Interleukin-1β infusion in bovine mammary glands prior to challenge with Streptococcus uberis reduces bacterial growth but causes sterile mastitis

Abstract

Dairy cows are especially vulnerable to intramammary infection by the bacterial pathogen Streptococcus uberis in the dry period. Use of immunotherapeutic agents at drying off could increase cellular defences in the gland and prevent establishment of new S. uberis infections. This study investigated the potential of infusing recombinant bovine interleukin-1 beta (rbIL-1beta) in the mammary glands as a prophylactic agent against subsequent intramammary challenge with S. uberis in the early dry period. Immediately after the last milking at commencement of the dry period, one cow from each of 10 monozygous twinsets was infused with 10 microg of rbIL-1beta in two quarters and the other twin was infused with the carrier agent, sterile phosphate buffered saline. Twenty-four hours later, the quarters were infused with 10(3) colony-forming units (CFU) of S. uberis. Bacteriology, somatic cell count (SCC), concentrations of specific cytokines and antibody responses were monitored in mammary gland secretions and sera for the next 21 days. Infusion of rbIL-1beta into mammary glands at commencement of the dry period was associated with less new S. uberis intramammary infections, as determined by the number of quarters with bacterial growth. However, high SCC in quarters following infusion of rbIL-1beta masked the full beneficial effect of this procedure.

The innate immune stimulant Amplimune® is safe to administer to young feedlot cattle

“…The challenge, therefore, is to choose a dose and route of administration that can enhance future immune responses without causing excessive inflammation. Examples of immune stimulants that have proven to induce excessive stimulation include recombinant bovine IL‐1β which reduced Staphylococcus uberis infection but induced sterile mastitis 43 and an intramammary loop for prevention of mastitis in dairy cows which significantly increased leukocyte concentrations. 44 Administration of Freund's complete adjuvant sometimes leads to severe lesions at the site of injection and in severe cases, mortality, 45 , 46 resulting in its withdrawal from widespread use as an adjuvant in laboratory animals.…”

Administration of a live culture ofLactococcus lactisDPC 3147 into the bovine mammary gland stimulates the local host immune response, particularlyIL-1β andIL-8gene expression

“…lactis compares very favourably with other therapies recently investigated to treat mastitis. Cytokine therapy has been investigated, but only as a prophylactic treatment and use of some cytokines was found to have serious side-effects, especially at certain times of year (Alluwaimi, 2004 ;Wedlock et al 2008 ;Zecconi et al 2008). Vaccination strategies have produced varying results and many require repeated dosing or boosters over a series of months (Middleton et al 2009).…”

“…epidermidis in vitro. Wedlock et al (2008) state that administration of recombinant bovine IL-1β to mammary glands at drying off results in sterile mastitis (i.e. increased SCC) but lowers the incidence of new intramammary infection by Streptococcus uberis .…”

Effect of weaning age on growth, mammary gland development, and immune function in Holstein Friesian calves fed conserved alfalfa (FiberStart)

“…All blood metabolite tests were performed using the P800 module of the Roche modular platform (New Zealand Veterinary Pathology, Palmerston North, New Zealand). Anticlostridal antibody responses in sera on d 49 (prevaccination) and 84 (14 d after booster vaccination) were evaluated using an ELISA method (Wedlock et al, 2008). Antibody levels were expressed as optical density readings at a serum dilution of 1:200 or as titer postvaccination (i.e., the serum dilution that showed lower optical density reading than the 1:200 prevaccination reading).…”