title: Effects of experimental challenge of ewes with Mannheimia haemolytica on subsequent milk composition.
abstract: The objective was to describe the physicochemical changes during the early phase of subclinical mastitis and to associate them with pathological findings. A Mannheimia haemolytica strain was deposited into one teat duct of 25 ewes and the clinical, bacteriological, cytological, physicochemical (pH, milk composition), gross-pathological and histological findings were subsequently recorded. The organism was consistently isolated from samples of teat duct material (140/150) but not from mammary secretion (50/150). California Mastitis Test (CMT) scores increased (>1) and remained high (143/150 samples) after challenge; polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) predominated in milk films, but the proportion of lymphocytes and macrophages progressively increased. Increased pH values (>7.0) were recorded in the mammary secretion from the challenged side. Furthermore, content of fat, total proteins and lactose therein decreased markedly. Histological changes (leucocytic infiltration, destruction of epithelial cells) were observed in the mammary parenchyma of the ewes. The present results confirm that the reduction of milk constituents is the effect of cellular damage and can occur soon after infection.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Ilectra A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Fragkou
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solomakos
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dagleish
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cripps
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
authors.forename: Costas M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Boscos
authors.forename: Haris N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Ververidis
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Billinis
authors.forename: Denise C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Orfanou
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Govaris
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kyriazakis
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fthenakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007774:Lactation; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016978:Mannheimia haemolytica / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016871:Pasteurellaceae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors