Relationship between the count of milk somatic cells and the peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in sows.

The aim of the study was to examine subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes of mastitic and normal sows. Since number of cells in the milk reflects the intensity of response to mastitis process, relationship between level of milk somatic cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes was determined. No differences were found between mastitic and healthy sows in the percentage and absolute number of blood neutrophils and lymphocytes, T- and B-lymphocytes as well as in subpopulations of T-lymphocytes. It was found that milk somatic cell count positively correlates with the percentage but not with number of neutrophils and lymphoblasts and negatively correlates with the number of blood total T-lymphocytes and helper T-cells.