Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activities in the sera and milk of cows with naturally occurring coliform mastitis

Res Vet Sci. 1997 May-Jun;62(3):297-8. doi: 10.1016/s0034-5288(97)90209-5.

Abstract

The presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activities was determined in milk and serum of cows with naturally occurring coliform mastitis (CFM). TNF-alpha was detected in the sera from 26 of 32 cows with CFM. TNF-alpha levels were higher in the sera than in the milk. IL-6 was high in the sera of surviving CFM animals, but was low in animals that died and in healthy controls. Furthermore, the mean level of IL-6 was 20-fold higher in the milk than in the sera of mastitic cows. The level of IL-6 in the serum was correlated to that in the milk in individual animals. The presence of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the sera appears to relate to severe clinical condition of CFM, in the milk whereas they may play a role in generating inflammation of the mammary gland.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / blood
  • Cattle Diseases / metabolism
  • Enterobacter / isolation & purification
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / blood
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / metabolism
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / veterinary*
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Escherichia coli Infections / blood
  • Escherichia coli Infections / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary
  • Female
  • Interleukin-6 / analysis*
  • Interleukin-6 / blood*
  • Klebsiella / isolation & purification
  • Klebsiella Infections / blood
  • Klebsiella Infections / metabolism
  • Klebsiella Infections / veterinary
  • Mastitis, Bovine / blood
  • Mastitis, Bovine / metabolism*
  • Mastitis, Bovine / microbiology
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Milk / microbiology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / analysis*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha