MORPHOMETRIC AND PATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON MAMMARY GLAND OF SLAUGHTERED NILI-RAVI BUFFALOES

In the present study morphometric, quantitative and histopathological effects associated with mastitis were recorded in mammary glands of naturally infected buffaloes. The milk samples of 200 buffaloes were subjected to California Mastitis Test to detect mastitis at Faisalabad abattoir. Mastitis was significantly higher in buffaloes having cylindrical and round teats, bowl and round udder shape (P 0.0004). Teat diameter was significantly higher while teat and streak canal length was significantly lower in mastitic buffaloes. The total milk leukocytes and neutrophil (P 0.0001) was significantly higher, while lymphocytes and macrophages population was significantly (P 0.0001) lower in mastitic buffaloes. Alveolar diameter (short and long), number of alveoli and alveolar cell population were significantly (P 0.0001) decreased in mastitic buffaloes. Tissue sections from infected animals indicated marked leukocyte infiltration, atrophy of alveoli, cellular exudates, connective tissues proliferation and abscesses formation. Histochemically, tissue sections from infected udder showed low alkaline phosphatase activity and density of protein staining. The results revealed that some udder traits play significant role to prevent mastitis and mammary function is severely decreased due to altered cellular activity in infected glands.