An Irish company in co-operation with researchers in the US and Britain has claimed an important breakthrough in the treatment of mastitis, the most serious disease in dairy cattle in terms of cost and lost production. Tridelta Development, based in Maynooth, Co Kildare, has developed an early test for the detection of mastitis. It can also pinpoint which of the four quarters of the cow's udder is causing the problem, allowing early specific treatment of the animal and a rapid return to productivity.
The test can be carried out without the need for a blood sample, as it requires only a few drops of milk. Tridelta says it has the potential to make a significant impact on the treatment of mastitis, which costs the dairy industry as much as $3 billion in the US alone.
The patented technology is based on Tridelta's "Phase Range" assay for the Acute Phase Protein SAA (Serum Amyloid A). The research has discovered what is thought to be a unique form of this protein which is produced in the breasts of lactating mammals.
Tridelta's managing director, Mr Brian Hett, said mastitis was a serious and expensive problem for the dairy farmer and for the animal's health. Tridelta hopes to have a prototype, point-of-care assay available within a month.
"This would be used by dairymen on farms to identify those cattle which would develop mastitis. Early detection of the disease will allow dairymen to start treatment earlier, therefore reducing the amount of lost milk-production and reducing the suffering of the animal."
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