Th1 / Th2 cytokine polarization in milk according to different pathogens causing subclinical mastitis in cows

Abstract

The aim of this study to determine the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in milk according to the bacterial species that cause subclinical mastitis in cows. The California Mastitis Test (CMT) was applied to the selected cows. The cows were divided into four groups: cows with negative CMT (n = 45); Escherichia coli (E. coli) group included only cows with E. coli growing in CMT-positive milk samples (n = 45); Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) group included cows with only S. agalactiae growing in CMT-positive milk samples (n = 45); Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) group included cows with only S. aureus growing in CMT-positive milk samples (n = 45). Somatic cell count (SCC) in fresh milk samples was measured using the DeLaval Cell Counter device. Also, cytokine analyses were performed using Species-specific commercial ELISA kits. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) concentrations were relatively high in the E. coli group, but the interleukin (IL)-2 concentration was low. The lowest concentration of IL-4 was found in the CMT-negative group. The highest IL-5 concentration was found in the S. agalactiae group, while the highest milk IL-10 concentration was found in the S. aureus group. Also, T helper (Th1/Th2) polarization shifted towards Th1 in milk with mastitis caused by E. coli. Th1/Th2 polarization was shifted to Th2 in milk with mastitis caused by S. aureus and S. agalactiae. Based on our findings, cellular immunity should be maintained in mastitis cases due to E. coli, and humoral immunity should be supported in mastitis caused by S. aureus and S. agalactiae.

Udder defense system: Effect of milk SCC level on Th1/Th2 cytokine balance

“…Unlike the study by Hisae-da et al (2001), in the present study, it was observed that as the SCC levels increased, the concentration of milk TNF-α and IFN decreased, while the concentration of IL-5 increased. The TNF-α concentration was higher in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) group than in the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) groups (Safak et al, 2022).…”

Effect of somatic cell count on milk composition and some chemical properties of milk

“…Somatic cell count was measured in raw milk samples using a DeLaval Cell Counter® (Cellcounter DCC; DeLaval, Sweden) device and in accordance with the manufacturer's manual and methods in the literature (Safak et al, 2022). As stated in the previous study (Safak and Risvanli, 2022), the raw milk samples with different SCC (˂ 150,000, 151,000-400,000, 401,000-600,000, 601,000-1,000,000, and >1,000,000 cells⁄mL) were determined.…”