Characterization of Milk from Mastitis-Infected Cows Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometry as a Molecular Analytical Technique

The present work focuses on the possibility of using the evolution of the spectral molecular bands of cyanide (CN) and carbon (C2) in the laser-induced breakdown spectra of cow’s milk for mastitis characterization. It has been found that the intensities of these molecular bands are directly proportional to the mastitis symptoms and consequently to the somatic cells count (SCC). The results obtained using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique in the present measurements proved that it is a direct, straightforward, and easy method for discrimination between mastitis milk and normal milk. A linear relation between the CN and C2 spectral line intensities and the corresponding average of the SCC has been obtained. Such linear relationship can be easily exploited in the identification and characterization of mastitic milk samples.