Effect of maternal cells transferred with colostrum on the health of neonate calves

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of cells from colostrum on the health of neonate calves. Animals were distributed in 2 groups: COL+ (n=9) which received fresh colostrum from their own damns; and COL- (n=10) which received frozen colostrums from donors. Heifers were assessed before colostrum intake - D0; D2; D7; D14; D21 and D28. Heifers were monitored by clinical examination, hematological profile and serum iron. COL- had a higher diarrhea intensity score (typically 3) on D7. Moreover, a single case each of bronchopneumonia and navel inflammation were observed in COL- calves. COL- had fewer red blood cells (RBC) (6.5±0.8×10/μL) and less hemoglobin (Hgb) (8.3±1.4g/dL) than COL+ (RBC=7.2±0.8×10/μL; Hgb=9.6±1.3g/dL) at D14 (P≤0.05). COL- had more anemia on D21 (P=0.03) and on D28 (P=0.02). Iron was lower in COL- (5.6±2.7μM/L) than COL+ (10.7±6.2μM/L) (P=0.03) on D7. Lymphocytes was lower in COL- than COL+ on D7 (3.8±1.0×10/μL COL+ and 5.4±2.2×10/μL COL-, P=0.02). COL- calves had more anemia and lower serum iron concomitant with diarrhea on D7. The number of leukocytes was relatively consistent in the COL+ calves, while COL- calves showed an increasing number of of lymphocytes starting on D7.

Exploratory cohort study to determine if dry cow vaccination with a Salmonella Newport bacterin can protect dairy calves against oral Salmonella challenge

“…25,26 Although the exact function of these maternally derived lymphocytes is not clear, increasing evidence suggests that they are involved in the early immune function of the calf. 27,28 These cells are likely important in the development of neonatal monocytes, allowing more effective presentation of antigen as well as development and activation of neonatal lymphocytes. 29,30 A recent study also suggested that maternal colostral cells had long-term effects on the development of the calf's immune system.…”

Colostrum Management for Dairy Calves

“…33 Although multiple studies have confirmed that colostral leukocytes modify immune responses in calves in ways that seem relevant to protective immunity, to date research has not clearly shown an unequivocally beneficial effect of colostral leukocytes on practical outcomes such as calf respiratory or enteric morbidity, or induction of specific and measurable protective immunity following vaccination. Colostral leukocytes fed alone are not sufficient to protect calves from fatal disease in the neonatal period, 34 and recent studies comparing proportions of calves affected by naturally occurring diarrhea or respiratory disease after calves consume fresh maternal colostrum containing leukocytes, or frozen colostrum from their own dam 31 or other cows, 35 have shown small or variable differences in disease between the groups. Regarding the effect of colostral leukocytes on vaccine responses, Meganck and colleagues 36 evaluated humoral and cell-mediated responses to tetanus toxoid vaccination at 2, 5, or 10 days of age in calves fed pooled colostral whey with maternal leukocytes added, or calves fed only pooled colostral whey; this work suggested that colostral leukocytes influenced both tetanus toxoid-specific cellmediated and humoral responses in calves, but the number of calves tested was small, and the effects measured varied substantially for calves vaccinated at 2, 5, or 10 days of age.…”

Vorkommen und Bedeutung von Leukozyten im Kolostrum

“…Novo et al [16] führten einen Versuch durch, bei dem Kälber mit nativem (9 Tiere) bzw. mit zelldepletiertem (10 Tiere) Kolostrum gefüttert wurden.…”