Intestinal pathogens, diarrhoea and acute phase proteins in naturally infected dairy calves.
In this study, the association between Eimeria spp. related signs and innate immune response in dairy calves was examined. Calves (n=100) aged 15-60 days were clinically examined and faecal samples, blood samples and deep nasopharyngeal swabs obtained. The samples were analysed for intestinal pathogens, acute phase proteins and WBC count, and respiratory tract pathogens, respectively. Diarrhoea was diagnosed in 32.6% (23.3-43.0%, 95% CI) of calves. An association between the pathogenic Eimeria spp. and diarrhoea was detected by multiple correspondence analysis. Eimeria related signs (diarrhoea, presence of pathogenic species and total oocyst count) were combined resulting a four level variable. Calves with weak signs of eimeriosis had decreased haptoglobin concentrations (p=0.02) and increased fibrinogen concentrations (p=0.048) compared to no signs. Increased haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations were associated with respiratory tract infection and umbilical infection. Serum amyloid A and WBC counts showed no association with signs of eimeriosis or clinical diagnoses.
Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: leena.seppa-lassila@helsinki.fi.
Leena
L
Seppä-Lassila
Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia.
Toomas
T
Orro
Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences and Population Medicine, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia.
Brian
B
Lassen
Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Riikka
R
Lasonen
Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Research and Laboratory Department, Veterinary Bacteriology Research Unit, Finland.
Tiina
T
Autio
Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Research and Laboratory Department, Veterinary Bacteriology Research Unit, Finland.
Sinikka
S
Pelkonen
Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Timo
T
Soveri
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000276:immunology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000469:parasitology; D033661:Oocysts / Q000469:parasitology; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D006242:Haptoglobins; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D005340:Fibrinogen
Acute phase response; Calf; Diarrhoea; