Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2011.10233

Relationship of Somatic Cell Count and Mastitis: An Overview  

Sharma, N. (Division of Veterinary Clinical Medicine and Jurisprudence, SKUAST-J)
Singh, N.K. (Division of Veterinary Clinical Medicine and Jurisprudence, SKUAST-J)
Bhadwal, M.S. (F.V.Sc, SKUAST-J)
Publication Information
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences / v.24, no.3, 2011 , pp. 429-438 More about this Journal
Abstract
Mastitis is characterized by physical, chemical and bacteriological changes in the milk and pathological changes in the glandular tissue of the udder and affects the quality and quantity of milk. The bacterial contamination of milk from the affected cows render it unfit for human consumption and provides a mechanism of spread of diseases like tuberculosis, sore-throat, Q-fever, brucellosis, leptospirosis etc. and has zoonotic importance. Somatic cell count (SCC) is a useful predictor of intramammary infection (IMI) that includes leucocytes (75%) i.e. neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, erythrocytes and epithelial cells (25%). Leucocytes increase in response to bacterial infection, tissue injury and stress. Somatic cells are protective for the animal body and fight infectious organisms. An elevated SCC in milk has a negative influence on the quality of raw milk. Subclinical mastitis is always related to low milk production, changes to milk consistency (density), reduced possibility of adequate milk processing, low protein and high risk for milk hygiene since it may even contain pathogenic organisms. This review collects and collates relevant publications on the subject.
Keywords
Mastitis; SCC; Factors; Management;
Citations & Related Records

Times Cited By Web Of Science : 6  (Related Records In Web of Science)
Times Cited By SCOPUS : 1
연도 인용수 순위
1 Sharma, S. D. and P. Rai. 1977. Studies on the incidence of bovine mastitis in Uttar Pradesh. II. Subclinical mastitis. Indian Vet. J. 54(6):435-439.
2 Sheldrake, R. F., R. J. T. Hoare and G. D. McGregor. 1983. Lactation stage, parity, and infection affecting somatic cells, electrical conductivity, and serum albumin in milk. J. Dairy Sci. 66:542-547.   DOI
3 Shook, G. E. 1993. Genetic improvement of mastitis through selection on somatic cell count. Vet. Clin. North Am., Food Anim. Pract. 9:563-581.
4 Singh, M. 2002. Somatic cell counts during lactation in bovines as a index of subclinical mastitis. In: Proc. All India dairy husbandry officers workshop NDRI, Karnal, 2002. pp. 64-77.
5 Skrzypek, R., J. Wojtowski and R. D. Fahr. 2004. Factors affecting somatic cell count in cow bulk tank milk: A case study from Poland. J. Vet. Med. A. 51:127-131.   DOI   ScienceOn
6 Smith, K. L., D. A. Todhunter and P. S. Schoenberger. 1985. Environmental mastitis: cause, prevalence, prevention. J. Dairy Sci. 68:1531.   DOI
7 Stabel, J. R. 2005. Paratuberculosis and Crohn's disease. In: Proc. 44th NMC Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, pp. 36-40.
8 Tamime, A. Y. and R. Robinson. 1999. Yoghurt science and technology. 2nd ed. Woodhead Publishing Ltd., Cambridge, UK.
9 Topel, A. 2004. Chemie und physik der milch. Behr's Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Hamburg DE, 756, pp. 369-434.
10 White, F. and E. A. S. Rattray. 1965. Diurnal variation in the cell content of cow's milk. J. Comp. Pathol. 75:253.   DOI   ScienceOn
11 Schepers, A. J., T. J. Lam, Y. H. Schukken, J. B. M. Wilmink and W. J. A. Hanekamp. 1997. Estimation of variance components for somatic cell counts to determine thresholds for uninfected quarters. J. Dairy Sci. 80:1833-1840.   DOI   ScienceOn
12 Sharif, A., M. Umer and G. Muhammad. 2009. Mastitis control in dairy production. J. Agric. Soc. Sci. 5:102-105.
13 Sharma, N. and S. K. Maiti. 2005. Effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin E and selenium in sub clinical mastitis in dairy cows. Indian J. Vet. Med. 25(2):76-79.
14 Sharma, N. and S. K. Maiti. 2009. Incidence, etiology and antibiogram of sub clinical mastitis in cows in Durg, Chhattisgarh. Indian J. Vet. Res. (In press).
15 Sharma, N. 2003. Epidemiological investigation on subclinical mastitis in dairy animals: Role of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on its control. MVSc. Thesis, I.G.K.V.V., Raipur (C.G.) India.
16 Sharma, N. 2008. Foot and mouth disease - Mastitis cascade in dairy cattle: A field study. Int. J. Zoolog. Res. 4(1):64-67.   DOI
17 Sharma, N., A. Gautam, S. R. Upadhyay, K. Hussain, J. S. Soodan and S. K. Gupta. 2006. Role of antioxidants in udder health: a review. Indian J. Field Vet. 2(1):73-76.
18 Sharma, N., S. K. Maiti and K. K. Sharma. 2007. Prevalence, etiology and antibiogram of microorganisms associated with Sub-clinical mastitis in buffaloes in Durg, Chhattisgarh State (India). Int. J. Dairy Sci. 2(2):145-151.   DOI
19 Sharma, N., S. K. Gupta, U. Sharma and K. Hussai. 2007. Treatment of clinical mastitis in buffalo-A case report. Buffalo Bull. 26(2):56-58.
20 Sharma, N., S. K. Maiti and K. M. Koley. 2004. Studies on the incidence of sub clinical mastitis in buffaloes of Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh state. Vet. Pract. 5(2):123-124.
21 National Mastitis Council. 2001. National mastitis council recommended mastitis control.
22 Nickerson, S. C. 2009. Control of heifer mastitis: Antimicrobial treatment- An overview. Vet. Microbiol. 134:128-135.   DOI   ScienceOn
23 Nonnccke, B. J. and J. A. Harp. 1986. Effect of chronic staphylococcal mastitis on mitogenic responses of bovine lymphocytes. J. Dairy Sci. 68:3323.
24 Oliver, S. P., B. M. Jayarao and R. A. Almeida. 2005. Foodborne pathogens, mastitis, milk quality, and dairy food safety. Proc. 44th NMC Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, pp. 3-27.
25 Opdebeeck, J. P. 1982. Mammary gland immunity. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 181:1061-1065.
26 Park, Y. H., L. K. Fox, M. J. Hamilton and W. C. Davis. 1992. Bovine mononuclear leukocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood and mammary gland secretions during lactation. J. Dairy Sci. 75(4):998-1006.   DOI
27 Reichmuth, J. 1975. Somatic cell counting - interpretation of results. In Proc. of Sem. on Mast. Cont., 1975 IDF Doc. 85. pp. 93-109.
28 Schallibaum, M. 2001. Impact of SCC on the quality of fluid milk and cheese. National Mastitis Council, Inc. 40th Annual Meeting Proceedings. 38-46.
29 Sharma, N. 2007. Alternative approach to control intramammary infection in dairy cows- A review. Asian J. Anim. Vet. Adv. 2(2):50-62.   DOI
30 Rogers, G. W., G. Banos, U. Sander Nielsen and J. Philipsson. 1998. Genetic correlations among somatic cell scores, productive life, and type traits from the United States and udder health measures from Denmark and Sweden. J. Dairy Sci. 81:1445-1453.   DOI   ScienceOn
31 Schalm, O. W., E. J. Carroll and N. C. Jain. 1971. Bovine Mmstitis. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, USA.
32 Lam, T. J. G. M., J. H. Van Vliet, Y. H. Schukken, F. J. Grommers, A. Van Velden-Russcher, H. W. Barkema and A. Brand. 1997b. The effect of discontinuation of postmilking teat disinfection in low somatic cell count herds. II. Dynamics of intramammary infections. Vet. Quart. 19:47-53.
33 Lee, C. S., F. B. P. Wooding and P. Kemp. 1980. Identification properties, and differential counts of cell populations using electron microscopy of dry cows secretions, colostrum and milk from normal cows. J. Dairy Res. 47:39.   DOI   ScienceOn
34 Ma, Y., C. Ryan, D. M. Barbano, D. M. Galton, M. A. Rudan and K. J. Boor. 2000. Effects of somatic cell count on quality and shelf life of pasteurized fluid milk. J. Dairy Sci. 83:264-274.   DOI   ScienceOn
35 Malinowski, E., H. Lassa, A. Kłossowska, H. Markiewicz, M. Kaczmarowski and S. Smulski. 2006. Relationship between mastitis agents and somatic cell count in foremilk samples. Bull. Vet. Inst. Pulawy. 50:349-352.
36 McDonald, J. S. and A. J. Anderson. 1981. Total and differential somatic cell counts in secretions from noninfected bovine mammary glands; the peripartum period. Am. J. Vet. Res. 42:1366-1368.
37 Mullan, N. A., E. A. Carter and K. A. Nguyen. 1985. Phagocytic and bactericidal properties of bovine macrophages from non-lactating mammary glands. Res. Vet. Sci. 38:160-166.
38 Meek, A. H., D. A. Barnum and F. H. S. Newbould. 1980. Use of total and differential somatic cell counts to differentiate potentially infected from potentially non-infected quarters and cows and between herds of various levels of infection. J. Food Prot. 43:10-14.
39 Miller, R. H. and M. J. Paape. 1985. Relationship between milk somatic cell count and milk yield. In: Proc. Ann. Mtg. Natl. Mastitis Counc. p. 60.
40 Miller, R. H., M. J. Paape, R. R. Peters and M. D. Young, 1990. Total and differential cell counts and N-Acetyl-${\beta}$-Dglucosaminidase activity in mammary secretions during dry period. J. Dairy Sci. 73(7):1751-1755.   DOI
41 Gonzalo, C., J. R. Martinez, J. A. Carriedo and F. San Primitivo. 2003. Fossomatic cell-counting on ewe milk: comparison with direct microscopy and study of variation factors. J. Dairy Sci. 86:138-145.   DOI   ScienceOn
42 Hallen Sandgren, C., K. Persson Waller and U. Emanuelson. 2008. Therapeutic effects of systemic or intramammary antimicrobial treatment of bovine subclinical mastitis during lactation. Vet. J. 175:108-117.   DOI   ScienceOn
43 Harmon, R. J. 1994. Physiology of mastitis and factors affecting somatic cell counts. J. Dairy Sci. 77:2103-2112.   DOI
44 Harmon, R. J. 2001. Somatic cell counts: A primer. In: Proc. National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting. pp. 3-9.
45 Hillerton, J. E. 1999. Redefining mastitis based on somatic cell count. IDF Bulletin 345:4-6.
46 International Dairy Federation. 1999. Suggested interpretation of mastitis terminology. IDF Bulletin 338. Brussels, Belgium. pp. 3-26.
47 Hillerton, J. E., A. J. Bramley, R. T. Staker and C. H. McKinnon. 1995. Patterns of intramammary infection and clinical mastitis over a 5-year period in a closely monitored herd applying mastitis control measures. J. Dairy Res. 62:39-50.   DOI   ScienceOn
48 Ingalls, W. 2001. Somatic cells: Function and relation to milk quality. December, 2001. http://www.milkproduction.com/Library/Articles/Somatic_Cells_Function_and_Relationship_to_Milk_Production.htm
49 International Dairy Federation. 1997. Recommendations for presenting of mastitis related data. IDF Bulletin 321. Brussels, Belgium. pp. 7-25.
50 Jensen, D. L. and R. J. Eberhart. 1981. Total and differential cell counts in secretions of the nonlactating bovine mammary gland. Am. J. Vet. Res. 42(5):743-747.
51 Khate, K. and B. R. Yadav. 2010. Incidence of mastitis in Sahiwal cattle and Murrah buffaloes of a closed organized herd. Indian J. Anim. Sci. 80(5):467-469.
52 Blackburn, P. S. 1966. The variation in cell count of cow's milk throughout lactation and from one lactation to the next. J. Dairy Res. 33:193-198.   DOI
53 Boyso, J. O., J. J. V. Alrcon, M. C. Juarez, A. O. Zarzosa, J. E. L. Meza, A. B. Patino and V. M. B. Aguirre. 2007. Innate immune response of bovine mammary gland to pathogenic bacteria responsible for mastitis. J. Infect. 54:399-409.   DOI   ScienceOn
54 Bramley, A. J. 1992. Mastitis. In: Bovine Medicine - Diseases and Husbandry of Cattle (Ed. A. H. Andrews, R. W. Blowey, H. Boyd and R. G. Eddy). Blackwell Scientific Publications: Oxford, 289-300.
55 Dohoo, I. R. and A. H. Meek. 1982. Somatic cell counts in bovine milk. Can. Vet. J. 23(4):119-125.
56 Bytyqi, H., U. Zaugg, K. Sherifi, A. Hamidi, M. Gjonbalaj, S. Muji and H. Mehmeti. 2010. Influence of management and physiological factors on somatic cell count in raw milk in Kosova. Veterinarski Archiv, 80(2):173-183.
57 Craven. N. and M. R. Williams. 1985. Defences of the bovine mammary gland against infection and prospects for the enhancement. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 10:71.   DOI   ScienceOn
58 Dairyman's Digest 2009. What you should know about somatic cells. Winter issue.
59 Dohoo, I. R., A. H. Meek and S. W. Martin. 1984. Somatic cell counts in bovine milk: relationships to production and clinical episodes of mastitis. Can. J. Comp. Med. 48:130-135.
60 Fernandes, A. M., A. F. Oliveira and C. G. Lima. 2007. Effects of somatic cell counts in milk on physical and chemical characteristics of yoghurt. Int. Dairy J. 17:111-115.   DOI   ScienceOn
61 Gallin, J. I., I. M. Goldstein and R. Snyderman. 1992. Inflammation: Basic Principles and Clinical Correlates. 2nd ed. Raven Press. New York, NY.
62 Gonzalo, C., J. A. Baro, J. A. Carriedo and F. San Primitivo. 1993. Use of the Fossomatic method to determine somatic cell counts in sheep milk. J. Dairy Sci. 76:115-119.   DOI
63 Beckley, M. S. and T. Johnson. 1966. Five year study of a California mastitis test on a commercial dairy herd. J. Dairy Sci. 49:746.
64 Barkema, H. W., Y. H. Schukken, T. J. G. M. Lam, M. L. Beiboer, G. Benedictus and A. Brand. 1999. Management practices associated with the incidence rate of clinical mastitis. J. Dairy Sci. 82:1643-1654.   DOI   ScienceOn