Investigations on cytokines and proteins in lactating cows with and without naturally occurring mastitis

Abstract

Mastitis an inflammation of mammary gland in dairy herds is a key concern of economic losses worldwide caused by bacteria and its toxins. In this study, we investigated pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-1β, IL-6, TGF-β, IL-10, TNF-α), lactoferrin and albumin, and milk composition in normal dairy cows and lactating cows with symptoms of sub-clinical and clinical mastitis. Lactating cows with clinical mastitis showed marked increase in IL-2, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and a decrease in anti-inflammatory levels of TGF-β, IL-10, milk parameters fat, protein, SNF, lactose and increase in pH compared to normal lactating cows. Subclinical lactating cows showed significant alteration in TNF-α, IL-1β when compared to normal lactating cows. There was no significant difference between IL and 2 and IL-6 in normal and subclinical lactating cows. The subclinical cows also did not exhibit significant difference in TGF-β, albumin, milk fat, protein and pH when compared with normal lactating cows. Findings in the present study indicate that cytokines together with proteins lactoferrin and albumin can be considered as prospective markers in early detection of subclinical and clinical mastitis.