Efficacy of feeding plasma-derived commercial colostrum replacer for the prevention of transmission of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in Holstein calves.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relative risk of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease [JD]) in calves fed a plasma-derived colostrum-replacement (CR) product versus raw bovine maternal colostrum (MC).


METHODS
Randomized controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
497 heifer calves born in 12 JD-endemic commercial Holstein dairy farms located in Minnesota and Wisconsin.


METHODS
Every calf was separated from its dam within 30 to 60 minutes after birth and systematically assigned to be fed raw bovine MC (control group, n = 261 calves) or CR (treatment group, 236 calves). The calves were monitored to adulthood and tested for Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) infection by use of an ELISA to detect serum antibodies against MAP and bacterial culture for MAP in feces at approximately 30, 42, and 54 months of age. Weibull regression models were used to evaluate the effect of feeding CR (vs raw bovine MC) on the risk of developing JD infection.


RESULTS
Calves fed CR at birth were less likely (hazard ratio = 0.559) to become infected with MAP (as determined by use of an ELISA, bacterial culture, or both diagnostic tests), compared with the likelihood for calves fed MC at birth.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that feeding CR reduced the risk of developing MAP infection in Holstein calves born in JD-endemic herds, which implied that feeding raw bovine MC may be a source of MAP for calves. Plasma colostrum-replacement products may be an effective management tool for use in dairy herds attempting to reduce the prevalence of JD.
Pithua
Patrick
P
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Godden
Sandra M
SM
Wells
Scott J
SJ
Oakes
Michael J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D016015:Logistic Models; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial