Acute phase proteins as indicators of inflammation in streptococcal and staphylococcal mastitis in buffaloes.

A study was carried out to evaluate acute phase proteins and other indicators of inflammation in detection of streptococcal and staphylococcal clinical and sub-clinical mastitis in buffaloes. A total of 326 quarter milk samples of 82 murrah buffaloes at an organized farm and 23 quarter milk samples from 21 clinical cases of mastitis in buffaloes received in the College Central Laboratory were subjected to bacteriological examination and somatic cell count. Milk and serum samples from sub-clinically and clinically infected and healthy buffaloes (ten each) were used for estimation of haptoglobin and amyloid A as indicators of inflammation. Staphylococcus spp and Streptococcus spp. were found to be the major organisms in clinical and sub-clinical cases of mastitic buffaloes. A significant increase in concentrations of milk haptoglobin (MHp), serum haptoglobin (SHp), milk amyloid A (MAA) and serum amyloid A (SAA) was observed in clinically and subclinically infected buffaloes as compared to healthy buffaloes. Concentration of milk and serum haptoglobin and amyloid A accurately reflected the degree of inflammation and could be used as a marker for detection of clinical and sub-clinical mastitis.