Korean J Vet Res.  2013 Mar;53(1):19-23.

Classification of acute clinical mastitis on the base of vital signs and complete blood count test in dairy cows

• Hur TY
• Kang SJ
• Jung YH
• Lee HJ
• Ki KS
• Choe CY
• Suh GH

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the diagnosis of acute clinical mastitis (ACM) which was based on the vital signs and complete blood count (CBC) tests in dairy cows. Twenty eight dairy cows diagnosed with ACM, were selected for the study between Jan 2003 and July 2006 in the National Institute of Animal Science. Based on their vital signs (rectal temperature, depression, rumen contraction and, dehydration status), ACM was divided into three different classes; mild, moderate and severe forms. In addition, ACM cows were subjected to CBC tests for further diagnosis of ACM. Of the 27 dairy cows diagnosed with ACM, 3 cows were determined to have a mild form, while moderate and sever forms were each observed in twelve cows. Among of them, 4 cows died, 5 cows were culled and 18 cows were recovered. In the mild form, all haematological parameters were comparable with normal values. However, leukopenia, due to neutropenia and lymphocytopenia, appeared characteristically in the moderate and severe forms. Using the observation of vital signs in conjunction with CBC tests, the diagnosis of ACM is more accurate, and is helpful in making decisions of whether treatment or culling of dairy cows infected with ACM is most appropriate.

Keyword

acute clinical mastitis; complete blood count test; dairy cow; vital signs

MeSH Terms

Animals
Blood Cell Count
Contracts
Dehydration
Depression
Female
Leukopenia
Lymphopenia
Mastitis
Neutropenia
Reference Values
Rumen
Vital Signs