64.5 and 60.0 percent cases of subclinical mastitis in buffaloes but only 32.0 and 24.0 percent cases in cattle. Cure was not affected by the degree of MWT and the type of organisms involved.