Interleukin - 1β production and severity of mastitis post-inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus in the mammary gland of bovines and bubalines

This study aimed to analyze in cows and buffaloes, submitted to mastitis induced by inoculation of S. aureus, the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), the somatic cell count (SCC), and their correlation with some parameters of local and systemic response to inflammation. The animals had one mammary gland inoculated and the inflammatory process was monitored by milk culture, SCC, IL-1β measurement in the milk, evaluation of the gland appearance/consistency, milk secretion appearance (localized response to inflammation) and rectal temperature measurement (systemic response to inflammation). There was increase in the levels of IL-1β, SCC, and both local and systemic inflammatory response, in bovine and bubaline species. The production kinetics of the cytokine was different between the two species (P<0.05). Buffaloes showed a faster increase but achieved lower levels of interleukin-1beta, when compared to cows. Both species reached similar maximum counts (P>0.05) of SC/milk mL, with different concentrations (P<0.05) of IL-1β/mL. The parameters used to verify the local response to inflammation showed higher mean scores in bovine specie. Positive correlation between IL-1β concentration in the milk, SCC and parameters used to analyze the severity of mastitis was verified only in the bovine specie. The results evidenced that the kinetics of IL-1β production was different in the bovine and bubaline species, and demonstrated that the buffaloes developed a milder inflammatory process with faster recovery of the parameters used for mastitis severity evaluation

buffaloes; cows; cytokine; innate immunity; induced mastitis