Use of bulk milk samples to detect infectious diseases of dairy cattle: Protocol for a scoping review

Abstract

Background: In spite of the growing interest in the use of aggregate samples such as bulk tank milk to detect endemic and emerging diseases of dairy cattle, there is no synthesis of the literature reporting in the testing of bulk milk as well as characteristics of tests employed. The availability of this information can be used to inform the development of surveillance programs of endemic and emerging diseases of interest.

Objectives: The objectives of this scoping review are to gather the best current information about milk-based screening or diagnostic tests of infectious diseases of dairy cattle that have been used on bulk milk samples, including detailed information about whether tests have been validated and the performance characteristics of those tests.

Design: Original studies reporting on characteristics of screening or diagnostic tests of infectious diseases of dairy cattle based on farm-level bulk milk samples will be eligible for inclusion. The review will be reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (Tricco et al., 2018). Tables will be used to describe studies characteristics and to summarize results from studies.