Content of tryptophan and kynurenines in serum and milk of dairy cows with mastitis caused by Streptococcus spp.

The aim of the study was to investigate serum and milk concentrations of tryptophan (TRP), kynurenine (KYN) and kynurenic acid (KYNA), and activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in cows suffering from mastitis caused by Streptococcus spp. The blood and milk samples were collected from Holstein-Friesian cows farmed in the Lublin region of Poland. It was found that TRP was lower in cows with mastitis both in serum and milk. KYN was lower in serum but not in milk. KYNA was not significantly altered in diseased cows both in serum and milk. The activity of IDO calculated as KYN to TRP ratio was unchanged in serum but was markedly elevated in milk of cows with mastitis. Our findings may have important implications for diagnosis of mastitis in cows because an increase of activity of IDO and reduction of TRP in milk might be a valuable early marker predicting the occurrence of the disease.