Method and apparatus for monitoring the state of health of dairy cows

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for monitoring the state of health of dairy cows, in particular of entire dairy herds. The method is based on analysing the haptoglobin (HP) biomarker and part of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), the secretory component (Secretory Component, SC), in a milk sample. In particular, the claimed method and apparatus of the invention make it possible to diagnose mastitis or systemic diseases which occur outside the udder on the basis of the protein biomarker described here. The invention therefore makes it possible to regularly monitor the general state of health of a dairy herd. The present invention relates to non-invasive diagnostic methods and to apparatuses and diagnostic kits for carrying out these methods.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A non-invasive system for monitoring the state of health of a dairy cow, comprising:
 a means to measure concentrations of at least two biomarkers including one of the following biomarker combinations (i) to (vi):
 (i) haptoglobin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; 
 (ii) haptoglobin and Lactoferrin; 
 (iii) Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor; 
 (iv) Lactoferrin and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor; 
 (v) Lactoferrin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; 
 (vi) haptoglobin and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor; 
   in a milk sample, and a processor configured to compare the measured concentrations of the at least two biomarkers with reference values for the at least two biomarkers, wherein a deviation of the measured concentration from the reference values indicates an unhealthy condition in the dairy cow; and   an automated or semi-automated milking system configured to obtain the milk sample from the dairy cow during a milking process.   
     
     
         16 . The non-invasive system according to  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of: a memory and a display. 
     
     
         17 . The non-invasive system according to  claim 15 , wherein the means to measure concentrations of the at least two biomarkers is selected from the group consisting of chemiluminescent immunoassay apparatus, Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography apparatus, Enzyme immunoassay apparatus, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay apparatus, Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometer, Fluorescence immunoassay apparatus, High Performance Liquid Chromatography apparatus, Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometer, Radio immunoassay apparatus, Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis apparatus, Surface plasmon resonance apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The non-invasive system of  claim 15 , wherein the means to measure the concentrations of the at least two biomarkers comprises one of the following (i) to (vi):
 (i) an antibody specific to haptoglobin and an antibody specific to vascular endothelial growth factor;   (ii) an antibody specific to haptoglobin and an antibody specific to Lactoferrin;   (iii) an antibody specific to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and an antibody specific to polymeric immunoglobulin receptor;   (iv) an antibody specific to Lactoferrin and an antibody specific to polymeric immunoglobulin receptor;   (v) an antibody specific to Lactoferrin and an antibody specific to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor;   (vi) an antibody specific to haptoglobin and an antibody specific to polymeric immunoglobulin receptor.   
     
     
         19 . A diagnostic kit to monitor the state of health of a dairy cow, comprising a means to measure concentrations of at least two biomarkers including one of the following biomarker combinations (i) to (vi):
 (i) haptoglobin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor;   (ii) haptoglobin and Lactoferrin;   (iii) Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor;   (iv) Lactoferrin and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor;   (v) Lactoferrin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor;   (vi) haptoglobin and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor;   
     
     
         20 . The diagnostic kit of  claim 19 , wherein the means to measure the concentrations of the at least two biomarkers comprises one of the following (i) to (vi):
 (i) an antibody specific to haptoglobin and an antibody specific to vascular endothelial growth factor;   (ii) an antibody specific to haptoglobin and an antibody specific to Lactoferrin;   (iii) an antibody specific to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and an antibody specific to polymeric immunoglobulin receptor;   (iv) an antibody specific to Lactoferrin and an antibody specific to polymeric immunoglobulin receptor;   (v) an antibody specific to Lactoferrin and an antibody specific to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor;   (vi) an antibody specific to haptoglobin and an antibody specific to polymeric immunoglobulin receptor.