Peripheral Leukocyte Population and Lymphocyte Proliferation in Cows with Inflammatory Disease

Abstract

To clarify the cellular immunity condition in cows with inflammatory disease, peripheral leukocyte population and lymphocyte proliferation were analyzed. Sixty eight of clinical cases of dairy cows with periarthritis of hock joints, sole ulcer, mastitis, and twelve clinical healthy cows were used (control group). The numbers of CD4+ and MHC+CD14- cells in each inflammatory group were lower, and MHC-CD14+ cells were higher compared with the healthy group. The proliferation of PHA in each inflammatory group was lower and the proliferation of PWM was higher compared with the healthy group. There was a positive relation between the MHC positive rate in CD14+ cells and CD 4 + cell number, and CD21+ IgG+ cell number and proliferation of PWM or γ-globulin concentration in each inflammatory group. These results clarified that depression of the T cell function and enhancement of the B cell function was observed in the cows affected by inflammatory disease. It is possible that dairy cows with inflammatory diseases suppress cellular immunity function and activate humoral immunity function.