title: Diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in Santa Inês and Morada Nova sheep in southeastern Brazil.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate different screening limits for the California mastitis test (CMT) and the somatic cell count (SCC) in previous diagnoses of subclinical mastitis in Santa Inês and Morada Nova ewes, which were reared under the same management conditions. Additionally, cutoff points were defined for SCC in accordance with the sensitivity and specificity of the test. A total of 907 mammary halves were subjected to CMT and SCC. The disease was confirmed by means of microbiological identification. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the microorganisms with highest occurrence. The CMT score of 1+ provided adequate sensitivity and specificity at all periods of lactation investigated. This score showed good agreement with SCC, >400,000 cells mL(-1). Higher cell counts favored higher diagnostic specificity. They can be used when producers have financial difficulties relating to treatment or culling of sheep with subclinical mastitis. However, producers should be warned about the risk of false-negative results in the flock.
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Embrapa Southeast Livestock, Rod. Washington Luís, Km 234, Caixa Postal 339, 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil. luiz.zafalon@embrapa.br.
authors.forename: Luiz Francisco
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4645-3588
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zafalon
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Embrapa Southeast Livestock, Rod. Washington Luís, Km 234, Caixa Postal 339, 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raul Costa Mascarenhas
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, 14884-900, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Eduardo
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Pilon
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, 14884-900, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Aparecido Fim
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Júnior
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002452:Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008413:Mastitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Diagnostic tests; Milk; Sheep; Subclinical mastitis