Concentrations of Inflammatory Cytokines and Acute‐Phase Proteins in the Peripheral Blood and Uterine Washings in Cows with Pyometra

The development of pyometra in cows depends largely on the state of local immunity of the uterus. The objective of the study was to evaluate the concentration of the following proinflammatory cytokines: tumour necrosis factor (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6); anti‐inflammatory cytokine: interleukin‐10 (IL‐10); and acute‐phase proteins (APPs): haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA), in serum and uterine washings in cows with pyometra and healthy animals. The study was performed on 20 cows divided into two groups based on the results of cytological and ultrasonographic tests: a pyometra and a healthy group (10 cows per group). Experimental material consisted of blood serum and uterine washings. The levels of the following cytokines, TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10 and APPs – Hp and SAA, in the study material were determined by ELISA. The results showed that the values of TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10 as well as SAA and Hp were significantly higher in serum of cows with pyometra compared to controls (p