BACKGROUND: Mastitis could be detected in various ways, including physical, on-farm, and laboratory tests. OBJECTIVES: The present research aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the diagnosis of mastitis using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-based dipsticks and to assess these dipsticks with regard to the effects of different lactation days, the amount of milk production, and parity. RESULTS: Considering bacteriologic culture as a gold standard method for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, the sensitivity and specificity of LDH test were 68.9 % and 54 %, respectively. The results revealed a high correlation between SCC and LDH. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the response of dipstick and CMT results; with the increase in the CMT score, the score of LDH dipstick increased. By investigating the effects of lactation days, the amount of milk production, and parity, it was determined that the chance of having subclinical mastitis in cows with positive dipstick result was 5.59 times greater than that in cows with negative dipstick result. There were no significant relationships among SCC, LDH, and CMT with lactation days and milk production; meanwhile, with the increase in parity, the three above-mentioned variables showed significant increase. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicated that the best methods for subclinical mastitis detection were SCC, CMT, and LDH based dipsticks, respectively.

A radioimmunoassay test for tetracyclines (Charm II) was compared with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) for detection of oxytetracycline (OTC) residues in milk samples from individual lactating cows. Oxytetracycline was administered by 1 of 3 routes (IV, IM, or intrauterine) to 21 lactating dairy cows. A total of 292 duplicate milk samples were collected from milkings before and through 156 hours after OTC administration. Concentration of OTC in these samples was determined by use of the Charm II test and an HPLC method with a lower limit of quantitation, approximately 2 ng of OTC/ml. Samples were also classified with respect to presence of OTC residues relative to the FDA safe concentration (less than or equal to 30 ng/ml), using the Charm II (by control point determination) and HPLC methods. There was a significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) difference between test methods in classification of milk samples with respect to presence or absence of OTC at the FDA safe concentration. A total of 48 of the 292 test results (16.4%) did not agree. Using the HPLC test results as the standard with which Charm II test results were compared, 47 false presumptive-violative test results and 1 false presumptive-nonviolative Charm II test result (a sample containing 31 ng of OTC/ml, as evaluated by HPLC) were obtained. The samples with false presumptive-violative Charm II results contained (less than or equal to 30 ng of OTC/ml, as evaluated by HPLC. In some respects, the Charm II test performed appropriately as a screening test to detect OTC residues in milk samples from individual cows. However, the tendency for the test to yield presumptive-violative test results at OTC concentrations lower than the FDA safe concentration (as evaluated by HPLC), suggests that caution should be exercised in using the test as the sole basis on which a decision is made to reject milk.

Eight Holstein cows, 4 inoculated intracisternally in 1 quarter of the mammary gland with Escherichia coli and 4 noninfected controls, were administered ceftiofur sodium (3 mg/kg of body weight, IV, q 12 hours) for 24 hours, beginning at 14 hours after inoculation of infected cows. All challenge-exposed cows became infected, with mean +/-SEM peak log10 bacterial concentration in milk of 5.03 +/-0.69 colony-forming units/ml. The infection resulted in systemic signs (mean peak rectal temperature, 41.5 +/- 0.3 C; anorexia; signs of depression) and local inflammation (mean peak albumin concentration in milk, 7.89 +/- 1.71 mg/ml). Ceftiofur was detectable in milk from all challenge-exposed cows, compared with only 1 of 4 noninfected cows, and the mean period after inoculation that ceftiofur was detectable in milk was longer (P < 0.05) in infected (147.7 +/- 27.5 hours) than noninfected cows (1.3 +/- 1.3 hours). However, maximal ceftiofur concentration attained in milk for all cows was 0.28 micrograms/ml, and was 0.20 micrograms/ml or less for all but 2 milk samples collected for 10 days after challenge exposure. Mean serum concentration of ceftiofur peaked at 1.0 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml and 0.7 +/- 0.1 micrograms/ml for infected and noninfected COWS, respectively. After each ceftiofur dose, mean peak and trough concentrations of ceftiofur in serum did not differ between groups; however, concentration of ceftiofur in serum was higher at 7 hours after each dose in noninfected cows, suggesting more rapid clearance of the drug in infected cows. Ceftiofur was not detected in serum (< 0.05 micrograms/ml) of any cow at or after 120 hours following inoculation of infected cows Storage of serum samples at -20 C for 3 weeks resulted in a 98.8% decrease in ceftiofur activity, compared with that in fresh serum samples. Eighty-seven percent of this loss occurred 30 minutes after mixing serum and ceftiofur; thus, about 13% of the original activity was lost in storage.

Immunoglobulin reactions to Salmonella dublin in serum and milk from 4 groups of lactating cows were measured by an indirect ELISA. The groups consisted of (1) cows that were natural carriers of S dublin in the mammary gland, (2) experimentally infected cows that did not become carriers, (3) cows inoculated with a commercial S dublin bacterin, and (4) cows used as S dublin-negative controls. Milk and serum samples were obtained at monthly intervals. Models for predicting carrier status were developed by use of stepwise logistic regression. Independent variables consisted of serum and milk IgG and IgM titers to S dublin lipopolysaccharide and a ratio of IgG to IgM. The utility of a single sample vs multiple samples obtained at 1-month or 2-month intervals was tested by comparison of goodness-of-fit X2 P values for 8 models predicting carrier status. Immunoglobulin reactions specific to S dublin were a significant predictor of carrier status (P < 0.001). Serum IgG titers specific for S dublin were the most important variable for predicting carrier status. Two serum IgG titers to S dublin obtained 2 months apart was a better predictor of carrier status than measurement of the IgG:IgM ratio from a single serum sample. Immunoglobulin recognizing S dublin epitopes also were detected in milk samples. In milk, performing 2 ELISA 60 days apart to determine IgG and IgM reactions to S dublin appeared to be useful for the prediction of carrier status, but was not as accurate as models for serum immunoglobulin reactions.

The effect of bethanechol, neostigmine, metoclopramide, and propranolol on myoelectric activity of the ileum, cecum, and proximal loop of the ascending colon was determined in 6 healthy Jersey cows implanted with 8 pairs of bipolar electrodes. Assigned at random, each cow received each of 5 treatments in 3-day intervals. The treatments included bethanechol (0.07 mg/kg of body weight, SC), neostigmine (0.02 mg/kg, SC), metoclopramide (0.15 mg/kg, IM), DL-propranolol (0.2 mg/kg, IM), and 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution (20 ml, SC). All drugs were administered during early phase I of the migrating myoelectric complex in the ileum. Myoelectric activity was recorded for 4 hours after treatment, and data were analyzed for each hour separately. Bethanechol and neostigmine significantly (P < 0.05) increased the number of cecocolic spikes per minute per electrode, duration of cecocolic spike activity (%), and number of cecocolic propagated spike sequences per 10 minutes, relative to NaCI, during 1 or more hours of the recording period. The effect of bethanechol was more pronounced on duration of spike activity and number of propagated spike sequences, whereas neostigmine mainly increased the number of (uncoordinated) spikes. Metoclopramide and propranolol had no significant effect on cecocolic myoelectric activity, relative to NaCl. It was concluded that bethanechol and, less likely, neostigmine at the dosage used in this study may be suitable for medical treatment of cecal dilatation in cattle in which hypomotility of the cecum and proximal loop of the ascending colon has to be reversed. The potential advantage of bethanechol vs neostigmine for medical treatment of cecal dilatation is worth further evaluation.

