GC–MS Metabolomics Identifies Metabolite Alterations That Precede Subclinical Mastitis in the Blood of Transition Dairy Cows

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine alterations in the serum metabolites related to amino acid (AA), carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism in transition dairy cows before diagnosis of subclinical mastitis (SCM), during, and after diagnosis of disease. A subclinical mastitis case was determined as a cow having somatic cell count (SCC) > 200 000/mL of milk for two or more consecutive reports. Blood samples were collected from 100 Holstein dairy cows at five time points at -8 and -4 weeks before parturition, at the week of SCM diagnosis, and +4 and +8 weeks after parturition. Twenty healthy control cows (CON) and six cows that were diagnosed with SCM were selected for serum analysis with GC-MS. At -8 weeks a total of 13 metabolites were significantly altered in SCM cows. In addition, at the week of SCM diagnosis 17 metabolites were altered in these cows. Four weeks after parturition 10 metabolites were altered in SCM cows and at +8 weeks 11 metabolites were found to be different between the two groups. Valine (Val), serine (Ser), tyrosine (Tyr), and phenylalanine (Phe) had very good predictive abilities for SCM and could be used at -8 weeks and -4 weeks before calving. Combination of Val, isoleucine (Ile), Ser, and proline (Pro) can be used as diagnostic biomarkers of SCM during early stages of lactation at +4 to +8 weeks after parturition. In conclusion, SCM is preceded and followed by alteration in AA metabolism.

Plasma metabolomic profiles differ at the time of artificial insemination based on pregnancy outcome, in Bos taurus beef heifers

“…In fact, mastitis has been shown to decrease reproductive parameters including conception rate 33 . Using metabolomics, a recent study compared the plasma metabolomic profiles between dairy cows with subclinical mastitis and healthy control cows 34 . They identified 17 metabolites, with good predictive abilities, altered in the subclinical population during the week of diagnosis including valine, serine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine 34 .…”

“…Using metabolomics, a recent study compared the plasma metabolomic profiles between dairy cows with subclinical mastitis and healthy control cows 34 . They identified 17 metabolites, with good predictive abilities, altered in the subclinical population during the week of diagnosis including valine, serine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine 34 . In a companion study they found that cattle with subclinical mastitis had greater serum concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα 35 , suggesting the initiation of systemic infection preceding clinical mastitis.…”

A Novel Lactobacilli-Based Teat Disinfectant for Improving Bacterial Communities in the Milks of Cow Teats with Subclinical Mastitis

“…The SCC of raw milk was measured using a laser beam Bentley FTS/FCM400 Combi Instrument (Chaska, MN, United States). A threshold of 200,000 cells/mL is indicative of subclinical mastitis ( Dervishi et al, 2016 ). Eleven cows used in this study were diagnosed with subclinical mastitis because the SCC in a majority of milk samples was ≥200,000 cells/mL.…”

Clinical Ketosis-Associated Alteration of Gene Expression in Holstein Cows

“…Nevertheless, the association between difference in gene expression and incidence and progression of ketosis remains unknown. The 'Omics' technologies of transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics have increasingly been used to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of complex diseases in cattle, such as hyperthermic stress [21], mastitis [22], footrot [23], and lipid metabolome disorder [24]. In these studies, whole blood has been widely used due to convenient and non-invasive sampling.…”