Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Caprine Clinical Mastitis: Correlation with Somatic Cell Count and Evaluation of Antioxidant Therapy

Abstract Mastitis remains a prevalent and economically significant disease in dairy goats. Oxidative stress, mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), is implicated in its pathogenesis, yet limited studies have explored this association in goats. This study aimed to assess oxidative stress biomarkers in caprine clinical mastitis, their correlation with somatic cell count (SCC), and the therapeutic efficacy of antioxidant interventions. A total of 313 lactating goats from both organized and unorganized sectors in Jabalpur were screened over six months, and 27 were diagnosed with clinical mastitis. Milk and heparinized blood samples were analyzed for SCC, milk pH, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH). Affected goats showed significantly elevated MDA, SCC, and milk pH, along with reduced GSH levels compared to healthy controls. A significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) was observed between SCC and MDA levels. Therapeutic trials compared the efficacy of ascorbic acid and tocopherol-sodium selenite combination alongside antibiotics. The tocopherol-selenium group demonstrated superior clinical recovery and normalization of oxidative stress markers. These results suggest that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in clinical mastitis in goats and that antioxidant therapy, particularly tocopherol with selenium, can effectively mitigate oxidative damage when used with conventional treatment.