Association Between Serum Selenium Level and Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cattle

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Nutrition
• Immunology

Background:

• Selenium is vital for dairy cattle nutrition and udder health.
• Subclinical mastitis is a significant concern in dairy farming.
• The relationship between selenium levels and subclinical mastitis requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum selenium levels and immune/antioxidant status in dairy cattle with subclinical mastitis.
• To determine the correlation between serum selenium and milk somatic cell count.
• To identify thresholds for serum glutathione peroxidase and IL-6 indicating increased mastitis risk.

Main Methods:

• Fifty early-lactation dairy cattle from an intensive farm were randomly selected.
• Serum selenium levels were measured using ICP-optic emission spectrometry.
• Milk somatic cell count, immune indexes (e.g., IL-6), and antioxidant indexes (e.g., GSH-Px) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Somatic cell count showed a negative correlation with serum selenium levels.
• Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) exhibited a low positive correlation with serum selenium.
• Interleukin-6 (IL-6) demonstrated a low negative correlation with serum selenium.

Conclusions:

• Lower serum selenium levels are associated with increased somatic cell counts and higher risk of subclinical mastitis.
• Specific thresholds for serum glutathione peroxidase (< 148 U/L) and IL-6 (> 451 pg/mL) indicate an elevated risk.
• Maintaining optimal selenium status is crucial for enhancing immune and antioxidant capacity in dairy cows to combat subclinical mastitis.