Ultrasound evaluation of mammary gland cistern in quarters affected by mastitis: new diagnostic grading

Chiara Tommasoni; Anastasia Lisuzzo; Enrico Fiore; Giorgia Taio; Francesca Cecchini; Alberto Gottardo; Matteo Gianesella

Chiara Tommasoni Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua - Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD)
Anastasia Lisuzzo Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua - Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
Enrico Fiore Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua - Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
Giorgia Taio Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua - Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
Francesca Cecchini Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua - Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
Alberto Gottardo Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua - Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
Matteo Gianesella Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua - Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy

Keywords: Dairy cattle; Diagnosis; Mammary ultrasonography; Mastitis; On-farm;

Abstract

Mastitis, the inflammation of the mammary gland, represents one of the main pathologies in dairy cattle farm. It leads to severe economic losses and drug administration, representing a relevant problem for animals, farmers, and public health. Diagnosis mainly consists in analysis on milk, such as microbial culture, PCR and somatic cell count. Considering the vitally importance of a fast and reliable diagnosis, the aim of this research is to evaluate ultrasound mammary examination as an on-farm tool able to timely detect and characterize quarters affected by mastitis. For this purpose, 39 primiparous and multiparous dairy cattle from a single farm in Veneto Region (Italy) have been enrolled. For each animal, clinical examination, ultrasound examination of the mammary gland and milk sampling of single quarter have been performed. Animals have been divided into four groups based on symptoms, microbial culture and somatic cell count. Specifically CTR” (control, having no clinical signs, negative microbial culture and SCC< 200.000 cells/ml), “IMI” (Intramammary infection, having no clinical signs, positive microbial culture and SCC <200.000 cells/ml), “SUB” (subclinical, having no clinical signs, positive microbial culture and SCC ≥200.000 cells/ml) and “CL” (clinical, having clinical signs, positive microbial culture and SCC ≥200.000 cells/ml). An ultrasound classification of the echogenicity of the content of the mammary gland cistern has been proposed from 0 (completely anechoic cistern), to 3 (completely echogenic cistern). Considering the non-homogenous distribution of data, Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test has been applied. Results show significant differences between groups of SCC (means ± standard deviation 18.39±3.21, 33.75±5.12, 608.71±148.50, 1267.20±94.98 from group 0 to 3 respectively) and ultrasound score (means ± standard deviation 0.71±0.2, 0.84±0.11, 1.00±0.38, 2.60±0.24 from group CTR to CL respectively. Moreover, SCC values were significantly different also considering US Score (means ± standard deviation 32.52±7.25, 91.92±39.11, 109.08±57.78, 412.07±159.52 from score 0 to 3 respectively). Even though further studies are needed in order to validate and deepen this technique, these results suggest a possible application of ultrasound examination as a fast and immediate detection instrument of mastitis.