The effect of a staphylococcal cell wall factor on the early inflammatory response to staphylococcal infection of the lactating bovine udder.

The effect on the early inflammatory response in the bovine mammary gland of a factor extracted from the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus was studied. The insoluble factor was extracted from a 3h-culture, and was mixed with S. aureus from an overnight culture (OF) for experimental infection of a lactating quarter. Other quarters were infected with a 3h or an overnight culture (O). Five cows were used in the experiment. The O-quarters showed more severe clinical signs than seen in the 3h-and OF-quarters. Antitrypsin levels and NAGase concentrations were much reduced in the 3h-and OF-quarters. While the cell wall factor profoundly reduced the early inflammatory response, the effect on the final outcome of the infection was not determined