Abstract
ABSTRACTTo evaluate the relationship between intramammary infection and basic characteristics of mammary secretion at late dry period, regarding mammary secretions, macroscopic observations, infection status, somatic cell counts (SCC), serum albumin concentrations, immunoglobulin (Ig) G1, and IgG2 levels were examined on 20 dairy cows at 9–12 days before calving. Intramammary infections were found in mammary secretions from 37 of the total 80 quarters. All of the mammary secretions with intramammary infection showed lower viscosity than that of normal colostrum. In four mammary secretions without intramammary infection, some macroscopic abnormalities were found. For mammary secretions without intramammary infection or macroscopic abnormality, viscosities were apparently higher than that in normal colostrum, indicating that viscosity is associated with macroscopic normality of the mammary secretion at approximately 10 days before calving. SCC and serum albumin concentrations were significantly higher in mammary secretions with intramammary infection or macroscopic abnormality. The SCC and serum albumin concentrations were correlated with viscosity of the mammary secretions, suggesting that most intramammary infections at approximately 10 days before calving may cause mastitis with increased permeability of the blood–milk barrier. No significant difference was observed in concentrations of IgG1 and IgG2, regardless of the presence of intramammary infections or macroscopic abnormalities.
Highlights
In dairy cows, incidence of intramammary infections increases during and around the dry period of a lactation cycle (Oliver and Sordillo 1988; Pyörälä 2008), and such infection may be a cause of mastitis in the early lactation stage
Determining the concentrations of serum albumin and IgGs can aid the estimation of the pathophysiological condition of the mammary gland in addition to examining intramammary infection status and somatic cell counts (SCC) for finding mastitis
The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the relationship between intramammary infection, characteristics of mammary secretions and concentrations of serum albumin and IgGs in mammary secretions at approximately 10 days before parturition to determine patterns that may be useful for the diagnosis of intramammary infections
Summary
Incidence of intramammary infections increases during and around the dry period of a lactation cycle (Oliver and Sordillo 1988; Pyörälä 2008), and such infection may be a cause of mastitis in the early lactation stage. A class of bovine immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgG1, normally becomes incorporated into mammary secretions by the positive transport system during colostrogenesis (Larson et al 1980; Castro et al 2011; Moreno-Indias et al 2012), in addition to the passive transport via a deficient blood–milk barrier (Nguyen and Neville 1998). Another class of IgG, IgG2, has been shown to passively infiltrate into mammary secretions (Larson et al 1980; Samarütel et al 2016). Determining the concentrations of serum albumin and IgGs can aid the estimation of the pathophysiological condition of the mammary gland in addition to examining intramammary infection status and somatic cell counts (SCC) for finding mastitis
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