title: Phenotypical characterization of peripheral blood leucocytes in the newborn calf.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to establish reference values for the composition of blood leucocyte populations in neonatal calves by differential leucocyte counts and immunophenotyping. Neonatal calves 1 h post partum (p.p.) were found to have a very high absolute number of granulocytes while the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was lower than in calves aged 3-9 weeks. The relative numbers of T cell subpopulations were similar in newborn and older calves, but newborn calves had lower percentages of B cells and MHC class II positive cells. Within the first 4 h of life the relative numbers of CD2+, CD6+, and CD8+ T cells declined in colostrum-fed as well as in colostrum-deprived calves. In contrast, the percentage of MHC class II positive cells and monocytes increased from 1 h to 4 h p.p. particularly in colostrum-fed calves. Although there is some evidence for immaturity of lymphocytes in neonatal calves, the immune system of these animals seems to be fully present at birth.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Hygiene und Infektionskrankheiten der Tiere, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menge
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hirt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bauerfeind
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baljer
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wieler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000662:veterinary*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values