JDS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 81 No. 1 107-115
© 1998 by American Dairy Science Association ®
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Erskine, R. J.
Right arrow Articles by Shuster, D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Erskine, R. J.
Right arrow Articles by Shuster, D.

Recombinant Bovine Interleukin-2 and Dry Cow Therapy: Efficacy to Cure and Prevent Intramammary Infections, Safety, and Effect on Gestation

R. J. Erskine , P. C. Bartlett 1, S. R. Tavernier 1, L. H. Fowler 1, R. D. Walker 2, J. H. Seguin 2, and D. Shuster 3

1 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824
2 Department of Microbiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824
3 Fort Dodge Animal Health, Agricultural Research Center, Princeton, NJ 08543

Cows from eight commercial dairies were randomly assigned to intrammamary infusions of cephapirin or cephapirin plus interleukin-2 at the end of lactation. During the first phase of the trial, interleukin-2 was administered to 159 cows at a dose of 1 mg per gland by intracisternal infusion immediately after 300 mg of cephapirin were administered. One hundred sixty-one cows received infusions of a placebo (phosphate-buffered saline; PBS) immediately after cephapirin. In the second phase of the trial, 70 cows received 2 mg of interleukin-2 per gland, and 78 cows received the placebo. Cows were observed daily by the participating farmer for 72 h after infusion and also during routine feeding and care during the dry period and at calving. Potential side effects from udder infusions, particularly gross abnormalities of the udder and signs of systemic side effects were monitored. During the first phase, cure rates for intramammary infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus that were present at the end of lactation were 33.3% for quarters treated with cephapirin and 53.6% for quarters treated with cephapirin and interleukin-2. Cure rates did not differ between treatment groups for all other pathogens or during the second phase of the trial. The incidence of new intramammary infections during the dry period was not affected by intramammary infusion of interleukin-2. Eighteen of 229 (7.9%) cows treated with interleukin-2 aborted within 49 d of treatment compared with 4 of 239 (1.7%) cows treated with PBS. Eleven of the 18 (61.1%) abortions by cows treated with interleukin-2 occurred 3 to 7 d after infusion; none of the abortions by cows treated with PBS occurred until wk 7 after infusion.

Key Words: recombinant bovine interleukin-2 • dry cow therapy • mastitis • abortion

Submitted on March 13, 1997
Accepted on July 22, 1997




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J DAIRY SCIHome page
R. T. Dingwell, K. E. Leslie, T. F. Duffield, Y. H. Schukken, L. DesCoteaux, G. P. Keefe, D. F. Kelton, K. D. Lissemore, W. Shewfelt, P. Dick, et al.
Efficacy of Intramammary Tilmicosin and Risk Factors for Cure of Staphylococcus aureus Infection in the Dry Period
J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2003; 86(1): 159 - 168.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1998 by the American Dairy Science Association ®.