Association between individual cumulative milk yield and various reproductive disorders in 56,772 Finnish Ayrshire cows belonging to 5,912 herds in 80 communities was studied. All cows delivered calves between September 1985 and September 1986. Five logistic regression models were fitted, 1 for each outcome disorder of interest: early metritis, late metritis, silent heat, ovarian cyst, and other infertility. Cumulative individual 37-day milk yield was used in the early metritis model, and cumulative individual 60-day milk yield was used in the other models, on the basis of median days in milk when these disorders developed. Cumulative 305-day herd milk yield, parity, calving season, presence or absence of other disorders, and community were also included in the models. Point estimates from the models represented odds ratios for the likelihood of having the outcome disorder.Lactational incidence risks for the 5 reproductive disorders studied were: early metritis (2.4%), late metritis (1.1%), silent heat (5.4%), ovarian cyst (6.6%), and other infertility (2.1%). The risk of early metritis decreased with increasing 37-day milk yield. The risk of silent heat, ovarian cyst, and other infertility increased with increasing 60-day milk yield; 60-day milk yield had no effect on late metritis. The 305-day herd milk yield increased the risk of early metritis, ovarian cyst, and other infertility; it had no effect on late metritis or silent heat. Parity had an effect on all disorders, except late metritis. Cows that delivered calves during the colder, darker seasons of the year had a higher risk of reproductive disorders than did those that delivered calves at other times of the year. A number of other disorders, reproductive and otherwise, were significant predictors of development of the outcome disorders.

Because caffeine is metabolized by the hepatic P-450 cytochrome oxidase system, clearance of caffeine is an excellent quantitative test of hepatic function in human beings. It is currently used in much the same way that creatinine clearance is used to assess renal function. Caffeine clearance was measured in lactating dairy cows initially to determine the suitability of caffeine clearance as an indicator of hepatic function in cattle. Pharmacokinetic variables of caffeine were studied in 6 adult lactating dairy cows after IV administration of a single dose of caffeine sodium benzoate (2 mg of caffeine/kg of body weight). Caffeine concentration was analyzed by use of an automated enzyme immunoassay. The lower limit of detection of the assay for caffeine in serum was 0.079 micrograms/ml. Serum caffeine concentration-time curves best fit an open two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Harmonic mean elimination half-life was 3.8 (range, 2.6 to 6.9) hours, and total clearance was 0.118 (range, 0.090 to 0.197) L/kg/h. Milk caffeine concentration was similar to serum concentration 1.5 to 24 hours after caffeine administration. Adverse effects were not observed in cows given caffeine.

The effect of right paralumbar fossa exploratory celiotomy and omentopexy on peritoneal fluid constituents was studied in 22 adult dairy cows. Six cows were eliminated on the basis of physical examination findings (n = 2), surgical findings (n = 2), or inability to obtain a sufficient volume of peritoneal fluid (n = 2). Sixteen cattle had normal results of Csc and serum biochemical analysis, and a minimum of 1 ml of peritoneal fluid was obtained by abdominocentesis. Abdominocentesis was repeated on days 1, 2, and 6 after surgery. Statistical analysis for repeated measures was performed, using a significance level of P < 0.05. Stage of gestation was evaluated for interaction with time. Mean total nucleated cell count was 3,200 cells/1 before surgery, was significantly increased 2 days after surgery (16,336 cells/microliter), and continued to increase through day 6 (20,542 cells/microliter). Mean polymorphonuclear cell count was 1,312 cells/microliter before surgery and was significantly higher at 2 (11,043 cells/microliter) and 6 (10,619 cells/microliter) days after surgery. Mean lymphocyte count was 254 cells/microliter before surgery and was significantly increased 2 days (1,911 cells/microliter) after surgery. By day 6, lymphocyte numbers were similar to preoperative values. Mean mononuclear cell count was 770 cells/microliter before surgery and was significantly increased on days 1 (3,084 cells/microliter), 2 (3,285 cells/microliter and 6 (2,349 cells/microliter) after surgery. Mean eosinophil numbers were 1,388 cells/microliter before surgery and were significantly increased on day 6 (6,347 cells/microliter) only. Interaction between time and stage of gestation was found only for specific gravity and total protein concentration. In general, specific gravity and total protein concentration increased after surgery (mean before surgery, 1.016 and 3.6 g/dl; mean after surgery, 1.021 and 5.6 g/dl).