Factors associated with concentrations of select cytokine and acute phase proteins in dairy cows with naturally occurring clinical mastitis

Abstract

The objective of the current observational study was to determine the potential associations between cow factors, clinical mastitis (CM) etiology, and concentrations of select acute phase proteins and cytokines in milk from affected quarters of cows with CM. Cows with CM (n=197) were grouped based on systemic disease severity, milk culture result, parity, days in milk (DIM), previous CM occurrence, and season of the year when CM occurred. Concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), haptoglobin (Hp), BSA, IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, and TGF-beta and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were evaluated. Differences in the least squares means log(10) transformed concentrations of these proteins were compared using multiple linear regression mixed models. The milk concentrations of LBP, Hp, IL-1beta, IL-10, and IL-12, and activity of LDH in milk were higher in cows with moderate to severe versus mild systemic disease. The concentrations of Hp, BSA, IL-1beta, and IL-10 in milk were higher in cows with a gram-negative versus gram-positive milk culture result. Season of the year when CM occurred was associated with the concentration of all proteins evaluated except for IL-1beta and IL-12. Concentrations were higher in the winter versus summer except for Hp and TGF-beta, for which the opposite was true. Concentrations of LBP, IL-10, and IL-12, and LDH activity in milk were associated with DIM group. Except for LBP, these proteins were lower in cows with CM during the first 60 DIM versus those in mid or later lactation. Interferon-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-8 were undetectable in 67, 31, and 20% of samples, respectively. Detection of IFN-gamma and IL-8 was associated with season, and detection of TNF-alpha and IL-8 was associated with systemic disease severity. The current study provides the most comprehensive report of milk concentrations of innate immune response proteins in cows with naturally occurring CM and identifies factors that potentially influence those concentrations. Further investigation into the seasonal variation of cytokine production and its potential effect on the outcome of CM is warranted. Furthermore, the results of this study provide useful data for planning future studies examining the role of the innate immune response in CM.

Concentration of serum amyloid A and ceruloplasmin activity in milk from cows with subclinical mastitis caused by different pathogens

“…uberis-induced mastitis; the lowest one in milk from cows with mastitis caused by S. aureus and CNS. Our findings correspond to the results reported by other authors (Hiss et al 2007, Wenz et al 2010, Pyörälä et al 2011. Hiss et al (2007), who studied the concentration of haptoglobin in milk from cows with subclinical mastitis, demonstrated that mean levels of this acute phase protein in milk infected with the major pathogens (E. coli, S. aureus) were higher than in cases of mastitis caused by minor pathogens (C. bovis, CNS).…”

“…The highest concentration of haptoglobin was observed in milk from cows with E. coli -induced subclinical mastitis and the lowest one in CNS infections. According to Wenz et al (2010), the concentration of haptoglobin and lipopolysaccharides-binding protein (LBP) was higher in milk with Gram-negative bacteria compared to their concentrations in Gram-positive-infected milk. Likewise, Pyörälä et al (2011) observed the highest concentrations of haptoglobin and SAA in milk from cows with E. coli -induced mastitis and the lowest concentrations in milk from cows with CNS-induced mastitis.…”

Effect of mastitis during the first lactation on production and reproduction performance of Holstein cows

“…The prevalence of a pathogen at a specific time of year might explain a season effect on mastitis. Wenz et al (2010) also recently showed that season might have resulted in lower concentrations of many of the innate immune response proteins. Thus, the higher concentrations of many of the proteins during the winter months could be linked to enhanced immune function associated with season.…”

“…Thus, the higher concentrations of many of the proteins during the winter months could be linked to enhanced immune function associated with season. Improved neutrophil chemotaxis and lymphocyte proliferation may have resulted in an increased number of cytokine-producing leukocytes in the infected mammary gland (Wenz et al 2010). …”

Acute Phase Proteins as Biomarkers in Animal Health and Welfare

“…In animals suffering from this disorder, the levels of these proteins have been also measured in milk. Hp levels in milk in cows affected by clinical mastitis were higher in cows with moderate to severe versus mild systemic disease (Wenz et al, 2010). In a study carried out by Safi et al (2009) in Holstein cows from 7 different dairy farms the levels of Hp and amyloid A were measured in milk (AAM) and serum in order to evaluate the use and compare the accuracy of both APPs in these specimens for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis based on bacterial culture results and with comparison with the California mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell counts (SCC).…”