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The aim of the study was to compare selected leukocyte subpopulations and the serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration in the peripheral blood of cows at different stages of lactation. The blood of cows receiving a probiotic as a dietary supplement was compared with the blood of cows not receiving it.

The aim of the study was to analyse the total protein (TP), casein (CAS), lactose (LAC), and fat content of milk from cows with subclinical (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM) caused by Streptococcus spp.

Mycotoxins in dairy cows can cause many non-specific symptoms often resulting from immune system overreaction. The study assessed the concentration of selected cytokines and acute phase proteins (APP) in cows with natural mycotoxicosis before and after using a mycotoxin neutraliser. The cytokines were tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10), and the APP were serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp).

Simple Summary: Commensal bacteria in the vaginal canal are vital to reproductive health. Infertility or severe urinary tract infections may result from vaginal dysbiosis. This research examined the aerobic bacterial flora in vaginal samples from bitches during antepartum, postpartum, and Lactatio sine graviditate. The 100 vaginal samples analyzed yielded 82% positive microbiological results and 18% negative. Microbiologic profile revealed 17 genera. Micrococcaceae, Staphylococcaceae, Morganellaceae, Bacillaceae, and Rhizobiaceae were the most isolated bacteria. The first strains of Agrobacterium radiobacter, Ochrobactrum anthropi, Chromobacterium violaceum, Burkholderia mallei, Bacillus pumllus, and Staphylococcus xylosus were recovered from vaginal secretions. Microbiological studies show that breastfeeding bitches' vaginal discharge is variable and may be impacted by coitus, sampling season, age, and reproductive status. The vaginal tract comprises commensal microorganisms, which play an essential role in the health of the reproductive tract. Any dysbiosis in the vaginal microenvironment may lead to severe urinary tract infections or even infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the aerobic bacterial flora isolated from vaginal samples from 100 lactating bitches in the antepartum period (n = 3), postpartum period (n = 80), and with Lactatio sine graviditate (n = 17). Before vaginal swabs, all the bitches went through a gynecology consult, along with milk and blood sampling. Standard microbiological techniques were used for bacterial isolation. Among the 100 vaginal samples analyzed, 82% had a positive microbiological outcome, while 18% were negative. The microbiologic profile listed 17 different genera. The main isolated bacterial families were Micrococcaceae, Staphylococcaceae, Morganellaceae, Bacillaceae, and Rhizobiaceae. At the same time, strains like Agrobacterium radiobacter, Ochrobactrum anthropi, Chromobacterium violaceum, Burkholderia mallei, Bacillus pumllus, or Staphylococcus xylosus were isolated for the first time from the vaginal secretion of lactating bitches. The microbiological data demonstrates that lactating bitches' vaginal discharge is heterogeneous and may be affected by coitus, sampling season, age, and reproductive status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mastitis is an inflammatory reaction of the udder tissue in the mammary gland, caused by microbial infection. It is considered the most common disease in a herd of dairy cows. Etiological agents include a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, even algae. Data from the literature indicate that among the pathogens of mastitis, Streptococcus species, currently predominate which was also confirmed in our study. Streptococcus spp. can cause both a subclinical form of mastitis and one that develops with strongly expressed clinical symptoms. The body's response to infection is an inflammatory response and rapid production of acute-phase proteins. Our earlier studies showed a significant increase in the concentration of amyloid A in the milk of cows suffering from streptococci-induced mastitis. The main inducer of acute-phase proteins is interleukin-6. This cytokine is secreted by various cells, including lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and endothelial cells. IL-6 activates innate and adaptive immune responses, recruits immune cells and triggers B- and T-cell responses. Monitoring of IL-6 levels in milk can allow early detection of mastitis, which is especially important in cases of subclinical inflammation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in milk and serum of healthy cows (HE) and cows with mastitis caused by Streptococcus spp. The blood and milk samples were obtained from Holstein-Friesian cows (Lublin region, Poland). A total of 43 milk and serum samples from 28 cows with mastitis and 15 healthy cows were selected for study. IL-6 levels in milk from HE cows ranged from 6.09–80.24 pg/mL (median 26.6 pg/mL) and were significantly lower than in milk from both cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis (487.09 pg/mL vs. 26.6 pg/mL in CM, p < 0.001; and 165.31 pg/mL vs. 26.6 pg/mL in SCM, p < 0.001). The IL-6 concentration in the serum of HE was not significantly different from the serum IL-6 of the entire group of mastitis cows, regardless of whether the inflammation proceeded in a clinical or subclinical form (44.37 pg/mL vs. 78.09 pg/mL; 128.29 pg/mL vs. 78.09 pg/mL, respectively). The present study indicates that cows with mastitis caused by Streptococcus spp. develop a local immune response in the mammary gland in response to the pathogen. Monitoring of IL-6 levels in milk can allow early detection of mastitis, which is especially important in cases of subclinical inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]