Lactoferrin Concentration in Milk From Camels (Camelus dromedarius) With and Without Subclinical Mastitis

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to investigate the levels of lactoferrin in 180 normal and 132 mastitic camel milk samples and to elucidate the effect of age, lactation stage, presence of pathogens, and somatic cell counts (SCC) on the concentration of lactoferrin in camel milk using radial immunodiffusion test. The mean log concentration of lactoferrin from mastitic camels (3.8 ± 0.67) was significantly higher than that in normal camels (2.65 ± 0.88). The mean log concentrations of lactoferrin in 3- and 4-year-old lactating camels were significantly higher than that in older camels. A correlation was observed between the levels of lactoferrin in normal and mastitic camel milk and the SCC score. The log lactoferrin concentrations in subclinical mastitic camel milk infected with Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates were significantly higher than those for other bacterial isolates. No differences in the concentration of lactoferrin were observed in reference to the stage of lactation. These data could help in understanding the mechanisms of udder resistance to infections. In addition, levels of lactoferrin in milk could be used as a diagnostic tool in cases of subclinical mastitis.