Question

Which of the following milk constituent show a significant reduction during subclinical mastitis infection?

• A. Lactose
• B. Whey proteins
• C. Chloride
• D. Somatic cells

Hint:

During mastitis, milk-specific components (Lactose, Casein, Fat) decrease, while blood-derived components (Sodium, Chloride, Somatic Cells, Serum Albumin) increase.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the mammary gland that impairs secretory tissue function and increases the permeability of the blood-milk barrier.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
During mastitis, the inflammatory response alters milk composition in two ways:
1. Decreased Synthesis: The damaged mammary epithelial cells lose their synthetic capacity. Consequently, the concentrations of milk-specific constituents synthesized in the udder, such as lactose, casein, and fat, decrease significantly.
2. Increased Permeability: The tight junctions between secretory cells break down, allowing blood constituents to leak into milk. This leads to a marked increase in chloride, sodium, immunoglobulins (whey proteins), and somatic cells (leukocytes).
Thus, among the options, Lactose is the constituent that shows a significant reduction.

Step 3: Final Answer
Lactose is the milk constituent that is significantly reduced during subclinical mastitis.