Role of Free Radicals and Antioxidants in Mastitis

Mastitis is a major disease that affects dairy cattle. Most clinical mastitis cases occur during the first month of lactation and originate in the dry period, and resulted in great economic losses. Involvement of free radicals in mastitis may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Increased oxidative stress in blood of mastitic animals may be attributed to increased free radicals release and/or decrease antioxidants balance. The current review discussed the involvement of free radicals in mastitis and the role played by different antioxidants to protect the milk and udder tissues from the harmful effect of free radicals.