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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #196232

Title: LYMPHOCYTE AND NEUTROPHIL RESPONSE TO STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI MASTITIS

Author
item SPRINGER, HAYLEY - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Goff, Jesse
item Bannerman, Douglas
item Paape, Max

Submitted to: Joint Meeting of the ADSA, AMSA, ASAS and PSA
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2006
Publication Date: 7/9/2006
Citation: Springer, H.R., Goff, J.P., Bannerman, D.D., Paape, M.J. 2006. Lymphocyte and neutrophil response to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli mastitis [abstract]. American Dairy Science Association-American Society of Animal Science 2006 Joint Annual Meeting. p. 164.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Twenty primiparous Holstein (n = 10) and Jersey (n = 10) cows were infected with 200-280 cfu of Staphylococcus aureus in one quarter of the mammary gland. Blood and milk samples were taken periodically after infection. Infected quarters were treated with pirlamycin after the final sampling. Seven weeks later, cows were infected in a different quarter with 200-280 cfu of Escherichia coli with similar sampling taken. Time after S. aureus infection had a significant effect on IFN-gamma production by lymphocytes (p < 0.001). Neutrophil function, measured by neutrophil iodination, was not significantly affected by either challenge. No significant febrile response was elicited in response to S. aureus infection, but E. coli infection resulted in elevated rectal temperatures at 12 and 18 hours post-infection (p < 0.0001). Blood lymphocyte populations showed a more pronounced drop in the E. coli challenge compared to the S. aureus challenge (p < 0.02). Time after infection had significant, but opposite effect on blood neutrophil populations in the two infections (p < 0.0001). E. coli lowered circulating neutrophils while S. aureus increased populations. Changes in serum iron and serum unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) are an indirect measure of the acute phase response. Iron levels fell at 18 hours in the E. coli infection and at 24 hours in the S. aureus challenge, with iron levels in the E. coli infection falling below those of the S. aureus infection (p < 0.01). E. coli infection caused a greater increase in UIBC than the S. aureus study (p < 0.0001). Both infections decreased plasma calcium (p < 0.05) with E. coli causing a greater reduction than S. aureus (p < 0.0001). These data suggest that both S. aureus and E. coli mastitis elicit a systemic immune response with a stronger, earlier response to E. coli infection.