The expression of adhesion receptors and diapedesis by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) were studied before and during experimentally induced Streptococcus uberis mastitis. Both quarters of the left half of the udders of five midlactation cows were inoculated with a suspension containing approximately 500 CFU of S. uberis 0140J. Clinical signs of an inflammatory reaction and leukocyte influx...

Skin pathologies of the teat and udder are rare but a difficult to diagnose challenge for large animal practitioners. Due to their localisation, the milkability can be compromised partly or completely so that the economic value of the animals is seriously at risk. Skin pathologies of the udder can be of infectious or non-infectious nature. Most prevalent non-infectious skin lesions are primaril...

Dairy cows are vital for milk production, cheese, cream, and so much more. Healthy udders and teats are necessary to keep production levels at their highest and to keep the number of cows being culled to the lowest levels. Inflammation of the mammary gland is called mastitis, which is typically caused by bacteria that invade the teat canal. This disease is most often transmitted by contact with...

Mastitis is the more economically important disease in dairy herds. Costs originated by this disease are not only those related to lost of milk production, treatment of sick animals or culled cows, but also those related with the prevention of this disease. Intramammary infections (IMI) are most of the times caused by infection with bacterial pathogens that could be divided into contagious or e...

The lack of efficacy of conventional strategies for the maintenance of healthy udders in domestic cattle has prompted studies on the use of cytokines for this purpose. The adjuvant use of recombinant bovine cytokines, such as IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, in normal mammary gland, mobilizes innate and acquired immunity. However, stimulated immunity does not prevent or eradicate infection, parti...

An investigation undertaken with the aid of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on new and used teat cup liners revealed the generally poor quality of luminal surfaces. Even those of the brand-new distributor controls showed significant faults in the evenness and continuity of the liner surface. A hundred and 500 milkings apparently tend to aggravate faults like cracks, pores, grooves and pits, ...