Impact of slaughter on the reliability of somatic cell count (SCC) and differential milk cell count (DMCC) as diagnostic markers in milk.

Abstract

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that thecriterion of bovine somatic cell count (SCC)&#xa0;<&#xa0;200,000 cells/ml milk as a diagnostic marker for healthy mammary tissue is not suitable&#xa0;to be adopted to milk samples taken. To study immune mechanisms associated with intramammary infections, we developed a mammary explant model. As SCC is routinely applied to differentiate between healthy and inflamed mammary tissue, donor cows were selected based on their milk SCC obtained. Furthermore, milk cell differentiation for early mastitis detection via flow cytometry allows identification of leucocyte subpopulations and complements SCC. To replaceexamination and allow forselection of donor cows, this explorative study aimed to investigate how slaughter influences the reliability of SCC and differential milk cell count (DMCC) and to assess their validity as diagnostic markers for udder health in bovine milk samples obtained. Therefore, quarter milk samples from cows were obtainedandand analysed to determine SCC and DMCC and identify major mastitis pathogens. The logarithmized numbers of SCC, non-viable cells, viable cells, lymphoid cells, polymorphonuclear (PMN) and large cells per ml milk were compared using linear mixed-effects models in milk samples obtained from cowsand. The number of lymphoid cells, PMN and large cells was significantly higher in milk samples obtainedthan, with PMN being the most prominent cell population. Higher milk SCC values measuredmight be explained by migration of leucocytes into the periphery during slaughter. This should be considered when modelling intramammary infectionusing udder tissue. Reflecting these findings, it is not feasible to endorse SCC as a reliable marker forselection of donor cows with healthy mammary tissue formodels.