Total and differential cell count by direct microscopic method on ewe milk

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Science
• Dairy Science

Background:

• Mastitis significantly impacts dairy ewe health and milk production.
• Accurate somatic cell count (SCC) and differential cell count (DCC) are crucial for mastitis diagnosis.
• Evaluating new diagnostic methods is essential for efficient herd management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the accuracy and reliability of the KOVAH SYSTEM method against a standard Fossomatic 90 cell counter for SCC and DCC in Comisana ewe milk.
• To assess the KOVAH SYSTEM's effectiveness in identifying polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMNLs) as an indicator of mastitis.

Main Methods:

• 700 milk samples from Comisana ewes were analyzed for SCC and DCC using both Fossomatic 90 (SCCF, DCCS) and KOVAH SYSTEM (SCCK, DCCK).
• Milk samples were categorized based on clinical signs and bacteriological results (Class I: sterile, Class II: subclinical mastitis, Class III: clinical mastitis).
• Statistical analysis, including logarithmic transformation and correlation coefficients (r), was used to compare the methods.

Main Results:

• High correlation coefficients (r=0.960) were observed between SCCF and SCCK for all samples.
• The KOVAH SYSTEM (SCCK) demonstrated strong reliability across different milk sample classes (r=0.894 to 0.987).
• Both DCC methods showed high correlation coefficients (r=0.697 to 0.855), with the KOVAH SYSTEM effectively identifying increased PMNL percentages.

Conclusions:

• The KOVAH SYSTEM method shows high reliability and accuracy comparable to the Fossomatic 90 for SCC and DCC in Comisana ewe milk.
• The KOVAH SYSTEM is a viable tool for routine use, particularly for detecting PMNL increases indicative of mastitis.
• This supports improved diagnostics and management strategies for dairy ewes.