Administration of a live culture of Lactococcus lactis DPC 3147 into the bovine mammary gland stimulates the local host immune response, particularly IL-1beta and IL-8 gene expression.
Mastitis is one of the most costly diseases to the dairy farming industry. Conventional antibiotic therapy is often unsatisfactory for successful treatment of mastitis and alternative treatments are continually under investigation. We have previously demonstrated, in two separate field trials, that a probiotic culture, Lactococcus lactis DPC 3147, was comparable to antibiotic therapy to treat bovine mastitis. To understand the mode of action of this therapeutic, we looked at the detailed immune response of the host to delivery of this live strain directly into the mammary gland of six healthy dairy cows. All animals elicited signs of udder inflammation 7 h post infusion. At this time, clots were visible in the milk of all animals in the investigation. The most pronounced increase in immune gene expression was observed in Interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-8, with highest expression corresponding to peaks in somatic cell count. Infusion with a live culture of a Lc. lactis leads to a rapid and considerable innate immune response.
Beecher
Christine
C
Moorepark Food Research Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.
Daly
Mairéad
M
Berry
Donagh P
DP
Klostermann
Katja
K
Flynn
James
J
Meaney
William
W
Hill
Colin
C
McCarthy
Tommie V
TV
Ross
R Paul
RP
Giblin
Linda
L
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000276:immunology*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000517:prevention & control; D008892:Milk / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D014611:Vaccination
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016209:Interleukin-8