Colostral transfer of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase in calves

Abstract

Serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in blood samples taken from normal calves which bad suckled colostrum were much higher than those found in healthy adult cattle. Levels of over 60 times the normal adult level were observed. These high levels of GGT took approximately 5 weeks to decline to adult values. Calves which appeared to have not received or absorbed colostrum had GGT levels which would be considered normal in adult cattle. A calf with serum gamma globulin levels which indicated an intermediate amount of colostrum absorption had a level of GGT which was intermediate between that expected for normal adult cattle and that found in calves which had more fully absorbed colostrum. The mean GGT level observed in colostrum from 6 newly-calved cows was over 800 times the mean serum GGT level of the same 6 cows. It therefore appears most likely that GGT is concurrently absorbed with colostrum by calves and this gives rise to the very high levels seen in normal calves. Calves with very high levels of serum GGT also had raised levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP) which slowly declined but never reached normal adult levels within the 53-day period of observation. It therefore appears that high levels of both GGT and AP are achieved by calves at the time of colostrum absorption and it is concluded that clinical interpretation of serum GGT and AP levels in young calves is closely dependent upon parallel knowledge of their serum gamma globulin levels.

Use of the enzyme gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) as an indirect measure of passive transfer of immunity in holstein calves and association with the occurrence of diarrhea after birth

“…Despite the high IgG levels are correlated with high GGT concentrations (THOMPSON;PAULI, 1981;PARISH et al, 1997;ROCHA et al, 2009;FEITOSA et al, 2007), there is no consensus on the combination of passive transfer of immunity and protection against morbidity or mortality (BERGE et al, 2009, VIRTALA et al, 1999.…”

“…Colostrum has a high concentration of this enzyme, allowing the indirect determination of the immunity level of these animals (ZARILLI et al, 2003). Thompson and Pauli (1981) found that the GGT levels increased up to 16 times in young animals when compared with adult animals. The serum GGT activity can be about 60 times higher in animals breastfed colostrum than in animals not ingesting colostrum.…”

Basic Qualitative Parameters of Cow Colostrum and Their Dependence on Season and Post Partum Time

“…High activity of gammaglutamyltransferase (GMT) in calf blood in the period of colostral nutrition suggests that colostrum is an important source of this enzyme (Thompson and Pauli 1981). According to the GMT activity in calf blood the feeding of calves by colostrum could be assessed.…”

Transfer of passive immunity and serum proteinogram in the first six months of life of Criollo Lageano and black and white holstein calves

“…The alpha1 and alpha2 fractions, as well as beta globulins showed little variation during the experimental period and were similar in both breeds. The gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a liver enzyme present in high concentration in the bovine colostrum and is absorbed by intestinal cells of newborn calves (Thompson & Pauli 1981, Braun et al 1982, Fagliari et al 1996, Zanker et al 2001. One can consider that the activity of the serum GGT serves as an indirect indicator of the absorption capacity of immunoglobulins of the neonate (Feitosa et al 2001a).…”