Changes in blood, metabolism, and immunity in cows during lactation under mixed acute mastitis condition

Abstract

Cow condition indices under mastitis condition are discussed. The research goal was to study the changes in blood composition, metabolic processes and immune status of cows with mixed acute mastitis. Two groups of 12 lactating cows were formed: healthy cows and cows with mastitis. The hematologic state of sick cows was as following: high level of erythrocytes 2.1 times (p < 0.001), hemoglobin level – by 22.3% (p < 0.001), color index - 1.6 times (p < 0.001), leukocytes - 2.1 times (p < 0.001), neutrophils: rod-shaped - 1.9 times, segmented - 1.3 times (p < 0.01); low levels of lymphocytes - 16.7% (p < 0.05) and monocytes - 1.9 times (p < 0.05); phagocytic count and phagocytic activity of neutrophils. Blood biochemistry of the sick cows was as following: high levels of total protein - by 15.1% (p < 0.05), gamma globulins - 1.8 times (p < 0.001), urea - by 16.1% (p < 0.05), aspartate aminotransferase - 1.6 times (p < 0.01), bilirubin - by 42.6%, phosphorus - 1.6 times (p < 0.001), potassium - by 29.7% (p < 0.001); low levels of albumins - by 32.4% (p < 0.05), alpha globulins - by 2.4%, beta globulins - 3.4 times (p < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase - 1.6 times (p < 0.05), alkaline phosphatase - 1.5 times (p < 0.001), glucose - 3 times (p < 0.001), 57.9% of calcium (p < 0.001), and 12.5% of magnesium. Under mixed forms of acute mastitis in lactating cows, metabolic changes as hypoglycemia, dysproteinemia, imbalance of macronutrients, impaired immunological homeostasis with dysfunction of the cellular link of innate immunity, activation of the immune system to antigens (increased levels of circulating immune complexes, immunoglobulins) and humoral immunity (increased bactericidal and lysozyme activity of blood serum) were revealed.