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The incidence of mastitis treated with antibiotics in large-scale Hungarian Holstein-Friesian dairy farms.

Treated mastitis episodes at large Hungarian dairy farms were studied to determine the distribution of mastitis treated with antibiotics among quarters of the udder. Data were detailed records of all mastitis episodes that occurred during 1976 lactations in Farm A infected with Staphylococcus aureus (from May 1995 through July 1998) and 808 lactations in Farm B free from S. aureus (from January 1999 through March 2001). The distribution of treated quarters was compared with mathematical expectations based upon a random distribution in the case of Farm A. Results on mastitis incidences for different lactation stage groups showed an increasing incidence within subsequent lactation stage groups in Farm A. In contrast, in Farm B the mastitis incidence for lactation stage group between 35 and 100 days was the highest, but beyond 100 days the incidence decreased and reached the lowest value. Results gave strong evidence that the four quarters within the udder are not distributed randomly with respect to naturally occurring episodes of treated mastitis. More episodes than expected occurred in which only one or all four quarters were treated. Fewer episodes than expected with two or three treated quarters were observed. In both farms, the mastitis rate for rear quarters was higher than for front quarters, and the incidence of right quarter mastitis episodes was higher than that of left quarter mastitis episodes.

Animals↗

Effects of two anti-inflammatory drugs on physiologic variables and milk production in cows with endotoxin-induced mastitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 2 anti-inflammatory drugs in lactating Holstein cows with endotoxin-induced mastitis. ANIMALS: 30 multiparous Holstein cows that had been lactating for 30 to 60 days. PROCEDURE: Bacterial culture of milk samples and physical examinations established that study cows were in good health and free of mastitis. Mastitis was induced in 1 front mammary gland by intramammary administration of purified bacterial endotoxin. Cows were allocated into 1 of 3 treatment groups: untreated endotoxic mastitis (n = 9), endotoxic mastitis plus flunixin meglumine (9), and endotoxic mastitis plus isoflupredone acetate (10). Heart rate, rectal temperature, mammary surface area, and rumen motility were recorded hourly for 14 hours following endotoxin administration. Flunixin meglumine or isoflupredone acetate was administered after mammary swelling and rectal temperature > or = 40 degrees C had developed. Milk production was evaluated from 5 days before to 10 days after induction of mastitis. RESULTS: Neither drug ameliorated loss of milk production or swelling of the affected mammary gland. Both drugs reduced mean heart rate during the 14 hours following endotoxin administration, compared with untreated control cows. Cows treated with flunixin meglumine had increased rumen motility and decreased rectal temperature during the same period, compared with all other cows. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Neither drug enhanced recovery of milk production following endotoxin-induced mastitis. Flunixin meglumine decreased rectal temperature, whereas isoflupredone did not; however, it has not been established that reduction of fever is beneficial to cows with naturally occurring mastitis.

Animals↗

Heritability of clinical mastitis incidence and relationships with sire transmitting abilities for somatic cell score, udder type traits, productive life, and protein yield.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationships among daughter clinical mastitis during first and second lactations and sire transmitting abilities for somatic cell score, udder type traits, productive life, and protein yield. Data on clinical mastitis during first lactation were available for 1795 daughters (in six Pennsylvania herds, one Minnesota herd, and one Nebraska herd) of 283 Holstein sires. Data on clinical mastitis during second lactation were available for 1055 of these daughters. A total of 479 cows had 864 clinical episodes during first lactation, and 230 cows had 384 clinical episodes during second lactation. Clinical mastitis incidence and the total number of clinical episodes during each lactation were regressed on herd-season of calving (a classification variable), age at first calving, lactation length, and sire transmitting abilities taken one at a time. Linear effects, nonlinear effects, and odds ratios were estimated for sire transmitting abilities. Separate analyses were conducted on dependent variables that considered clinical mastitis from: all organisms, coagulase-negative staphylococci, coliform species, streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae, and the most common environmental organisms (coliform species and streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae). Heritability of clinical mastitis ranged from 0.01 to 0.42. Daughters of sires that transmit the lowest somatic cell score had the lowest incidence of clinical mastitis and the fewest clinical episodes during first and second lactations. Daughters of sires that transmit longer productive life, shallower udders, deeper udder cleft, and strongly attached fore udders had either fewer clinical episodes or lower clinical mastitis incidence during first and second lactations. The incidence of clinical mastitis and the number of clinical episodes per lactation may be reduced by selection for lower somatic cell score, longer productive life, shallower udders, deeper udder cleft, or strongly attached fore udders.

Animals↗

Bulk tank somatic cell counts analyzed by statistical process control tools to identify and monitor subclinical mastitis incidence.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between monthly Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) subclinical mastitis and new infection rate estimates and daily bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC) summarized by statistical process control tools. Dairy Herd Improvement Association test-day subclinical mastitis and new infection rate estimates along with daily or every other day bulk tank SCC data were collected for 12 mo of 2003 from 275 Upper Midwest dairy herds. Herds were divided into 5 herd production categories. A linear score [LNS = ln(BTSCC/100,000)/0.693147 + 3] was calculated for each individual bulk tank SCC. For both the raw SCC and the transformed data, the mean and sigma were calculated using the statistical quality control individual measurement and moving range chart procedure of Statistical Analysis System. One hundred eighty-three herds of the 275 herds from the study data set were then randomly selected and the raw (method 1) and transformed (method 2) bulk tank SCC mean and sigma were used to develop models for predicting subclinical mastitis and new infection rate estimates. Herd production category was also included in all models as 5 dummy variables. Models were validated by calculating estimates of subclinical mastitis and new infection rates for the remaining 92 herds and plotting them against observed values of each of the dependents. Only herd production category and bulk tank SCC mean were significant and remained in the final models. High R2 values (0.83 and 0.81 for methods 1 and 2, respectively) indicated a strong correlation between the bulk tank SCC and herd's subclinical mastitis prevalence. The standard errors of the estimate were 4.02 and 4.28% for methods 1 and 2, respectively, and decreased with increasing herd production. As a case study, Shewhart Individual Measurement Charts were plotted from the bulk tank SCC to identify shifts in mastitis incidence. Four of 5 charts examined signaled a change in bulk tank SCC before the DHI test day identified the change in subclinical mastitis prevalence. It can be concluded that applying statistical process control tools to daily bulk tank SCC can be used to estimate subclinical mastitis prevalence in the herd and observe for change in the subclinical mastitis status. Single DHI test day estimates of new infection rate were insufficient to accurately describe its dynamics.

Animals↗

Genetic association between parameters of inmate immunity and measures of mastitis in periparturient Holstein cattle.

Relationships between genetic measures of mastitis (somatic cell score, score for clinical mastitis, and scores for IMI with major or minor pathogens) and immunological parameters (physiological and molecular markers) were examined for periparturient Holstein cows. Physiological markers included 11 in vitro immunological assays. Molecular markers included the second exon of the DRB3 locus of the bovine major histocompatibility complex, the IgG2 isotype genotype, and the CD18 genotype (the locus responsible for bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency). A gene substitution model was used to estimate the additive genetic effects of alleles of the three molecular markers on estimated breeding value (EBV) for mastitis measures. Pearson correlation coefficients between EBV for immunological assays and EBV for mastitis measures were computed. Molecular markers explained up to 40% of the variation in EBV for measures of mastitis. The presence of allele DRB3.2*16 was associated with higher EBV for SCS. Allele DRB3.2*8 was associated with increased EBV for clinical mastitis, as was the IgG2b allele and the normal CD18 allele. Alleles DRB3.2*11, *23, IgG2a, and the recessive allele for bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency were associated with decreased clinical mastitis. A positive genetic association was found between allele DRB3.2*24 and EBV for IMI by major pathogens and between DRB3.2*3 and IMI by minor pathogens. Several correlations between EBV for immunological assays and EBV for mastitis measures were significantly different from 0. Cows with low EBV for SCS tended to have neutrophils that had greater functional ability at maximal immunosuppression, low serum IgG1, and high numbers of circulating mononuclear cells. Immunological parameters, including physiological and molecular markers, are useful aids to understand the genetics of resistance to mastitis.

Alleles↗

Identification of risk factors for clinical mastitis in dairy heifers.

A nested case-control study was conducted to identify risk factors for clinical mastitis in heifers. Cases and controls originated from dairy herds that were enrolled in the Production Recording Scheme. Heifers that had been treated for clinical mastitis prepartum or on the day of parturition were eligible for inclusion as cases. The controls were heifers that had not been treated for clinical mastitis before parturition, during their first lactation, or during the dry period. In the final analysis, 4256 heifers with mastitis and 67,072 control heifers were included. An increase in the incidence of clinical mastitis in the herd, a decrease in the bulk milk somatic cell count, and an increase in the mean milk yield of the herd were associated with an increased risk for clinical mastitis. The risk varied among regions, and, depending on region, significant influences of both herd size and composition of the diet were observed. Heifers kept on pasture in summer were at a decreased risk for clinical mastitis. Calving in late spring or summer was associated with greater risk than was calving at other times of the year. An increase in age at first calving was associated with increased risk of mastitis. Mastitis was also more likely to occur in heifers leaking milk or in heifers that had a low milk flow rate in the subsequent lactation. For purchased heifers, risk factors were identified in both their previous and current herds.

Aging↗

Management practices associated with the incidence rate of clinical mastitis.

Risk factors for the incidence rate of clinical mastitis were studied in 274 Dutch dairy herds. Variables that were associated with resistance to disease were the feeding, housing, and milking machine factors. Variables that were associated with exposure were grazing, combined housing of dry cows and heifers, and calving area hygiene. Postmilking teat disinfection in herds with a low bulk milk somatic cell count and years of practicing dry cow therapy were positively associated with the incidence rate of clinical mastitis. Herds with a low bulk milk somatic cell count and in which postmilking teat disinfection was not used had lower incidence rates of clinical mastitis than did other herds. The incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Escherichia coli was mostly related to housing conditions, hygiene, and machine milking. The incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus was mostly related to factors associated with bulk milk somatic cell count and factors that might be due to cause and effect reversal. A strong positive correlation existed between the incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae and the incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Staph. aureus. The incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae was related to nutrition, milking technique, and machine milking. The incidence rate of clinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus uberis was associated with factors related to housing, nutrition, and machine milking.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

[Effect of puerperal mastitis in primiparous cows on milk production, cell count and culling].

A retrospective cohort study was performed to investigate the effect of clinical mastitis in heifers during the first week post partum (p.p.) on subsequent health and productivity. Primiparous cows that had calved between August 15th, 1996 and August 14th, 1997 (n = 1389) were included in the study. Milk samples were collected from each quarter post partum prior to first milking. The predominant group of bacteria found were Staphylococcus spp. (69%) followed by Streptococcus spp.(12%) and E. coli (5%). Intramammary infections at calving increased the risk of clinical mastitis within the first week p.p. The cow incidence of mastitis until day 7 p. p. was 38%. Cows were classified into three groups. Group 1: Animals with clinical mastitis prior to calving (n = 35); Group 2: Animals with clinical mastitis between calving and 7 days p. p. (n = 503); Group 3: Animals without mastitis until 7 days p. p. (n = 851). Mastitis prior to parturition and mastitis within the first week p.p. increased the risk of further cases of mastitis and culling during the first 45 days of lactation. Milk yield of Group 2 was lower and somatic cell counts were higher than in Group 3.

Animals↗

Ability of hematologic and serum biochemical variables to differentiate gram-negative and gram-positive mastitis in dairy cows.

Medical records of 142 dairy cows with clinical mastitis were examined to determine whether hematologic or serum biochemical results could be used to distinguish between mastitis episodes caused by gram-negative bacteria (n = 78) from those caused by gram-positive bacteria (n = 64). Signalment, historic information, hematologic and serum biochemical results, milk culture results, and outcome (discharged from hospital or died) were obtained from the medical records. Cows with gram-negative mastitis had significantly (P < .01) lower blood leukocyte, segmented neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts and had higher blood hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrits than did cows with gram-positive mastitis. Serum urea nitrogen was the only serum biochemical result associated with pathogen type, and it was higher in cows with gram-negative mastitis than in those with gram-positive mastitis. Mortality rate (25% overall) did not differ between groups. Logistic regression indicated that routine hematologic analysis (segmented neutrophil count, monocyte count, and hemoglobin concentration) was an accurate predictor of gram-negative mastitis, with a sensitivity of .93, a specificity of .89, and an overall accuracy of 91%. The values for sensitivity and specificity were higher than those previously reported for clinical tests differentiating mastitis episodes caused by gram-negative bacteria from those caused by gram-positive bacteria. Our results indicate that routine hematologic analysis is useful for predicting pathogen type in dairy cows with clinical mastitis, thereby facilitating treatment decisions.

Animals↗

Evaluation of udder health and mastitis in llamas.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate intramammary infections in llamas, identify the pathogens responsible, and determine whether effects of intramammary infection could be detected by use of mastitis indicator tests commonly used for cows. DESIGN: Observational study. ANIMALS: 100 llamas on 10 farms. PROCEDURE: Milk samples were evaluated by bacterial culturing and by determination of somatic cell count (SCC), using direct microscopic and automated counting methods, California Mastitis Test score, pH, and N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase activity. Correlation coefficients were determined among the various mastitis indicator tests, and test results were determined for milk from infected and uninfected glands. RESULTS: Evidence of intramammary infection was evident in 76 of 369 (21%) milk samples, with 54 of 94 (57%) llamas having at least 1 infected gland. Staphylococcus sp other than Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant pathogens. None of the llamas had clinical signs of mastitis, and significant differences were not detected in SCC, California Mastitis Test score, pH, or N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase activity between infected and uninfected samples. California Mastitis Test scores were negative or trace for 307 of 313 (98%) samples, and SCC were low. In contrast, pH and N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase activity of milk from uninfected glands were higher than values reported for milk from uninfected cows, and neither variable was significantly correlated with the number of somatic cells in samples of llama milk. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Although intramammary infections develop in llamas, inflammation (mastitis) appears to be rare. Values for mastitis indicator tests used for cows cannot be directly extrapolated to llamas. Subclinical mastitis is apparently not an important problem in llamas in the United States.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Preliminary field evidence for the association of clinical mastitis with altered interestrus intervals in dairy cattle.

Clinical mastitis and reproductive records from two southern California dairy herds were used in a cross-sectional study to determine the risk of an altered interestrus interval following clinical mastitis. An altered interestrus interval was defined as cycles occurring at either less than 18 day or more than 24-day intervals. The data were stratified by herd to assess herd differences and by lactation number to assess confounding by cow parity. The predominant pathogen isolated from mastitis cases in Herd 1 was Staphylococcus aureus , whereas the predominant pathogens in Herd 2 were gram-negative isolates. Cows in Herd 1 which had coliforms cultured from mastitic milk were excluded in the analysis for comparison with Herd 2. In Herd 1, cows with clinical mastitis were less likely to have an altered interestrus interval (Relative Risk [RR]=0.9; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=0.6,1.6) than herdmates without clinical mastitis. However, cows in Herd 2 were almost two times more likely to have an altered interestrus interval following an episode of clinical mastitis compared to herdmates without clinical mastitis (RR=1.6; 95% CI=1.3,2.0). Because herd management practices differ and could cause differences in mastitis and reproductive outcomes at the dairies, this preliminary field evidence should be followed by prospective studies of luteal function after clinical coliform mastitis.

Journal Article↗

Bovine mastitis due to algae of the genus Prototheca.

Protothecosis was described in many animals, with bovine mastitis being the main form. The increasing number of isolations of Prototheca spp. from bovine mastitis cases indicates the need of a detailed evaluation of this problem. Besides this, these algae do not respond to treatment with the antimicrobians most frequently applied, leading to elimination of the affected animals, as the best method to control the disease. In two dairy farms in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, a total of 155 lactating cows and 52 dry cows were examined. Milk samples were aseptically collected from lactating cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis. From dry cows, secretion samples from all quarters were collected. All samples were then taken to microbiological exams. At dairy farm 1, Prototheca spp. was isolated from 14.95% milk samples from lactating cows, (all of them cases of subclinical mastitis), and from 8.06% samples from dry cows. At dairy farm 2, Prototheca spp. was isolated from 5.1% milk samples and there were ten cases of clinical mastitis due to this agent. Although clinical mastitis has been considered the main form of occurrence of this pathology until now, it is important to consider Prototheca spp. as subclinical mastitis pathogen. Prototheca zopfii was the main specie isolated. In this study a high rate of intramammarian infections, as clinical or subclinical mastitis during lactation as well as in dry period, was observed, high lighting the importance of suitable diagnosis, so that control and preventive measures can be implemented to avoid dissemination of the agent.

Animals↗

[Mastitis. Classification, histopathology and clinical aspects].

The frequency of biopsies with different types of mastitis among all patients with benign breast diseases in twenty years was 3%. About 2/3 of the patients were younger than 50 years, the average age was 46.7 years. Comparing the frequency of the different types of mastitis the puerperal mastitis is very rare in contrast to the increasing non-puerperal and granulomatous inflammatory breast lesions. The diagnosis "granulomatous mastitis" is one of exclusion. Both non-infectious and infectious causes must be considered. The origin of the granulomatous mastitis often is unknown, but it is supposed to be an autoimmune localized response due to the retained and extravasated fat and protein rich secretions in the ducts in cases of hyperprolactinemia (drug induced or by microprolactinomas) or hormonal imbalances characterized by epitheloid cell granulomas with giant cells microabscesses around lipid drops, but without necroses. An idiopathic type of granulomatous mastitis concerns young women in relationship to parturition with a similar histological pattern predominantly of the lobules. Special types of mastitis are the B-lymphocytic autoimmune mastitis associated with a longstanding insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus type I, the sarcoidosis, panniculitis and the rare but very different infectious diseases with breast involvement. Particularly in cases without features of secretory activity a carefully bacterioscopic and microbiologic work-up of fresh material from the surgical specimens is necessary for a final diagnostic report.

Abscess↗

Role of bovine herpesvirus 4 in bacterial bovine mastitis.

In order to study the role played by bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) in bovine mastitis, PCR experiments were performed on a Hungarian dairy herd of 2000 cows. Milk cells were tested with a nested PCR adjusted to detect the virus in the milk. Thirty to forty-one percentage of the udders of 101 cows with bacterial mastitis (Escherichia coli, Streptococcus uberis or Staphylococcus aureus) gave positive results, whereas less than 6% of the milk samples were positive for BoHV-4 from 118 animals with healthy udders. The mastitis status of these 118 healthy cows was followed throughout the milking period; 4.2% had clinical, and 25.42% had subclinical mastitis. By the end of the milking period, more than 90% of the cows shed the virus in their milk, regardless of the bacterial status of the udder. No correlation was found between the virus shed, the somatic cell count, and the bacterial status of the udder. Viral DNA was detected in the wall of the milk duct. These results demonstrate that BoHV-4 neither causes mastitis directly nor plays a role in the initiation of the process, but later, when bacterial infection of the udder occurs, the reactivated virus replicates in the immune cells of the udder and/or in the epithelial cells of the milk ducts and may be responsible for more severe, prolonged mastitis. As mastitis is a crucial problem of milk production, this virus may be considered a possible predisposing factor and also an agent of secondary udder infections in prolonged mastitis cases.

Animals↗

The use of Markov chain Monte Carlo for analysis of correlated binary data: patterns of somatic cells in milk and the risk of clinical mastitis in dairy cows.

Two analytical approaches were used to investigate the relationship between somatic cell concentrations in monthly quarter milk samples and subsequent, naturally occurring clinical mastitis in three dairy herds. Firstly, cows with clinical mastitis were selected and a conventional matched analysis was used to compare affected and unaffected quarters of the same cow. The second analysis included all cows, and in order to overcome potential bias associated with the correlation structure, a hierarchical Bayesian generalised linear mixed model was specified. A Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach, that is Gibbs sampling, was used to estimate parameters. The results of both the matched analysis and the hierarchical modelling suggested that quarters with a somatic cell count (SCC) in the range 41,000-100,000 cells/ml had a lower risk of clinical mastitis during the next month than quarters <41,000 cell/ml. Quarters with an SCC >200,000 cells/ml were at the greatest risk of clinical mastitis in the next month. There was a reduced risk of clinical mastitis between 1 and 2 months later in quarters with an SCC of 81,000-150,000 cells/ml compared with quarters below this level. The hierarchical modelling analysis identified a further reduced risk of clinical mastitis between 2 and 3 months later in quarters with an SCC 61,000-150,000 cells/ml, compared to other quarters. We conclude that low concentrations of somatic cells in milk are associated with increased risk of clinical mastitis, and that high concentrations are indicative of pre-existing immunological mobilisation against infection. The variation in risk between quarters of affected cows suggests that local quarter immunological events, rather than solely whole cow factors, have an important influence on the risk of clinical mastitis. MCMC proved a useful tool for estimating parameters in a hierarchical Bernoulli model. Model construction and an approach to assessing goodness of model fit are described.

Animals↗

Clinical and subclinical mastitis in smallholder dairy farms in Tanzania: risk, intervention and knowledge transfer.

In a cross-sectional study of 400 randomly selected smallholder dairy farms in the Tanga and Iringa regions of Tanzania, 14.2% (95% confidence interval (CI)=11.6-17.3) of cows had developed clinical mastitis during the previous year. The point prevalence of subclinical mastitis, defined as a quarter positive by the California Mastitis Test (CMT) or by bacteriological culture, was 46.2% (95% CI=43.6-48.8) and 24.3% (95% CI=22.2-26.6), respectively. In a longitudinal disease study in Iringa, the incidence of clinical mastitis was 31.7 cases per 100 cow-years. A randomised intervention trial indicated that intramammary antibiotics significantly reduced the proportion of bacteriologically positive quarters in the short-term (14 days post-infusion) but teat dipping had no detectable effect on bacteriological infection and CMT positive quarters. Other risk and protective factors were identified from both the cross-sectional and longitudinal included animals with Boran breeding (odds ratio (OR)=3.40, 95% CI=1.00-11.57, P<0.05 for clinical mastitis, and OR=3.51, 95% CI=1.29-9.55, P<0.01 for a CMT positive quarter), while the practice of residual calf suckling was protective for a bacteriologically positive quarter (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.48-0.81, P<or=0.001) and for a CMT positive quarter (OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.63-0.75, P<0.001). A mastitis training course for farmers and extension officers was held, and the knowledge gained and use of different methods of dissemination were assessed over time. In a subsequent randomised controlled trial, there were strong associations between knowledge gained and both the individual question asked and the combination of dissemination methods (village meeting, video and handout) used. This study demonstrated that both clinical and subclinical mastitis is common in smallholder dairying in Tanzania, and that some of the risk and protective factors for mastitis can be addressed by practical management of dairy cows following effective knowledge transfer.

Animals↗

Detection of the enterotoxins A, B, and C genes in Staphylococcus aureus from goat and bovine mastitis in Brazilian dairy herds.

To determine the distribution of genes that encode enterotoxins A, B and C, 36 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from goat mastitis and 64 isolated from bovine mastitis were analyzed by Multiplex PCR. Of the total strains studied, 37 (37%) were detected to have some of the SEs genes. From the bovine mastitis strains, 4 (6.3%) co-amplified the sea and seb genes and 2 (3.1%) were positive for the sec gene. From the goat mastitis strains, 31 (86%) tested positive to the Multiplex, and the sec gene was detected in all of them. The production of SE was detected in all strains harboring the corresponding gene. The results demonstrated that S. aureus isolated from goat mastitis had a higher enterotoxigenic potential than those isolated from bovine mastitis. Additionally, the presence of the sec gene in the majority of goat mastitis strains suggests a possible involvement of SEC in goat mastitis pathogenesis.

Animals↗

Increased surface expression of CD11b receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes is not sufficient to sustain phagocytosis during Escherichia coli mastitis in early postpartum dairy cows.

Phagocytosis, CD11a and CD11b adhesion receptor expression, O2-production and maturity of circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were studied during acute coliform mastitis in early postpartum dairy cows to obtain a better insight in the role of neutrophils in the pathology of this disease. The mammary gland of twelve newly calved high-yielding dairy cows was experimentally infected with Escherichia coli. Variability in clinical signs of mastitis and inhibition of milk production among cows was very high. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of circulating neutrophils immediately before infection and severity of mastitis represented by the decrease in milk production of non-infected quarters two days after infection. Pre-infection phagocytosis of E. coli, CD11a and CD11b receptor expression, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced O2-production and maturity of neutrophils on a per cell basis were not related to severity of mastitis. However, significant correlations between severity of mastitis and the total number of phagocytic PMN and mature PMN in blood immediately before infection were found. PMN characteristics responded differently to mastitis depending on the severity of the disease. Neutrophil functions from cows classified as severe (S) and moderate (M) responders to infection of the mammary gland were compared. Surface expression of CD11a receptors on PMN was decreased in all cows 24 h after infection, and this decrease was long-continued in S responders. A biphasic upregulation of the number of CD11b receptors on PMN was observed with a more pronounced response in S cows. PMN phagocytosis was decreased 12 h after infection in S cows and 18 h after infection in S and M cows and was normalized 24 h post-infection. The decrease of phagocytosis coincided with the first peak of CD11b receptor expression. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced production of O2-by PMN was decreased for three days after infection in S responders compared to only one day in M responders and was followed by an upregulation. These data demonstrate a complexity in alterations of PMN functions during mastitis and suggest the involvement of differences in systemic factors dependent on severity of mastitis.

Animals↗