Influence of intramammary infusion of polymyxin B on the clinicopathologic course of endotoxin-induced mastitis.

The influence of giving 1 dose of polymyxin B (1.6 X 10(6) U/quarter) by the intramammary route to dairy cows to modify the clinicopathologic course of mastitis induced by intramammary infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin (1 mg/quarter) was examined. Pretreatment with polymyxin B or its simultaneous administration reduced and delayed the typical febrile and leukopenic responses to endotoxin infusion, prevented an increase in plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity and a reduction in plasma zinc concentration, but only marginally influenced the degree of udder inflammation and had no effect on leukocytosis in the milk. Intramammary infusion of polymyxin B at 30 or 60 minutes after endotoxin was infused prevented the increase in plasma lactate dehydrogenase activity and moderated the decrease in plasma zinc concentration, but otherwise failed to alter the clinicopathologic course of endotoxin-induced acute mastitis.