Biomaterial Database

Evaluation of a hand-held electrical conductivity meter for detection of subclinical mastitis in cattle. 1998

J M Musser, and K L Anderson, and M Caballero, and D Amaya, and J Maroto-Puga

Department of Food Animal and Equine Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.

OBJECTIVE To assess, under field conditions, whether a hand-held electrical conductivity (EC) meter could be used to detect subclinical mastitis caused by pathogens most commonly associated with mastitis in dairy cows. METHODS 425 lactating cows on 15 dairies in Costa Rica. METHODS Immediately prior to milking, milk samples from each quarter were tested, using a hand-held EC meter. A milk sample from the quarter with the highest score was submitted for bacteriologic culture. Results of bacteriologic culture were compared with highest absolute EC score for each cow and with differential EC score (ie, difference between the highest and lowest absolute EC scores for the 4 quarters of each cow). RESULTS Absolute EC score for cows with subclinical mastitis was significantly higher than that for cows without subclinical mastitis, and absolute EC score was significantly associated with detection of subclinical mastitis. If absolute EC score > or = 7 was considered indicative of subclinical mastitis, sensitivity was 0.43, specificity was 0.83, predictive value of a positive result was 0.39, and predictive value of a negative result was 0.85. Differential EC score for cows with mastitis was significantly higher than that for cows without subclinical mastitis. If differential EC score > or = 2 was considered indicative of subclinical mastitis, sensitivity was 0.53, specificity was 0.77, predictive value of a positive result was 0.37, and predictive value of a negative result was 0.87. CONCLUSIONS A hand-held EC meter may be used to screen cows for subclinical mastitis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007709	Klebsiella	A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria whose organisms arrange singly, in pairs, or short chains. This genus is commonly found in the intestinal tract and is an opportunistic pathogen that can give rise to bacteremia, pneumonia, urinary tract and several other types of human infection.
D008414	Mastitis, Bovine	INFLAMMATION of the UDDER in cows.	Bovine Mastitides,Bovine Mastitis,Mastitides, Bovine
D008892	Milk	The off-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals. It contains proteins, sugar, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.	Cow Milk,Cow's Milk,Milk, Cow,Milk, Cow's
D011549	Pseudomonas	A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria widely distributed in nature. Some species are pathogenic for humans, animals, and plants.	Chryseomonas,Pseudomona,Flavimonas
D002417	Cattle	Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor.	Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D003352	Corynebacterium	A genus of asporogenous bacteria that is widely distributed in nature. Its organisms appear as straight to slightly curved rods and are known to be human and animal parasites and pathogens.
D003612	Dairying	Production, storage, and distribution of DAIRY PRODUCTS.	Dairy Industry,Dairy Industries,Industries, Dairy,Industry, Dairy
D004553	Electric Conductivity	The ability of a substrate to allow the passage of ELECTRONS.	Electrical Conductivity,Conductivity, Electric,Conductivity, Electrical
D004754	Enterobacter	Gram-negative gas-producing rods found in feces of humans and other animals, sewage, soil, water, and dairy products.
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli