Mastitis is the number one disease in dairy cattle in terms of cost and lost production and is a major problem world-wide. The chemiluminescence(CL) assay measures the ability of a phagocyte to produce light. Milk CL assay can detect an early stage of mastitis precisely because phagocytic leukocytes, such as neutrophils, mobilize in the milk with an excellent initial reaction after bacterial invasion. By focusing on the fact that phagocytic leukocytes in milk emit CL, we developed a method to diagnose the early stage of mastitis. (Lab. of Pathophysiology, Department of Pathology and Physiology TEL +81-298-38-7810)
References:
Takahashi, H.: Cytokine Therapy for Staphylococcus Mastitis in Dairy Cows. Science & Technonews Tsukuba, 50: 55-56 (1999)