Longitudinal evaluation of CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood and mammary gland lymphocytes in cows experimentally inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen associated with mastitis, a disease affecting both women and dairy cows. The longitudinal profiles of bovine peripheral blood and mammary gland lymphocyte phenotypes in response to S. aureus-induced mastitis were investigated in dairy cows. Increased percentage of CD4 lymphocytes in the mammary gland between 1 and 8 days post-inoculation, increased milk CD4 protein density per cell between 1-8 days post-inoculation, and a statistically significant negative correlation between post-inoculation bacterial counts in milk and blood lymphocyte CD4 protein density were found. Together with blood and milk leukocyte counts, the milk lymphocyte CD4/CD8 ratio and the milk lymphocyte CD4 protein density were more informative indicators than milk somatic cell counts and bacteriology for identification of early vs. late inflammatory phases. These findings suggest that CD4+ lymphocytes play a protective role in the early stages of S. aureus-induced mastitis.     

Immune cell differentiation in mammary gland tissues and milk of cows chronically infected with Staphylococcus aureus

This study identifies and compares the distribution of mononuclear cells in the mammary gland tissues and milk of healthy and chronically infected with Staphylococcus aureus cows. Somatic cell counts (SCCs) during the 3 months before the study were > 1 x 10(6) cell/ml in the infected quarters and < 1 x 10(5) cell/ml in the infection-free quarters. Immediately after slaughter, samples from the tissues above the gland cistern and supra-mammary lymph node were collected. No histological differences were found between the supra-mammary lymph nodes of the healthy and infected udders, and both appeared normal. In the milk of the healthy infection-free mammary glands, SCC was < 50,000 cells/ml) while epithelial cells were the predominant type. The percentage of CD18+ was low than 45%, of which over three-quarters were polymorphonuclear (PMN), and less than one- quarter were mononuclear cells. The later comprised CD4+ or CD8+ T-lymphocytes, macrophages (Mo) but not B-cells. In the tissues, there were few CD18+ leukocytes, and most of the cells were T-lymphocytes. The number of B-lymphocytes bearing CD21+ was similar to that of CD8+ and were localized in the connective tissue as clusters of 2-5 cells, mainly in areas with no alveoli, or as single cell having a dendritic like form. The number of Mos was negligible. In the milk of the infected glands, SCC exceeded 700,000 cells/ml, of which > 95% were CD18+ positive. The distribution of the leukocytes had two patterns: one presented (> 80%) of PMN cells and a small number of mononuclear cells; the second had less than 50% PMN and many mononuclear cells. The CD8+ cells in these infected sections were observed throughout the mammary epithelial cells (MEc) around the alveoli and in the alveolar lumen (AL). The numbers and the location of CD21+ B-lymphocytes were similar to those in the infection-free mammary glands. The number of CD5+ positive cells was lower than T and B- cells combined and were located throughout the mammary epithelial cells, around the alveoli and within the connective tissue. Mo numbers were high in most of those infected quarters, and were localized around the connective tissue and within the AL.     

CpG-ODN对S.aureus诱导的山羊实验性乳腺炎乳腺的保护作用研究

选择同处于泌乳初期的睢宁白山羊6头，于右乳区经过乳导管灌注10μg／kgCpG—ODN，左乳区则灌入等体积的灭菌100μL0．0lmol／LpH7．2磷酸盐缓冲液（PBs）作为对照，灌注后第3d按同等剂量进行二次灌注；次灌注后第2d，分别于左右乳区经乳导管灌注3mL（2&#215;10^9CFU／mL）金黄色葡萄球菌（S．aurcus），于灌注细菌前（0h），灌注后8h，16h，24h，48h和72h分别收集左右乳区乳汁进行检测。临床症状观察显示，乳腺内灌注3mL（2&#215;10^9CFU／mL）的S．aureus能迅速诱导山羊典型的急性乳腺炎症状。组织学观察显示感染S．aureus后72h乳腺腺泡内仍有嗜中性粒细胞（PMN）浸润，但实验乳区明显减少。乳汁S．aureus数同在感染后24h上升至最高，CpG—ODN能显著降低各个时间点乳汁细菌数。乳汁白细胞介素-6（IL-6）水平同在感染后24h上升至最高，CpG-ODN能显著提高感染后24h乳汁IL．6水平。对照和CpG—ODN处理乳区乳汁肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平分别在感染后24h和16h上升至最高，其中在感染后24h实验乳区比对照下降40．63％（P〈0．051。乳汁N-乙酰-β—D-氨基葡萄糖苷酶（NAGase）水平同在感染后16h达最高（P〈0．01），CpG—ODN能显著提高感染后8h乳汁NAGase水平。上述结果表明CpG—ODN可通过提高乳汁IL-6水平、加速并促进乳汁TNF-α的释放，从而减少了乳汁中S．aureus数量，减轻了炎症介质对细胞的损伤，对缩短炎症过程也有一定的作用，实验结果证实了CpG—ODN对S．aureus感染诱发的山羊乳腺炎的乳腺有保护作用。     

Effects of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis on bovine mammary gland plasma cell populations and immunoglobin concentrations in milk

Bovine mammary tissue and milk samples were examined to determine effects of chronic Staphylococcus aureus mastitis on the humoral immune response. Parenchymal and teat end tissues from lactating bovine mammary glands were stained immunohistochemically to determine distribution of immunoglobulin (Ig) G1-, IgG2-, IgA-, and IgM-producing plasma cells. Numbers of all Ig-producing plasma cells tended to be higher in tissues from S. aureus infected quarters compared with controls, but most differences were not statistically different. Numbers of IgG1-producing plasma cells at the Furstenberg's rosette area of infected quarters were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than uninfected quarters. There were no significant differences in concentrations of Ig isotypes in milk from S. aureus infected and uninfected quarters. Data suggest that the antigenic effect of chronic S. aureus infection on the humoral immune response of the bovine mammary gland is minimal. Persistency of S. aureus infection may result, in part, from suboptimal stimulation or immunosuppression of the mammary immune system.     

Quantitative and qualitative properties of host polymorphonuclear cells during experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in cows

Polymorphonuclear cells have a critical role in the pathogenesis of bovine mastitis. We have documented that experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus mastitis is associated with cyclic increase and decrease in the quantity of viable bacteria shed in the milk. Concomitant with this cycling of bacteria is an inverse cycling of the hosts cells within the milk. Such somatic cells were determined to be greater than or equal to 95% polymorphonuclear cells. The quality of these cells was evaluated by measuring their relative efficiency of bacterial killing and phagocytosis at various times during an infection. Host polymorphonuclear cells had as much as 10,000-fold variation in the bactericidal failure rate for staphylococci during cell cycling. The most efficient bactericidal effect was observed at or near the peak of the somatic cell count (SCC). The ability of these cycling cells to ingest fluorescent beads was also quantitated by use of flow cytometry. The percentage of phagocytic polymorphonuclear cells that ingested fluorescent latex beads ranged from 15 to 80% of the total cell population during cell cycling, and tended to be optimal at or near peak SCC. In addition, the average number of beads ingested varied between 1 and 2 particles/polymorphonuclear cell, with as many as 17% of the phagocytic cells ingesting 4 or more beads at maximal efficiency. Polymorphonuclear cells from quarters infected with S aureus varied quantitatively (total SCC) and qualitatively (bactericidal activity and phagocytic ability) during the course of an infection. Not only is the quantity of host's phagocytic cells in the mammary gland central to the defense mechanism against infection, but the biological activation state appears to be equally important. The role of these cells in the pathogenesis of a cycling infection is presented in a model to explain the cyclic nature of mastitis.     

The role of CD14 during resolution of experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis mastitis

This study was undertaken to investigate the time course of surface expression of CD14 on neutrophils and macrophages and to determine their association with resolution of inflammatory responses during Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis experimental mastitis. Infections of the mammary gland induce a local immune response characterized by an increase in the total counts of CD14+ neutrophils and CD14+ macrophages particularly. On the other hand, resolution is accompanied by an increase in relative counts of CD14+ neutrophils, CD14+ vacuolized macrophages and apoptotic neutrophils. Following the immune reaction of mammary gland against Gram-negative/positive bacteria is very similar. Between the apoptotic and CD14+ neutrophils a high correlation was measured during the whole experimental period (S. aureus: r=0.64; S. uberis: r=0.61; P<0.05). Using anti-CD14 monoclonal antibodies in vitro suggested the involving of the CD14 surface receptor in recognition of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages.     

Experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in selenium-deficient and selenium-supplemented dairy cows

Ten Holstein cows were fed a selenium-deficient (SeD) diet containing 0.04 mg of Se/kg of dry matter for 3 months before and throughout their first lactation. A selenium-supplemented (SeS) group of 10 cows was fed an additional 2 mg of Se/head/d to increase dietary Se concentration of the dry matter to approximately 0.14 mg/kg of body weight. An intracisternal challenge exposure of 40 to 60 colony-forming units (CFU) of Staphylococcus aureus was administered into 1 or 2 quarters of the udder of each trial cow at about the twenty-second week of lactation. Blood Se concentration (micrograms/ml +/- SEM) at the time of challenge exposure was 0.035 +/- 0.002 in SeD and 0.139 +/- 0.006 in SeS cows. Infections were established in 14/16 of the challenge-exposed quarters in SeD and 16/19 of the challenge-exposed quarters in SeS cows. The infection in 1 quarter of each Se group cleared without treatment by the end of the 8-week trial period. Log10 peak bacterial concentrations in milk from infected SeD quarters (5.04 +/- 0.25 CFU/ml) were higher (P less than 0.05) than those of infected SeS quarters (4.40 +/- 0.12 CFU/ml). Log10 peak somatic cell count (SCC) in milk from infected SeD quarters (7.18 +/- 0.08 cells/ml) did not differ from that of SeS quarters (7.17 +/- 0.05 cells/ml). Peak bacterial concentrations were attained sooner (P less than 0.05) in SeD quarters (9.5 +/- 4.0 days) than in SeS quarters (20.7 +/- 3.1 days). Similarly, peak SCC were reached earlier (P less than 0.05) in SeD (4.3 +/- 1.1 days) than in SeS quarters (13.3 +/- 3.8 days).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

S.aureus诱导的小鼠亚临床型乳房炎乳腺病理变化试验

乳房炎是奶牛最常见和危害最大的传染病之一,乳房炎动物模型和系统性的乳房炎病理变化研究是深入研究乳房炎的基础。本研究以分娩后7~12 d的C57BL/6小鼠为模型动物,将从隐性乳房炎的奶牛乳汁分离的金黄色葡萄球菌(S.aureus)50μL(1×107CFU)或等量的无菌生理盐水通过乳导管将缓慢注入小鼠第4、5对乳腺,分别于感染后2、4、8、12、18、24、36、48、60 h和72 h处死小鼠,对乳腺的病理变化进行了系统性的观察。结果显示,对照小鼠乳腺结构完整,连接紧密,腺泡腔充满乳汁,而试验组小鼠2 h即有免疫细胞出现,而且随着时间的推移乳腺内的免疫细胞数量逐渐增加,60 h时小鼠乳腺组织开始脂肪化退变。本研究结果,对奶牛乳房炎乳腺病理变化的研究具有参考意义,也为进一步进行乳腺免疫机制研究奠定了模型基础。     

Exfoliation rate of mammary epithelial cells in milk on bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is associated with bacterial load

The exfoliation rate of mammary epithelial cells (MECs) in milk is affected by physiological, breeding and environmental factors. Little is known about the relationship between the MEC exfoliation into milk and mammary‐infected Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) load on bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between S. aureus load and the proportion of MEC exfoliation in milk using five substantial bovine mastitis models. In 64 randomly extracted milk samples from udders at 3–21 days after S. aureus infusion, there were various samples with different numbers of S. aureus counts and somatic cell counts. No significant correlations were found between the S. aureus counts and somatic cell count (r = 0.338). In contrast, a significant correlation was noted between S. aureus counts and the proportion of cytokeratin‐positive cells in the milk from the infused udders (r = 0.734, P < 0.01). In conclusion, the increasing MEC exfoliation rate in milk from mastitis udders caused by S. aureus may contribute to reduced milk yield.     

Optimal milk penicillin levels for the treatment of experimentally induced mastitis in cows.

Infection of the mammary gland (mastitis) was produced by infusing ten quarters 2/cow x 5 cows) with Staphylococcus aureus strain 305. Mastitic and normal quarters were then infused with a preparation containing two levels of penicillin G (100,000 and 200,000 IU) in 10 mL of 3% aluminum monostearate and peanut oil. Milk penicillin levels were determined prior to treatment and twice daily for eight milkings after treatment. Normal and mastitic quarters infused with 200,000 IU had higher peak levels than those infused with 100,000 IU. Milk penicillin levels were similar in mastitic and normal quarters for the first three milkings after treatment. However, residues persisted for a longer time in milk from mastitic quarters. Penicillin was not detected in milk from the untreated control quarters nor in serum samples assayed during the experiment. The in vitro penicillin G sensitivity of the udder pathogen (MIC=0.039 and MBC=0.078 IU) was well below the milk penicillin levels for the first five milkings in all cases. However, infection recurred in two of the ten quarters (one receiving 100,000 IU and one receiving 200,000 IU).     

Serum amyloid A isoforms in serum and milk from cows with Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis

Serum amyloid A proteins (SAA) are very sensitive acute phase proteins, displaying multiple isoforms in plasma and different body fluids. They are currently under investigation as biomarkers of diseases. The aim of the present study was to compare the concentration and isoform expression of SAA in serum and milk of cows with bacteriologically negative milk (control group) and naturally occurring Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) subclinical mastitis (subclinical mastitis group). Somatic cell count (SCC) and bacteriological analyses were performed to establish the control and subclinical mastitis group. SAA concentration was evaluated using a commercial ELISA kit, while expression of different isoforms (serum A-SAA and milk M-SAA3 isoforms) was visualized by denaturing isoelectrical focusing and immunoblotting. The SAA concentrations in sera and milk of cows in the subclinical mastitis group were three and 100 times higher than in those from the control group of cows, respectively. Cows in the subclinical mastitis group had more acidic SAA isoforms in serum with the most prominent one at pI 5.5. This isoform was not detected in sera from the control group. Milk samples in the subclinical mastitis group contained abundant highly alkaline M-SAA3 isoforms and most of the serum isoforms, except for that at pI 5.5. In the subclinical mastitis group SAA isoforms with equivalent pI as serum isoforms accounted for 20% of the total SAA concentration in milk. There were significant differences in the concentrations and isoform patterns of SAA in serum and milk between the control and subclinical mastitis groups of cows. Also, we demonstrated that serum SAA isoforms were not transferred to milk proportion to their plasma content.     

Characterization of leukocytotoxic and superantigen-like factors produced by Staphylococcus aureus isolates from milk of cows with mastitis.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen for cattle, causing various forms of subclinical and clinical mastitis. Two groups of virulence factors (leukotoxins and superantigens) are supposed to play an important role in the initiation and/or the exacerbation of this disease. In order to detect all known and putative members of leukotoxins and SAgs (superantigens), we tested secreted factors of different S. aureus isolates in flow cytometry-based assays.Isolates were sampled from 68 cows of different farms and cultured for 24h in vitro. Supernatants were then coincubated with purified polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) or combinations of blood mononuclear cells (MNC) and PMN. Viable PMN and MNC were determined by quantitative flow cytometry. In addition, we recorded the proliferation-inducing potential of isolate supernatants for bovine MNC. Based on these criteria, the supernatants of S. aureus isolates fell in three groups. The first group (n=32), termed LT-SNs (leukotoxin-containing supernatants), killed purified granulocytes (neutrophils and eosinophils) in vitro. The second group of supernatants (n=20), termed SAg-SN (superantigen-containing supernatants), induced activation and proliferation of mononuclear cells (MNC) and, only in the presence of MNC, resulted in a selective depletion of neutrophils after 24h in vitro. The third group of supernatants (n=16) contained neither LTs or SAgs. Functionally, SAg-SNs behaved like purified staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) or SEB tested in parallel. The absence of SAg-like activity in LT-SNs was confirmed by heat treatment of LT-SNs, which destroyed the leukocytotoxic activity, but did not reveal any MNC-activating potential. This study, therefore, suggests, that pathogenic S. aureus isolates either produce leukotoxins or superantigens and that both groups of virulence factors can easily be differentiated by the functional assays described.The prevalence of leukotoxin- or superantigen-producing isolates was comparable among cattle with subclinical (LT=41%; SAg=30.8%) mastitis. The higher frequency of LT-producing isolates in cases of clinical mastitis (LT=55.2%; SAg=27.6%) was not significant. At least, these findings argue against the dominant role of superantigens or leukotoxins in S. aureus-induced bovine mastitis.     

Serum amyloid A in the serum and milk of ewes with mastitis induced experimentally with Staphylococcus epidermidis

Mastitis was induced experimentally in ewes with Staphylococcus epidermidis, and the concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA) in milk and serum, and the somatic cell counts and bacteria in the milk were determined for up to 10 weeks in two experiments, each examining five infected and five control ewes. The somatic cell counts peaked eight hours after infection and preceded an increase in SAA in milk. A maximum concentration of 6460 microg/ml SAA was recorded in milk from the infected sheep, compared with a mean concentration of 1.4 microg/ml in the control sheep. The mean peak concentration of SAA in serum (206.8 microg/ml) occurred earlier (one day after infection) than in milk. The serum concentration of SAA in the healthy animals ranged from 0 to 29.4 microg/ml. There was no correlation between the concentrations of SAA in serum and milk.     

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intramammary cefquinome in lactating goats with and without experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

Values for pharmacokinetic variables are usually obtained in healthy animals, whereas drugs are frequently administered to diseased animals. This study investigated cefquinome pharmacokinetics in healthy goats and goats with experimentally induced mastitis. Five adult lactating goats received 75 mg of cefquinome intramammary infusion using a commercially available product into one udder half in healthy goats and goats with clinical mastitis that was induced by intracisternal infusion of 100 cfu of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 suspended in 5 ml of sterile culture broth. Cefquinome concentrations were determined in plasma and skimmed milk samples using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacodynamics was investigated using the California Mastitis Test and pH of milk. Experimentally induced mastitis significantly increased the California Mastitis Test score and pH, and decreased the maximal cefquinome concentration and shortened the half‐life in milk when compared to healthy goats. In conclusion, mastitis facilitated the absorption of cefquinome from the mammary gland of lactating goats and induced marked changes in milk pH, emphasizing the importance of performing pharmacokinetic studies of antimicrobial agents in infected animals.     

Changes in blood and milk lymphocyte sub-populations during acute and chronic phases of Staphylococcus aureus induced bovine mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) often causes long-lasting chronic sub-clinical udder infections in dairy cows. To investigate if this can be due to a negative impact of S. aureus on lymphocytes important for the immune defence, alterations in proportions and expression intensity of CD4+, CD8+, WC1+, B and IL-2R+ lymphocytes was studied in blood and milk, as S. aureus mastitis developed from acute clinical to chronic sub-clinical form. Six healthy dairy cows were inoculated with S. aureus in one udder quarter per cow, and one quarter per cow acted as an uninfected control. Blood samples, and milk samples from infected and non-infected quarters were collected before infection and for five weeks after infection. All infected quarters developed acute clinical mastitis, of which five turned into chronic sub-clinical mastitis. In infected quarters, the proportions of all lymphocyte sub-sets, except WC1+ cells, differed in acute phase compared to pre-infection, while the dominant finding in the chronic phase was increased expression intensities per cell. An impact on blood lymphocytes and milk lymphocytes in non-infected quarters also occurred, mainly during the chronic phase. The most prominent finding was the increased proportion and expression of B-lymphocytes in blood, infected and non-infected quarters during chronic sub-clinical mastitis. As S. aureus can invade and survive intracellularly, a preferential stimulation of B-cells, suggesting development of a humoral response, may not be sufficient to eliminate intracellular bacteria, which could explain the persistence of the infection.     

Acute phase response in dairy cows with experimentally induced Escherichia coli mastitis.

Six Finnish Ayrshire cows were challenged intramammarily with 1500 CFU of Escherichia coli (E. coli) into single udder quarters, and the challenge was repeated into contralateral quarters 3 weeks later. All cows received flunixine meglumine once, and 3 of them were also treated with enrofloxacin. At the 2nd challenge, treatments were changed vice versa. The development of mastitis was followed by monitoring of systemic and local clinical signs, and with serial milk and serum samples. Intramammary challenge with E. coli produced clinical mastitis in all cows, the severity of the disease varying greatly between the animals. No significant changes between the 2 treatment regimens or sequent challenges were found for any of the clinical parameters. The response of each cow followed the same pattern after both challenges; three of the cows became mildly and the other 3 either moderately or severely affected. Two severely affected cows had to be euthanized because of severe mastitis. Serum haptoglobin and amyloid-A concentrations peaked 2-3 days after bacterial challenge. Serum haptoglobin did not correlate with the severity of the disease. Serum amyloid-A rose gradually in the severely affected cows, and significant differences were found between severely versus moderately or mildly affected cows at day 4. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha concentrations increased only in the severely affected cows. Serum cortisol response was prolonged in the severely diseased animals, and was significantly lower after the second challenge. Serum nitrite/nitrate concentration increased in the severely affected cows. This indicated excess nitric oxide production during acute E. coli mastitis. Strongly decreased milk production, and high bacterial growth in the infected quarters were best predictors for the outcome from acute E. coli mastitis.     

Effects of autogenous toxoid-bacterin in lactating cows with Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis

To evaluate clinical effects of autogenous toxoid-bacterin treatment for Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis in lactating cows, 22 cows which had at least one S. aureus infected quarter were selected from among cows at a S. aureus prevalent dairy farm. Eleven cows were injected with their own autogenous toxoid-bacterin and the others were maintained as non-injected control. In the toxoid-bacterin injected group, 27% of infected quarters were cured during the 12-week trial, compared to 5% in the control group. New intramammary infections with S. aureus were only detected in 3 quarters of the control group. Mean IgG antibody titer against S. aureus somatic antigens and alpha-toxin in serum and milk were significantly increased in the toxoid-bacterin injected group (p<0.05) and remained higher than those of the control group which showed no significant changes (p<0.05). In contrast to the control group, from 3 weeks after the second injection of the toxoid-bacterin injected group, mean S. aureus cfu/ml in milk samples from injected quarters with S. aureus was significantly decreased until the end of the study (p<0.05). In the toxoid-bacterin injected group, significant decreases of mean SCC were detected from milk samples from infected quarters with S. aureus from week 7 to week 10 (p<0.05). These data show that autogenous toxoid-bacterin treatment against S. aureus subclinical mastitis in lactating cows may increase the cure rate of the infections, reduce the severity of the infections and also prevent occurrence of the new infections.     

Enhanced virulence of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis induced by growth in milk whey

The virulence towards mice of Staphylococcus aureus strains from bovine mastitis was enhanced upon growth in milk whey compared to homologous organisms grown in tryptic soy broth (TSB). In the mouse mastitis model, S. aureus grown in milk whey caused more severe lesions than homologous strains grown in TSB. Staphylococcus aureus strain F1440 grown in milk whey induced 75% mortality and local necrotic reaction in subcutaneously inoculated mice, whereas the homologous strain grown in TSB caused only 5% mortality and slight skin reaction. Extracellular capsule on milk whey-grown, S. aureus could not be demonstrated. However, diffuse type colony morphology could be correlated with an increased virulence of S. aureus towards mice.     

Effect of intramammary infusion of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus intramammary infection

Mastitis due to Staphylococcus aureus is a significant problem in the dairy industry and is refractory to antibiotic treatment and/or vaccine prevention. Relative to other mastitis-causing pathogens, S. aureus elicits a diminutive host inflammatory response during intramammary infection. To determine whether induction of a heightened inflammatory response could influence outcome of infection, the highly pro-inflammatory molecule bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was infused into udder quarters experimentally infected with S. aureus. Relative to S. aureus-infected udder quarters receiving saline, quarters infused with LPS demonstrated a heightened inflammatory response as demonstrated by the induction of TNF-alpha and higher milk somatic cell counts and albumin levels. Although there was no overall effect on bacterial clearance, a trend toward reduced bacterial numbers during the immediate pro-inflammatory response following LPS infusion was observed suggesting that this novel approach to treating S. aureus intramammary infection may warrant further investigation.