Evaluation of plasma and milk haptoglobin concentrations in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows

The purpose of this study was to examine whether plasma and milk haptoglobin (Hp) concentrations could be an alternative method for the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of subclinical mastitis (SM) in dairy cows. In the study, 14 cows with subclinical mastitis (SM) in more than one udder quarter and 5 healthy control cows were used. Cows in the non-treated group (GNT; n=6) did not receive any treatment while cows in the treated group (GT; n=8) were treated with intramammary cefquinom sulphate on the second week. Healthy cows were evaulated as Control group (GC). Plasma Hp concentrations did not differ within groups and between groups (p is greater than 0.05). When compared milk Hp concentrations within groups, there was a slight increase in GT on the third week (p is less than 0.05) and the concentrations in GNT and GC did not reveal any difference (p is greater than 0.05). A relationship between CMT scores, SCC values, plasma Hp and milk Hp concentrations was not established. It was concluded that plasma Hp and milk Hp are not useful parameters to diagnose and monitor the treatment efficacy of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows.