Immune-stimulatory effects of a bacteria-based probiotic on peripheral leukocyte subpopulations and cytokine mRNA expression levels in scouring holstein calves.
Subpopulations of peripheral leukocytes and cytokine mRNA expression levels were evaluated in scouring and healthy Holstein calves (age 10 ± 5 days; n=42) treated with a probiotic consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium and Clostridium butyricum. The calves were assigned to the scouring or healthy group and then subdivided into pathogen-positive treated (n=8), pathogen-positive control (n=8), pathogen-negative treated (n=6), pathogen-negative control (n=6), healthy treated (n=6) and healthy control (n=8) groups. A single dose of the probiotic (3.0 g/100 kg body weight) was given to each calf in the treatment groups for 5 days. Blood samples were collected on the first day of scour occurrence (day 0) and on day 7. In the scouring calves, smaller peripheral leukocyte subpopulations and cytokine mRNA expression levels were noted on day 0. The numbers of CD3(+) T cells; CD4(+), CD8(+) and WC1(+) γδ T cell subsets; and CD14(+), CD21(+) and CD282(+) (TLR2) cells were significantly increased in the scouring and healthy treated calves on day 7. Furthermore, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma mRNA expression was elevated in the peripheral leukocytes of the scouring and healthy treated calves on day 7. The scouring calves given the probiotic recovered on day 7. A significantly smaller number of peripheral leukocytes and lower cytokine mRNA expression level might be induced by scouring in calves. Repeated probiotic administration might stimulate cellular immunity and encourage recovery from scouring in pre-weaning Holstein calves.
United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
Abdul Qadir
AQ
Qadis
Satoru
S
Goya
Minoru
M
Yatsu
Atsushi
A
Kimura
Toshihiro
T
Ichijo
Shigeru
S
Sato
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D046972:Clostridium butyricum; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger