“…In experiment 1, udder examination of ewes was performed immediately prior to challenge (D0) as well as 12 h after challenge (D0 + 12 h) and 1, 2, 3, and 4 days after challenge (D1, D2, D3, D4) (after the D3 sampling, three ewes were withdrawn from the experiment in order to perform a mammary biopsy to obtain a tissue sample that was used for histological confirmation of mastitis, whilst the other two ewes were subjected to mammary biopsy after the D4 sampling [17]). In experiment 2, udder examination was performed immediately prior to challenge (D0) as well as 3, 6, 9, 12 h and 1 d after challenge (D0 + 3 h, D0 + 6 h, D0 + 9 h, D0 + 12 h, D1).…”