Relationship between the bovine major histocompatibility complex (BoLA), erythrocyte markers and susceptibility to mastitis in Icelandic cattle.

Milk and blood samples were obtained from three Icelandic dairy herds. The herds were monitored regularly for mastitis incidence. Cell counts, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and antitrypsin levels of the milk samples were recorded. In addition, red cell and BoLA typing were performed on the blood. Although cell counts and ATP levels showed significant associations with mastitis, antitrypsin levels did not. Red blood cell antigens N'2 and S1 and the lymphocyte antigen detected by the monoclonal antibody M7 were associated with low cell counts, whilst BoLA w6 and w6.1 were associated with high cell counts. BoLA w6.2 and w11 showed significant association with high antitrypsin levels. Only ED116 showed a significant association with mastitis.