Abstract
BackgroundMastitis is a high incidence disease in dairy cows. The acute stage is considered painful and inflammation can lead to hyperalgesia and thereby contribute to decreased welfare. The aim of this study was to examine changes in nociceptive responses toward cutaneous nociceptive laser stimulation (NLS) in dairy cows with experimentally induced Escherichia coli mastitis, and correlate behavioral changes in nociceptive responses to clinical and paraclinical variables.MethodsSeven Danish Holstein-Friesian cows were kept in tie-stalls, where the E. coli associated mastitis was induced and laser stimulations were conducted. Measurements of rectal temperature, somatic cell counts, white blood cell counts and E. coli counts were conducted. Furthermore, scores were given for anorexia, local udder inflammation and milk appearance to quantify the local and systemic disease response. In order to quantify the nociceptive threshold, behavioral responses toward cutaneous NLS applied to six skin areas at the tarsus/metatarsus and udder hind quarters were registered at evening milking on day 0 (control) and days 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 after experimental induction of mastitis.ResultsAll clinical and paraclinical variables were affected by the induced mastitis. All cows were clinically ill on days 1 and 2. The cows responded behaviorally toward the NLS. For hind leg stimulation, the proportion of cows responding by stepping was higher on day 0 than days 3 and 6, and the frequency of leg movements after laser stimulation tended to decrease on day 1 compared to the other days. After udder stimulation, the proportion of cows responding by stepping was higher on day 1 than on all other days of testing. Significant correlations between the clinical and paraclinical variables of disease and the behavioral responses toward nociceptive stimulation were found.ConclusionsChanges in behavioral responses coincide with peaks in local and systemic signs of E. coli mastitis. During the acute stage of E. coli mastitis nociceptive thermal stimulation on hind leg and mammary glands results in decreased behavioral responses toward nociceptive stimulation, which might be interpreted as hypoalgesia.
Highlights
Mastitis is a high incidence disease in dairy cows
Only few experiments have investigated the relationship between bovine mastitis and nociceptive responses [2,13] and none of them have used nociceptive stimulation directed at the udder
The udder health as well as the general health were evaluated by clinical examination including measurement of rectal temperature, somatic cell count (SCC) and bacteriological examinations performed on milk samples, as well as white blood cell count (WBC) and glutaraldehyde test (Glutavac Test, Jørgen Kruuse A/ S, Marslev, Denmark) performed on blood samples
Summary
Mastitis is a high incidence disease in dairy cows. The acute stage is considered painful and inflammation can lead to hyperalgesia and thereby contribute to decreased welfare. A Scottish field study involving cows with mild to moderate spontaneous mastitis with local but no systemic signs, found long term decreased nociceptive threshold, measured by mechanical cutaneous nociceptive stimulation on hind legs [2]. Herskin et al [13] found signs of increased nociceptive threshold in dairy cows with acute experimental E. coli mastitis and associated systemic symptoms when using thermal nociceptive laser stimulation (NLS) on hind legs. Whether these deviating results are due to the chosen stimulus modalities, type of bacteria, disease stage or disease severity is unknown
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
