Acute phase proteins in serum and milk from dairy cows with clinical mastitis

The serum concentrations of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and alpha1 acid gl ycoprotein were determined in serum collected from healthy dairy cows and c ows with clinical mastitis, graded as mild (clots in milk) or moderate (clo ts in milk and visible signs of inflammation in the mammary gland/s) to ass ess their relative diagnostic value in detecting the disease. The concentra tions of haptoglobin and serum amyloid A were also measured in milk collect ed from infected and uninfected quarters. The concentrations of haptoglobin and serum amyloid A were higher in the serum and milk from the cows with m ild or moderate mastitis. The diagnostic value of haptoglobin in differenti ating between healthy animals and those with mastitis gave sensitivities an d specificities of 82 per cent and 94 per cent respectively with serum and 86 per cent and 100 per cent with milk. The diagnostic value of serum amylo id A in differentiating between healthy animals and those with mastitis gav e sensitivities and specificities of 83 per cent and 90 per cent with serum and 93 per cent and 100 per cent with milk The diagnostic Value of serum a l acid glycoprotein in differentiating between healthy animals and those wi th mastitis gave sensitivities and specificities of 62 per cent and 91 per cent.