Concentration patterns of antibacterial factors and immunoglobulin A antibody in foremilk fractions of healthy cows

Abstract

Antibacterial factors act as innate immune components, which respond as soon as bacteria enter a living organism. To prevent and treat mastitis in cattle, understanding the concentrations of these substances inside the udder is important; however, they remain to be studied. In this investigation, the concentration of lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), S100 protein (S100A7), lactoferrin (LF), and immunoglobulin antibody were measured in the different fractions of foremilk. Lactating Holstein cows were examined, and 10 foremilk fractions were obtained from sequential samples up to 150 ml. The LAP concentrations in milk samples increased until 25 ml. The LF concentrations increased up to the 10 ml fraction, then stabilized at low level after the 50 ml fraction. For S100A7, some fractions had significantly higher (p