Interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in sera and whey of cattle with naturally occurring coliform mastitis

Concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined in serum and whey samples from cattle with naturally occurring coliform mastitis for two weeks after onset using bovine INF-gamma- and TNF-alpha -specific ELISA. In serum and whey samples from healthy cows, IFN-gamma was almost undetectable and TNF-alpha was detected at low levels. At the onset of illness, INF-gamma in sera and whey and TNF-alpha in whey from the mastitic cows were significantly higher than their respective values in healthy cows. Concentrations of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in whey from mastitic cattle decreased significantly as the cows recovered.