A-Esterase Activities of Milk From Cows with Experimentally Induced Mastitis

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Abstract
Variations in CMT (California Mastitis Test), cell count, catalase, chloride and A-esterase levels following the inoculation of normal lactating quarters of 2 cows with varying numbers of [alpha][beta]hemolytic staphylococci (previously isolated from a cow with mastitis) were determined. Since the organism did not produce as strong a response as desired, the quarters were rein-fected 3 times during the 17 -day experimental period. Infusions of sterile broth into the control (uninfected) quarter of each of the 2 cows did not affect A-esterase levels. Infusion of varying numbers of [alpha][beta] hemolytic staphylococci into the 3 remaining quarters of each of the 2 cows generally resulted in a marked increase in A -esterase activity within a 12-hr. period, followed by a gradual decline. Similar patterns of change were observed for catalase and cell counts. Coefficients of correlation between A-esterase and the 4 other tests were A-esterase x CMT =0.69, n = 192; A-esterase x cell counts = 0.78, n = 188; A-esterase x catalase = 0.80, n = 192; and A-esterase x chloride =0.60, n =192.