title: Effect of β-hydroxybutyric acid, parity, and body condition score on phenotype and proliferative capacity of colostral mononuclear leukocytes of high-yielding dairy cows.
abstract: In neonatal calves, the ingestion of colostrum is imperative for preventing infectious diseases. Investigations into the transfer of passive immunity of cattle have primarily focused on the importance of colostral immunoglobulins, with a recent increase in focus on understanding the role of colostral leukocytes. The main objective of the present study was to measure the influence of parity, body condition score, serum nonesterified fatty acids, and serum β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations of periparturient cows on phenotype and mitogen- and antigen-induced proliferative capacity of bovine colostral leukocytes. Holstein-Friesian cows (n=141) were intramuscularly vaccinated at 60 and 30 d before the expected parturition date with a tetanus toxoid vaccine. Of these 141 animals, 28 primiparous and 72 multiparous cows were sampled immediately after parturition. Colostrum mononuclear cell populations were identified by flow cytometry using bovine cluster of differentiation markers, and the proliferative capacity of these cells was determined using a (3)H-thymidine proliferation assay. Under-conditioned cows had a significantly higher percentage of colostral macrophages than normal-conditioned animals, whereas over-conditioned cows had significantly more colostral B-lymphocytes. Serum β-hydroxybutyrate was significantly associated with higher numbers of colostral T-lymphocytes and macrophages. Heifers had significantly higher mitogen- and antigen-induced proliferation of their colostral leukocytes than third parity or older cows. In conclusion, body condition score, parity, and serum β-hydroxybutyrate concentration of periparturient high-yielding dairy cows were shown to influence the number of colostral macrophages or the mitogen- and antigen-induced proliferation of colostral leukocytes, possibly influencing the cellular immunity of the newborn calf.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Herd Health, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: vanessa.meganck@dvam.be.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meganck
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Immunology, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Goddeeris
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Animal Sciences Unit, ILVO, 9090 Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Campeneere
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Herd Health, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hostens
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Herd Health, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Eetvelde
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Herd Health, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piepers
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Immunology, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Reproduction and Herd Health, University of Ghent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opsomer
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: colostrum; dairy cows; leukocytes; negative energy balance