Abstract
The aim of this study is to determine and correlate the biochemical profile of blood and milk, especially the concentrations of acute phase proteins and immunoglobulin G (IgG) of goats with experimental mastitis induced by Staphylococcus aureus (Group I) and Streptococcus agalactiae (Group II) in order to verify the importance of these variables as early indicators of intrammamary infection in this species and its correlation with the severity of clinical signs. Group I will consist of five Saanen goats inoculated by intramammary route with S. aureus, and the GII consist of five French Alpine breed goats inoculated with S. agalactiae. The moment of sampling that will immediately precede the experimental inoculation will be the sampling moment called M0 and the following will be identified as M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 and M7, in which, from M0, daily samples of blood and milk will be accomplished. At all times systemic clinical examination and physical examination of the mammary gland will be made. In blood and milk samples serum enzymatic activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and the concentrations of total protein, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron will be measured using commercial kits. Protein fractioning of samples will be obtained using the two-dimensional electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE) technique. Milk will be daily analyzed through the strip cup test; then a California Mastitis Test (CMT) will be held and at last milk samples will be collected for microbiological examination. Results from all procedures will be noted in individual clinical records. Data will be evaluated by variance analysis, with pairwise comparisons made with the zero moment (M0) using the Dunnett test (P <0.05). Correlation between blood and milk variables will be evaluated within each group by Pearson or Spearman correlation, depending on the assumptions of normality. As for the data of physical examination of the mammary gland and milk the assessment will be prepared in a descriptive way. (AU)
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