Frequency of detectable serum IgG concentrations in precolostral calves.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of detectable serum IgG concentrations in calves prior to ingestion of colostrum and to assess whether a detectable IgG concentration was related to dam parity, calf birth weight, calf sex, season of calving, or infectious agents that can be transmitted transplacentally.


METHODS
170 Holstein dairy calves.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained from calves prior to ingestion of colostrum, and serologic testing for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Neospora caninum was performed. Relative risk, attributable risk, population attributable risk, and population attributable fraction for calves with a detectable serum IgG concentration attributable to positive results for N caninum and BVDV serologic testing were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether dam parity, calf sex, season of calving, and calf weight were associated with precolostral IgG concentration.


RESULTS
90 (52.9%) calves had a detectable total serum IgG concentration (IgG >or= 16 mg/dL). Relative risk, attributable risk, population attributable risk, and population attributable fraction for calves with a detectable serum IgG concentration attributable to positive results for N caninum serologic testing were 1.66, 0.34, 0.014, and 0.03, respectively. Calf sex, calf birth weight, and season of calving were not significant predictors for detection of serum IgG in precolostral samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of IgG concentrations in precolostral serum samples was higher than reported elsewhere. There was no apparent link between serum antibodies against common infectious agents that can be transmitted transplacentally and detection of measurable serum IgG concentrations.
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Munashe
M
Chigerwe
Jeff W
JW
Tyler
Dusty W
DW
Nagy
John R
JR
Middleton
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000276:immunology; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012306:Risk
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G