Neutrophil and CD4⁺ milk cell count related to natural incidence of mastitis in Jersey cattle

Abstract

This Research Communication describes the relation between somatic cells and microbial content in milk from Jersey cattle. Milk samples were classified in groups: healthy, dirty and mastitic (from Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Coliforms). The somatic cells in each of those groups were analysed by two methods – flow cytometric and automatic fluorescent cell counting. Those methods were compared. Total somatic cell count (SCC), neutrophil count, and lymphocytes with cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4+cells) were determined. There was a positive relationship between microbes and somatic cells. It was noticed that the neutrophil count was generally increased together with SCC, whilst the CD4+ cell count was higher in healthy milk samples (about 8%) compared to mastitic ones (about 3%). Lower number of CD4+ cells (from 1 to 4%) was determined in samples positive for Staphylococcus spp. but with lower SCC (from 2.7 to 4.0 × 105 cells/ml). Also, the number of CD4+ cells in Staphylococcus spp.-positive samples increased (to 4.8%) together with higher SCC, something that was not observed in the other mastitic samples. Knowledge of those relations could be useful for veterinary medical tests in the initial phase of inflammation.

Escherichia coli Mastitis in Dairy Cattle: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Challenges

“…When pathogens invade the mammary gland, they face the first line of cellular defense, such as phagocytosis by neutrophils, which usually respond promptly to the inflammatory process ( Mehrzad et al, 2004 ; Aitken et al, 2011 ; Bassel and Caswell, 2018 ). As a result, the severity of mastitis is determined by the speed with which neutrophils are recruited to the site of infection and how effectively this cell type phagocytes the pathogen ( Mehrzad et al, 2004 ; Alhussien et al, 2016 ; Chengolova et al, 2021 ). Importantly, the efficacy of the innate response influences the incidence of new intramammary infections ( Sordillo, 2018 ), clinical severity ( Pezeshki et al, 2011 ), and duration of the case ( Blum et al, 2017 ).…”

Corynoline protects lipopolysaccharide‐induced mastitis through regulating AKT/GSK3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway

“…Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major element of the outer membrane of Gram‐negative bacteria, is one of the most potent known inflammatory factors, and often leads to strong inflammatory and oxidative responses 7 . Neutrophils has been known as the major cell in defensing against bacteria entered into the mammary gland 8,9 . Stimulating of neutrophils with bacteria could induce the release of inflammatory cytokines.…”

“…7 Neutrophils has been known as the major cell in defensing against bacteria entered into the mammary gland. 8,9 Stimulating of neutrophils with bacteria could induce the release of inflammatory cytokines. Elevated inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were observed in LPSinduced mice mastitis model.…”