ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to review the pathophysiology of bovine mastitis in the context of susceptibility, progression of disease, and the cytokine response of the host to various pathogens. It provides an overview of the presently available recombinant bovine cytokines and their corresponding in vitro and in vivo effects on the cellular activity of bovine phagocytic cells. A bridge between the pathophysiology of the disease process and the known structure-function relationships of the cytokines is then traversed by a discussion of the impact of exogenous administration of recombinant cytokines on the initiation and progression of infections using various bovine mastitis model systems. The chapter discusses the impact on the dairy industry with respect to the regulation and application of these potent bioresponse modifiers. A fundamental principle of designing the optimal approach for the prevention or treatment of bovine mastitis with immunomodulatory compounds is that it must be based on an understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease.
