Popis: |
Mastitis is a complex and multifactorial disease that leads to chemical, physical, and bacteriological changes in milk, which is associated with great economic losses. This study was carried out on lactating cows to investigate the effect of subclinical mastitis (SCM) on milk production through the estimation of immunological and biochemical characteristics of milk. Therefore, a total of 200 apparently-healthy lactating cows were randomly selected from different areas in Baghdad and Maysan provinces in Iraq from April to July 2021, and 100 ml of fresh milk was directly collected from each cow. Milk samples were examined by the California mastitis test (CMT), and IgG concentration in milk was estimated by the ELISA method. Moreover, the changes in biochemical parameters and enzymatic parameters were analyzed to determine the prevalence of SCM. Based on the results of the CMT test, the prevalence of SCM was 41.5% with a significant increase in a mild degree of severity (61.45%). IgG antibodies increased significantly in positive cows (4.92± 0.21 µg/ml). Significant prevalence of infection was observed among cows ≥5 years old compared to those |