Abstract
Peripheral mononuclear-cell subsets, serum and milk-endotoxin levels, and serum interleukin-1 (IL)-1 levels were observed in two cases of coliform mastitis in cows admitted to the large-animal hospital of Rakuno Gakuen University. One case was mild, the other severe. Although, in the severe case, percentages of CD-3-positive (+) cells decreased 3-10 days after hospital examination, no marked decrease in the percentages of these cells occurred in the mild case. On the occasion of hospital examination in both cases, percentages of CD 14+cells decreased; and a particularly pronounced increase in these cells occurred 5-10 days after hospital examination in the severe case. The serum-endotoxin level increased at hospital examination in the severe case, but no serum endotoxin was detectable in the mild case. Milk-endotoxin levels in both cases peaked at the time of hospital examination and decreased markedly after 2 days. In the severe case, an elevated serum IL-1 level was especially notable during the period when the cow demonstrated systemic inflammatory response. These results suggest that milk endotoxin induces systemic inflammatory response and that the pattern of mononuclear-cell subsets and serum IL-1 levels may be correlated with the severity of coliform mastitis.
