Methods for Diagnosing Mastitis

Pamela R F Adkins; John R Middleton

doi:10.1016/j.cvfa.2018.07.003

Methods for Diagnosing Mastitis

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2018 Nov;34(3):479-491. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2018.07.003.

Authors

Pamela R F Adkins¹, John R Middleton²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, 900 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Electronic address: adkinsp@missouri.edu.
² Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, 900 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.

PMID: 30316505
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2018.07.003

Abstract

A diagnosis of mastitis is based on clinical observations or direct/indirect measures of the inflammatory response to infection, whereas a diagnosis of an intramammary infection is based on identification of the infectious agent. Somatic cell count/somatic cell score are common diagnostic tests for the detection of subclinical mastitis. Culture and polymerase chain reaction can be useful in the diagnosis of an intramammary infection; however, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Diagnosing the bacterial agent causing the intramammary infection can help to determine treatment and prevention strategies on the farm, which in turn can help to reduce incidence and prevalence.

Keywords: Bovine; Diagnosis; Intramammary infection; Mastitis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cattle
Cell Count / veterinary
Female
Mastitis, Bovine / diagnosis*
Mastitis, Bovine / microbiology
Milk / microbiology*