Serum haptoglobin as an indicator of the acute phase response in bovine respiratory disease

Abstract

The early stages of the host response to infectious agents include a number of physiologic changes, collectively known as the acute phase response. The acute phase response is comprised of reactions localized at the site of infection, as well as the initiation of systemic responses, which include a rapid increase in the serum concentration of some proteins, known as acute phase proteins (APP). Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we detected two APP of approximately 22 and 37 kDa molecular weight in sera obtained from cattle with bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Based on their presence in the sera of sick, but not normal animals, the molecular weights, N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis, and the ability to bind hemoglobin, we identified these proteins as the alpha and beta subunits of haptoglobin. The haptoglobin molecule and the alpha subunit were isolated from serum, purified, and used to produce monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. With these reagents, an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was developed to measure the concentration of haptoglobin in bovine serum. Using an experimental model of BRD induced by a sequential challenge of calves with bovine herpesvirus type-1 and Pasteurella haemolytica, we observed a temporal relationship between the increase in haptoglobin concentration in serum and the onset of bacterial infection. The haptoglobin concentration ranged from undetectable in the serum of most calves prior to challenge, to greater than 1 mg ml(-1) in over one-third of the calves at the height of disease. Furthermore, the concentration of haptoglobin was associated significantly with other measures of the severity of disease. Together, these results indicate that quantification of acute phase proteins in animals with BRD could be a valuable diagnostic and prognostic aid.

Serum protein concentrations, including acute phase proteins, in calves experimentally infected with Salmonella Dublin

“…Ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, acid glycoprotein, and probably protein with molecular weight of 34,000 Da have been identified as acute phase proteins (APP) (Gruys et al 1994, Godson et al 1996, and are synthesized through the liver in response to inflammatory cytokines, particularly interleukin-6 (Heinrich et al 1990). Haptoglobin has been identified as the main acute phase protein in cattle and is an important marker of bacterial infection (Eckersall & Conner 1988).…”

Haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and ceruloplasmin concentrations in cattle with suspicion of coryza gangrenosa bovum

“…In bovine respiratory syncytial virus caused experimentally by HEEGARD et al (2000), it was indicated that hp levels increased with the severity of the disease, Saa was the acute phase protein responding more rapidly to the infection, having higher sensitivity than hp. GODSON et al (1996) stated that body temperature increase, disease score and weight loss in herpesvirus type-1 / P haemolytica infection showed positive correlation with hp levels, and the highest hp levels were observed on the 8th day with occurrence of death. ULUTAŞ et al (2011) reported that significant increases were seen in hp and Saa levels in cattle persistently infected with Bovine viral diarrhea virus, and these increases were possibly associated with IL-6 and IL-8 levels in positive acute phase proteins.…”

Correlation Between Serum Acute Phase Proteins, Lung Pathology, and Disease Severity in Pigs Experimentally Co-Infected with H3N2 Swine Influenza Virus and Bordetella Bronchiseptica

“…Therefore, a considerable interest has grown in the development of reliable markers that reflect the severity of the disease and may help to predict survival and the course of the disease in pigs. According to the earlier data (10,11,14,17,26,29), it seems that APPs may be potentially useful as early markers of infection in pigs. However, the knowledge about the correlation between the response of various APPs and the disease severity in pigs is still insufficient.…”

“…evaluation of treatment efficacy, discrimination between bacterial and viral infections, evaluation of disease severity) has been studied both in humans and animals (1,8,10,13,19). A significant correlation between APP level in serum and the severity of the disease has been previously reported for some infections in humans (10,17), bovines (11), and horses (14). The relationship between serum APP concentration and the extent of pathological lesions was also studied in pigs (26,29,30); however, the knowledge about the kinetics of APP response and the correlation between serum APP, lung pathology, and the course of disease in pigs co-infected with H3N2 swine influenza virus (SIV) and Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bbr) is restricted.…”