Subcutaneous injection of thymopentin in the area of the supramammary lymph node to reduce milk somatic cell count in subclinically mastitic cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of thymopentin (TP‐5) injections on subclinical intramammary infection (IMI) in lactating cows. In Experiment I, 40 cows were randomly divided into four groups. The cows in groups 1, 2, and 3 received subcutaneous injections of TP‐5 in the region of the supramammary lymph node at doses of 1, 2, and 4 mg, respectively, for 3 days. In Experiment II, 20 cows were randomly divided into two groups. The cows in group 1 were treated with injections of TP‐5 (4 mg) for 3 days in the same area as in Experiment I. Group 4 in Experiment I and group 2 in Experiment II were not treated and served as control groups. Milk samples were collected before and after treatment for bacteriological examination and analysis of the somatic cell count and level of N‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐glucosaminidase (NAGase). The results showed that treatment with TP‐5 significantly reduced the somatic cell count (SCC) and NAGase activity of the milk and numerically reduced IMI. A dose of 4 mg was found to be optimal for the reduction of SCC and NAGase in milk. Therefore, further study of the use of TP‐5 in the treatment of bovine mastitis is warranted.