Abstract
The concentration of the nuclease produced by Staphylococcus aureus and titres of antinucleases were determined in the udder secretions of 539 cows, most of them with clinical S. aureus mastitis. On average, the nuclease was detected in 85 % of the samples from mastitic quarters. In milk from most cows, antinucleases neutralize the activity of the nuclease, and a successful demonstration of this thermostable enzyme presupposed the inactivation of antibodies by heating the samples on boiling water-bath. The nuclease was demonstrated most frequently, and at highest concentration, in samples from cows with a severe mastitis and from cows which did not recover completely.
The test for nuclease, performed out both non-heated and heated quarter samples, and the antimuclease test, may supplement conventional laboratory methods. The advantages and limitations of the methods in the diagnosis of mastitis are discussed.
Keywords: bovine mastitis, nuclease, heated nuclease, antinucleases
Sammendrag
Konsentrasjonen av nuklease produsert av Staphylococcus aureus og titeret av antinukleaser er blitt bestemt i jursekret fra 539 kyr, de fleste med klinisk mastitt forårsaket av Staphylococcus aureus. Nuklease ble i gjennomsnitt påvist i 85 % av prøvene av mastittsekret. I melk fra kyr vil det ofte være antinukleaser som nøytraliserer aktiviteten av nukleasen og en vellykket påvisning av det varmestabile enzymet forutsetter at antistoffer inaktiveres ved oppvarming på kokende vannbad. Nukleasen kan påvises oftest og i høyest konsentrasjoner i prøver fra kyr med alvorlig mastitt og fra kyr som ikke blir fullstendig helbredet.
Nukleasetesten utført på mastittprøver direkte og etter oppvarming, og antinukleasetesten kan være et supplement til vanlige laboratorieundersøkelser. Beskrivelsen omfatter også en omtale av fordelene og enkelte begreosninger ved metodene.
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