In order to clarify the morphological changes in the mammary glands of cows affected with coliform (Escherichia coli) mastitis, histopathological observations were undertaken on the mastitis of the lactating rabbits which was experimentally induced with E. coli or its endotoxin isolated from cases of acute and chronic matitis in dairy cattle.
In the bacterial suspension-infused groups the affected quarters of udder showed cloudy swelling, hyperemia and hemorrhage to local necrosis and firmness. The microscopic findings of early stage of the mastitis were appearance of large numbers of heterophils in the glandular lumina and ducts accompanied by degeneration, necrosis and desquamation of epithelial cells, and also infiltration of heterophils, hemorrhage and edema in the interstitial tissue, and destruction of alveoli. Later, proliferation of firoblasts, plasma cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils and histiocytes appeared in the glandular tissue and necrotic foci of glandular tissue were surrounded by highly proliferated connective tissue. Granuloma-like inflammatory changes could be observed in the glandular tissue on the 7th days after infusion. The inflammatory response in the group infused with E. coli strain isolated from the natural case of acute mastitis was rapid and severe as compared with that of chronic mastitis.
In the endotoxin-infused group the morphological changes were similiar to those of the bacterial suspension-infused groups.
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