Mehmet Cengiz

Endometrial echotexture variables in postpartum cows with subclinical endometritis

The aim of this study was to evaluate endometrial echotexture changes on ultrasonographic digital images during subclinical endometritis using a computer-assisted image analysis program. Endometrial samples were collected from 140 Brown Swiss cows (days in milk = 35 ± 3) using a cytobrush method and classified as having a non-inflamed uterus (n = 66) and uterus with acute (n = 42), subacute (n = 21), and chronic (n = 11) inflammations. The mean cellular infiltration density was 0%, 31 ± 5%, 37 ± 6%, and 16 ± 8% for cows with non-inflamed uterus and cows with acute, subacute, and chronic uterine inflammations (P < 0.0001). As the cell infiltration density increased, both cervical diameter and mean gray level did not change. There were a liner decrease in homogeneity and a linear increase in contrast in response to increased cellular infiltration density. The sensitivity and specificity were 79.73% and 46.97% for the homogeneity value and 59.46% and 69.70% for the contrast value, respectively. In conclusion, monitoring endometrial echotexture alterations, especially homogeneity and contrast, changed depending on the cellular density and inflammation status and may be potential diagnostic markers for subclinical endometritis in cows.

Nitric oxide concentrations in mammary quarters during heifer mastitis

The aim of this study was to evaluate nitric oxide (NOx) concentration in infected and non-infected mammary quarters of dairy heifers before and after calving. The relationship between bacterial species and NOx concentrations, as well as correlation between NOx concentrations and postpartum somatic cell count (SCC), was assessed. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the bacteria commonly isolated during the pre- and postpartum period. Infected quarters had greater NOx concentrations than non-infected quarters before (30.81 v. 22.83 μM/ml, P < 0.05) and after (9.56 v. 5.77 μM/ml, P < 0.0001) calving. It was determined that the interaction between sampling period and infectious status had no effect on NOx concentration (P < 0.16). Infected quarters had greater SCC (log(10)) than healthy quarters (4.95 v. 4.39; P < 0.0001). NOx concentrations, however, did not correlate with SCC (r = 0.02). In summary, changes in NOx concentration were mainly dependent on the infectious status of the quarters with variations among the bacterial species (P < 0.05).

Effectiveness of Dry Cow Therapy Comprising Antibiotic Treatment, Internal Teat Sealant, and α-Tocopherol Against New Intramammary Infections in Cows

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effectiveness of dry cow therapy based on antibiotic, internal teat sealant, and α-tocopherol administered separately or in various combinations at drying-off The study was performed on 322 uninfected quarters of 95 cows originating from three dairy herds. The new intramammary infection rates after calving were measured to evaluate the effectiveness. The quarters were divided into six groups differing in treatment, namely: control group (group C, n = 40) and five treatment groups. Treatment groups were arranged as follows: group A (antibiotic alone, n = 81), group AS (antibiotic + sealant, n = 40), group AST (antibiotic + sealant + α-tocopherol, n = 40), group T (α-tocopherol alone, n = 40), group S (sealant alone, n = 81). New infection rate amounted to 47.5% in group C. The treatment in group AST significantly prevented from the occurrence of new intramammary infections (12.5%, P < 0.05), especially those caused by major pathogens. Antibiotic treatment alone (group A) did not prevent from new infections (34.6%, P > 0.05), although the use of the sealant alone (group S) decreased the risk of new infection (24.7%, P < 0.05). A decrease in new infection rate (25%, P < 0.05) was also observed in AS group treated with the combination of the sealant and antibiotic. α -tocopherol supplementation alone (group T) had no overall effect on new infections (35%, P > 0.05). Increased α-tocopherol level (P < 0.05) was detected after calving in the quarters from cows that received α-tocopherol injections. In conclusion, the combination of antibiotic, internal teat sealant, and α-tocopherol used in dry cow therapy showed a significantly better preventive effect against new intramammary infections, than the therapeutics administered separately.

Sampling factors causing variability in milk constituents in early lactation cows

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of breed, parity, sampling day, and sampling time on somatic cell count (SCC) and milk lipid and protein profiles in intra-mammary infection-free early lactating dairy cows (Holstein, n = 5 and Swiss Brown, n = 6; 34 ± 6 DIM). SCC was assessed by flow cytometry. Milk lipid (free fatty acid, triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, cholesterol, phospholipid) and protein IgG and A, albumin, caseins (α, β, κ), α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin were determined using HPTLC and SDS-PAGE methods. Data were analysed by 4-way ANOVA and subjected to hierarchical backward elimination of insignificant interaction terms. SCC varied by parity and sampling time. Apart from sampling time, other fixed factors altered milk lipids. There was only a breed × parity interaction effect on milk lipid profiles. All proposed factors affected milk proteins. Among proteins only the IgG fraction exhibited diurnal variation. There were significant breed × parity, breed × sampling day, and parity × sampling day interactions for milk proteins. In conclusion, factors relating to the cows themselves (breed and parity), sampling day, and sampling time cause variation in parameters that are pertinent to mammary gland health and milk quality.

Düvelerde Mastitis: Prevalansı, Risk Faktörleri ve Patogenezi

Dunyada ve ozellikle ulkemizde duve mastitislerinin onemi, yetistiriciler ve veteriner hekimler tarafindan henuz yeterince kavranamamistir. Dogum yapmamis duvelerde meme enfeksiyonlarinin olamayacagi dusuncesinin aksine, alti aylik duvelerde dahi meme ici enfeksiyon sekillenebilmektedir. Gebe duvelerde dogumdan once meme ici enfeksiyon prevalansi %90 oranina kadar cikabilmekte, dogumdan sonra ise bu oran %45 civarinda devam edebilmektedir. Ancak, meme ici enfeksiyon saptanma orani ve bu enfeksiyonlara neden olan patojen tipleri her surude farklilik gosterebilmektedir. Subklinik ve klinik mastitis olgularinda duve meme loblarindan en sik izole edilen mikroorganizmalar Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus hyicus, Staphylococcus aureus ve Streptococcus uberis’dir. Ilk gebeligi sirasinda enfekte oldugu belirlenen duvelerde, dogumdan hemen sonra alinan sut orneklerinde ortalama somatik hucre sayisi 20x106 hucre/ml’ye kadar yukselirken, saglikli meme loblarinda bu deger ortalama 3.5x106 hucre/ml olarak belirlenmektedir. Duvelerde mastitise neden olan risk faktorleri arasinda yaz aylarinda dogum yapma, buzagilarin mastitisli sutlerle beslenmesi, buzagilarin birbirini emmesi, duvelerin ineklerle temas halinde olmasi, sinek kontrolunun eksikligi ve barinak kosullarinin sagliksiz olmasi gibi etkenler sayilmaktadir. Bu derlemede yeterince onemsenmeyen duve mastitislerinin prevalansi, mastitise neden olan risk faktorleri ve patogenezinin degerlendirilmesi amaclanmistir.