BOVINE ACUTE MASTITIS - EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS-SODIUM SALICYLATE ON ENDOTOXIN-INDUCED INTRAMAMMARY INFLAMMATION

Effects of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent sodium salicylate o n endotoxin-induced mastitis were evaluated in lactating cows. Escheri chia coli endotoxin was administered to a mammary quarter 1 h after in itiation of a 12-h i.v. infusion of sodium salicylate. Milk SCC, BSA c oncentrations in milk, mammary inflammation, rectal temperature, appet ite, milk production, and plasma and lymph PGF2alpha were monitored. G ross mammary inflammation was not reduced by salicylate infusion, nor did sodium salicylate prevent increased milk SCC or BSA concentrations in milk, although treatment tended to decrease the magnitude of these responses. Sodium salicylate decreased subcutaneous abdominal vein PG F2alpha metabolite, and PGF2alpha metabolite tended to be reduced in l ymph during the acute phase of inflammation. The increased rectal temp erature after endotoxin infusion was reduced in cows treated with sodi um salicylate. Appetite was reduced after endotoxin infusion in untrea ted cows and those treated with sodium salicylate. Milk production dec lined after endotoxin challenge in all cows. Although sodium salicylat e did not substantially reduce mammary inflammation, it had an antipyr etic effect and reduced PGF2alpha metabolite in mammary blood.