Failure of Passive Immunity Transfer Is Not a Risk Factor for Omphalitis in Beef Calves

Abstract

Omphalitis is the third most frequent disease in newborn calves after neonatal diarrhea and bovine respiratory disease (BRD), but limited data on the prevalence and risk factors are available in the literature. Failure of passive immunity transfer (FPIT) is recognized as a major risk factor for diseases and mortality in calves. However, the association between omphalitis and FPIT remains poorly described. To assess this association, 964 suckler beef calves from 22 farms were included in a longitudinal cohort study for 5 months. Each calf was examined twice (mean ages: 4.4 and 11.1 days old) to diagnose omphalitis through clinical examination and ultrasonographic evaluation (USE) if necessary. Measurements of the total solids percentage (TS-%Brix) and total protein (TP) were performed on the serum during the first visit to evaluate the calves’ passive immunity status. FPIT (fair and poor) was defined as serum %Brix < 8.1 or TP < 5.1 g/dL; among calves with omphalitis, 14% had FPIT and among calves without omphalitis 12% had FPIT. The omphalitis prevalence was 32.3% in calves without any other disease (overall prevalence of 30.9%). No statistical association between the prevalence of omphalitis and FPIT was observed. Further research is needed to identify the risk factors and promote the prevention measures for omphalitis in cow–calf systems, such as calving difficulty, hygiene of housing, and navel disinfection.

Case report: Omphalitis caused by Trueperella pyogenes infection in a Korean indigenous calf

“…The calf was not born in dystocia, had a well-maintained and hygienic maternity pen, and did not spend much time in the cow-calf barn due to artificial lactation. Although FPT was considered to cause omphalitis, recent studies have reported that FPT does not cause omphalitis ( 14 ). However, the occurrence of omphalitis in a calf with FPT, as in the current case, is believed to increase septicemia through hematogenous transmission.…”

“…Omphalitis is the third most common disease in newborn calves following neonatal diarrhea and bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Nevertheless, the available information regarding this condition in cattle is limited ( 14 ). We herein report a case of omphalitis caused by T. pyogenes , with subsequent pneumonia, arthritis, and liver abscess, in a Korean native calf, as well as present appropriate guidelines for its treatment.…”