Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, and cortisol concentrations in sows following intramammary inoculation of Escherichia coli.

Objective: To determine whether concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines, acute-phase proteins, and cortisol differ at parturition among 3 categories of sows (noninoculated, clinically affected and nonaffected following intramammary inoculation with Escherichia coll).

Animals: 16 sows.

Procedure: Sows were allocated to inoculated (n = 12) or noninoculated (4) groups.

Sows intramammarily inoculated with Escherichia coli at parturition: I. Functional capacity of granulocytes in sows affected or non-affected by clinical mastitis.

The objective of this study was to investigate if occurrence of clinical disease was related to granulocyte traits in sows. Functional capacity of granulocytes and plasma steroid hormone concentrations were assessed before inoculation with Escherichia coli in the mammary glands in sows at parturition. Blood samples were taken for 3 days approximately 1 week before parturition, and granulocyte migration, phagocytic capacity and expression of CD 18 adhesion molecules were determined.