Concentrations of Acute-Phase Proteins in Milk from Cows with Clinical Mastitis Caused by Different Pathogens

Abstract

Among the new diagnostic methods for mastitis detection under development, milk acute-phase proteins (APPs) are receiving special attention. The study aimed to compare the profile of milk APPs from cows with natural clinical mastitis caused by distinct pathogens. The concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by Spatial Proximity Analyte Reagent Capture Luminescence (SPARCL). Each APP was compared across the pathogens causing mastitis. The APPs differed statistically (p < 0.05) among the pathogens causing udder infection. There were significant and positive correlations among the concentration profile, for each pathogen, in three of four APPs studied. It can be concluded that the pathogen causing mastitis could modify the profile of release of the APPs in milk. The profile of Hp, AGP, and CRP demonstrated significant correlation, indicating that the three APPs are suggested as biomarkers, in milk, for bovine mastitis.

Keywords

• mastitis
• dairy ruminants
• cattle
• acute-phase proteins
• SPARCL