The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in milk and serum of healthy cows (HE) and cows with mastitis caused by Streptococcus spp. The blood and milk samples were obtained from Holstein-Friesian cows (Lublin region, Poland). A total of 43 milk and serum samples from 28 cows with mastitis and 15 healthy cows were selected for study. IL-6 levels in milk from HE cows ranged from 6.09–80.24 pg/mL (median 26.6 pg/mL) and were significantly lower than in milk from both cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis (487.09 pg/mL vs. 26.6 pg/mL in CM, p < 0.001; and 165.31 pg/mL vs. 26.6 pg/mL in SCM, p < 0.001). The IL-6 concentration in the serum of HE was not significantly different from the serum IL-6 of the entire group of mastitis cows, regardless of whether the inflammation proceeded in a clinical or subclinical form (44.37 pg/mL vs. 78.09 pg/mL; 128.29 pg/mL vs. 78.09 pg/mL, respectively). The present study indicates that cows with mastitis caused by Streptococcus spp. develop a local immune response in the mammary gland in response to the pathogen. Monitoring of IL-6 levels in milk can allow early detection of mastitis, which is especially important in cases of subclinical inflammation.

The main aim of this report was to investigate and compare the response of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin, two positive acute phase proteins (APPs) which usually show an increase in inflammatory processes, in dogs with pyometra. For this purpose, two different studies were made. In the first one , both proteins were measured together in an APPs profile in 25 dogs with pyometra, 25 dogs with pancreatitis (as an example of a positive inflammatory control group), and in 25 healthy dogs. In the second study, to advance the knowledge of the changes and evolution of serum ferritin and CRP in dogs with pyometra after treatment, the concentrations of both APPs were analyzed in 30 dogs with pyometra at diagnosis and after ovariohysterectomy and in 10 clinically healthy female dogs before and after elective spaying. In both studies, bitches with pyometra showed significant increases in serum CRP, indicating an inflammatory condition, but not in serum ferritin despite being a moderate positive APP. This divergence between the dynamics of these APPs could be a useful tool for the suspicion of cases of canine pyometra.

Background: Mastitis is a condition affecting various animals, including hamsters, gerbils, mice, and rats. While these species are frequently used as models for studying mammary gland infections in biomedical research, there is limited understanding of their natural occurrence, epidemiology, and management. This review examines the anatomy, causes, clinical signs, pathology, and treatment of mastitis in small pet rodents, highlighting existing knowledge gaps and emphasizing the need for further research. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first review focusing on mastitis in small pet rodents, underlining the importance of maintaining mammary gland health in these pets.

Disturbances of the postpartum period can occur in all female livestock, of which uterine prolapse is the most commonly diagnosed. The author decided to describe his own case of uterine prolapse in a female alpaca and one of the possible treatments. Knowing the reasons for its occurrence and performing appropriate and quick therapy reduces the risk of consequences resulting from later and occasionally an incorrect diagnosis and treatment. It also contributes to the preservation of proper subsequent female oestrus cycles, and its fertility.

The measurement of cytokines in serum, milk, and saliva is advancing rapidly, especially for non-invasive health monitoring, stress evaluation, and disease diagnosis in bitches. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a cytokine panel in serum, milk, and saliva in bitches with pseudopregnancy (PSPG; n=11) and compare their values to those observed in bitches with subclinical mastitis (SM; n=7) and healthy lactating bitches (n=6). Results showed that, in serum, only keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC)-like protein levels differed significantly between groups (P<0.05), being lower in PSPG and SM compared to healthy dogs (P<0.05). Conversely, in milk, bitches with PSPG had higher levels of GM-CSF, IFNg, IL2, IL7, IL10, IL15, IL18, IP10, and TNFalpha than those with SM or healthy controls. These findings indicate that PSPG, a common clinical condition, involves a significant localized inflammatory response and should be actively managed rather than regarded as purely physiological.