Acta Vet. Brno 2006, 75: 241-246
Plasma Ceruloplasmin and Fibrinogen during Enzyme Therapy of Mastitis in Dairy Cows
The aim of this study was to demonstrate the benefits of topical administration of proteolytic enzymes used in the symptomatic mastitis therapy. Eleven lactating cows with clinical signs of mastitis in one udder quarter at least were divided into two groups. Group Awas given an antibiotic alone - cefotaxime (250 mg, intramammary administration, 6 doses in total). Group B was given a lower dose of the same antibiotic (cefotaxime, 100 mg, intramammary administration, 5 doses in total) and a blend of enzymes in one drug form, i.e. both the dose and total number of administrations were lower in this group. Before and after the therapy, milk samples were collected and subjected to microbiological examination, and blood samples were withdrawn to determine fibrinogen and ceruloplasmin as acute phase proteins. Before the beginning of the therapy, common mastitis pathogens were detected in milk of both groups; after the end of the therapy, the test results were negative. Mean plasma concentrations of fibrinogen in Group A increased significantly from 6.0 ± 1.4 to 7.4 ± 1.1 g l-1, in Group B a non-significant decrease was observed, from 6.5 ± 0.86 g l-1 to 6.4 ± 0.9 g l-1. However, differences between the groups were significant (p < 0.05). In Group A, mean plasma ceruloplasmin concentration increased significantly from 0.9 ± 0.2 to 1.3 ± 0.18 μmol l-1, and in Group B it decreased non-significantly from 0.9 ± 0.36 to 1.1 ± 0.26 μmol l-1, and the difference between the groups was non-significant. In the present study, a favourable effect of repeated topical application of a mixture of proteolytic enzymes was demonstrated. The enzyme therapy resulted in a decreased therapeutic dose of the antibiotic, and suppressed an increase in the levels of inflammation markers under investigation.
