Effect of Orally Administered Cisapride, Bethanechol, and Erythromycin on the Apparent Efficiency of Colostral IgG Absorption in Neonatal Holstein‐Friesian Calves

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of orally administered cisapride, bethanechol, and erythromycin on the absorption of colostral IgG in dairy calves.AnimalsTwenty‐four healthy neonatal Holstein‐Friesian calves.ProceduresCalves were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 0.9% NaCl solution (2 mL, PO; negative control); erythromycin lactobionate (20 mg/kg BW, PO; anticipated to be a positive control); cisapride (0.5 mg/kg BW, PO); bethanechol chloride (0.5 mg/kg BW, PO). Calves were fed 3 L of pooled bovine colostrum containing acetaminophen (50 mg/kg) by suckling and oroesophageal intubation 30 minutes after each treatment was administered. Jugular venous blood samples were obtained periodically after the start of feeding and plasma total IgG, protein, acetaminophen, and glucose concentrations determined. Abomasal emptying rate was assessed by the time to maximal plasma acetaminophen concentration.ResultsOral administration of cisapride facilitated the absorption of colostral IgG and protein. The effect of cisapride on abomasal emptying rate could not be evaluated because cisapride appeared to interfere with acetaminophen metabolism. Based on the total IgG and total protein concentration‐time relationships, the beneficial effects of cisapride appeared to occur early after oral administration and were transient.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAdditional studies appear indicated to characterize the effect of cisapride dose on the magnitude and duration of its effect on facilitating the absorption of colostral IgG and protein. Identification of a nonantimicrobial method for increasing abomasal emptying rate, such as cisapride, will potentially provide a practical and effective method for facilitating transfer of passive immunity in colostrum‐fed dairy calves.

Short communication: Apparent efficiency of colostral immunoglobulin G absorption in Holstein heifers

“…The apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) of IgG can be calculated based on the calf's weight, the volume of colostrum fed, and the IgG concentrations of both the colostrum and the calf's blood serum. Other research where AEA has been measured has been predominantly focused on comparisons between experimental and control groups, without comparison to an established reference; in such studies, mean AEA values of control calves have ranged from 16.3 to 45% (Bush et al, 1971;Baumwart et al, 1977;Arthington et al, 2000a,b;Quigley et al, 2000;Jones et al, 2004;Elizondo-Salazar and Heinrichs, 2009;Ghoreishi et al, 2015). In addition to the variability in reported AEA ranges, limited calf numbers and varying feeding procedures limit the ability to compare these values across studies.…”

A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating the Effects of Oligosaccharides on Transfer of Passive Immunity in Neonatal Dairy Calves

“…To avoid introducing changes in colostrum bacterial populations, lactose and the OS powder treatments used in this study were added to colostrum immediately before feeding colostrum to prevent bacteria from utilizing metabolizable supplements for bacterial replication and growth. As for nutrient density and osmolality, increases in both have been shown to decrease abomasal emptying rate (AER), and decreased AER has been shown to decrease AEA% of colostral IgG in neonatal dairy calves . However, we contend that the 10 g dose of lactose used in this study would be insufficient to induce clinically relevant changes in either of these colostrum attributes.…”

“…This deduction is supported by 2 lines of evidence. First, it is well established that oral‐gastric administration of hyperosmolar fluids to dairy calves decreases AER; and, second, the effects of prokinetic drug‐induced changes in AER in dairy calves fed colostrum indicate that decreased AER decreases AEA% of IgG . On the basis of mathematical estimation of the osmolality of pure lactose, a 10‐g dose would be expected to contribute 29 mOsm to colostrum osmolality.…”

“…As for nutrient density and osmolality, increases in both have been shown to decrease abomasal emptying rate (AER), and decreased AER has been shown to decrease AEA% of colostral IgG in neonatal dairy calves. [25][26][27] However, we contend that the 10 g dose of lactose used in this study would be insufficient to induce clinically relevant changes in either of these colostrum attributes. Regarding nutrient density, 10 g of additional lactose represents 1/10 th of the total dose of lactose a calf would have received in colostrum with an average lactose concentration of 26 g/L.…”

“…First, it is well established that oral-gastric administration of hyperosmolar fluids to dairy calves decreases AER; and, second, the effects of prokinetic drug-induced changes in AER in dairy calves fed colostrum indicate that decreased AER decreases AEA% of IgG. 26,27,29,30 On the basis of mathematical estimation of the osmolality of pure lactose, a 10-g dose would be expected to contribute 29 mOsm to colostrum osmolality. Thus, we anticipated that this dose would increase osmolality by 8-10 mOsm/L of colostrum for calves fed 3.79 and 2.84 L of colostrum, respectively.…”