CHANGES IN INFLAMMATION-RELATED BLOOD-CONSTITUENTS OF MASTITIC COWS

The following blood constituents were measured in the blood and/or ser um from healthy and mastitic cows: lipid peroxides (LPO), alkaline pho sphatase (AP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, glutathione peroxida se (GSH-Px), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), cyclic AMP (cAMP), electroly tes (Na, K), white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit, e osinophils, and electrical conductivity. The levels of these blood var iables, excluding GSH-Px, erythrocytes variables and conductivity, wer e higher in mastitic than in healthy animals. In the blood of the mast itic animals, the AP and LPO levels were 44 and 38% higher than in the healthy animals. The substantial decline in the GSH-Px levels in mast itic animals (P < 0.05) may be related to changes in lipid peroxidatio n and PG formation and possibly to oxidative stress caused by the host defences. The eosinophil levels were positively correlated with those of PGE(2) and cAMP. The possible implications of these findings for t he diagnosis of mastitis are discussed.