Induction of Escherichia coli mastitis in cows fed selenium-deficient or selenium-supplemented diets

Erskine, R.J.; Eberhart, R.J.; Grasso, P.J.; Scholz, R.W.

Induction of Escherichia coli mastitis in cows fed selenium-deficient or selenium-supplemented diets

1989

Erskine, R.J. | Eberhart, R.J. | Grasso, P.J. | Scholz, R.W.

Ten Holstein heifers were fed a selenium-deficient (SeD) diet (0.04 mg of Se/kg on a total ration dry-matter basis) 3 months before calving and throughout their first lactation. A selenium-supplemented (SeS) diet (2 mg of Se/head/d) was fed to a group of 10 heifers. In about the 14th week of lactation, the cows were challenge-exposed to Escherichia coli by administering 15 to 40 colony-forming units (CFU) into 1 mammary gland. Selenium concentration microgram/ml) in blood around the time of challenge exposure was 0.033 +/-0.002 (mean +/- SEM) in SeD and 0.132 /-0.006 in SeS cows. Infections were established in all challenge-exposed quarters. The frequency of quarter atrophy and agalactia, and reduction in whole-udder milk yield in the first 4 days after challenge exposure, were greater (P < 0.05) in the SeD cows. Log10 peak bacterial concentrations in milk were higher (P < 0.05) in SeD (7.63 +/- 0.34 CFU/ml) than in SeS cows (5.57 0.66 CFU/ml). Mean log bacterial concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) from 12 to 20 hours after challenge exposure in SeD than in SeS cows. Duration of infection was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in SeD (162.0 +/- 12.0) than in SeS cows (114.4 +/- 18.0 hours). Milk somatic cell counts increased significantly more slowly (P < 0.05) in SeD than in SeS cows from 8 to 16 hours after challenge exposure. Ratios of milk somatic cells to bacteria in milk were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in SeD than in SeS cows at l2 and 16 hours after challenge exposure.

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