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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #221927
Title: Comparison of Holstein and Jersey Innate Immune Responses to Escherichia coli Intramammary Infection

Author
item Bannerman, Douglas
item KAUF, ADAM - 1265-90-00
item Paape, Max
item SPRINGER, HALEY - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Goff, Jesse

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2008
Publication Date: 6/1/2008
Citation: Bannerman, D.D., Kauf, A.C., Paape, M.J., Springer, H.R., Goff, J.P. 2008. Comparison of Holstein and Jersey Innate Immune Responses to Escherichia coli Intramammary Infection. Journal of Dairy Science. 91(6):2225-2235.

Interpretive Summary: Mastitis remains a major health problem for dairy cows. Various surveys have reported breed-dependent differences in the prevalence of this disease. Because aspects of innate immunity influence susceptibility to and resolution of infection, breed-dependent differences in the innate immune response to Escherichia coli intramammary infection were investigated in the 2 most populous U.S. dairy breeds, Holsteins and Jerseys. Temporal differences for several innate immune responses were detected between the breeds, however, overall responses were similar. The findings from this study indicate that the innate immune response of Holstein and Jersey cows to Escherichia coli intramammary infection is highly conserved.

Technical Abstract: Mastitis is one of the most prevalent diseases in cattle and remains among the most costly diseases to the dairy industry. Various surveys have indicated a higher prevalence of and risk for mastitis in Holstein cows than in Jersey cows. The innate immune system comprises the immediate host defense mechanisms that respond to infection and differences in the magnitude and rapidity of this response are known to influence susceptibility to and clearance of infectious pathogens. The reported differences in the prevalence of mastitis between Holstein and Jersey cows may suggest the occurrence of breed-dependent differences in the innate immune response to intramammary infection (IMI). The objective of the current study was to compare the acute phase and cytokine responses of Holstein and Jersey cows following IMI by the bacterial pathogen Escherichia coli, a leading cause of clinical mastitis. All cows in the study were in similar stages of lactation, of the same parity, subjected to the same housing and management conditions, and experimentally infected on the same day with the same inoculum preparation. Prior to and after infection, the following innate immune parameters were monitored: bacterial clearance; febrile response; induction of the acute phase proteins, serum amyloid A and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein; alterations in total and differential white blood cell counts; changes in milk somatic cell counts and mammary vascular permeability; and induction of the cytokines, IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Overall innate immune responses were similar between the 2 breeds, however, temporal differences in the onset, cessation, and duration of several responses were detected. Despite these differences, intramammary clearance of E. coli was comparable between the breeds. Together, these data demonstrate a highly conserved innate immune response of Holstein and Jersey cows to E. coli IMI.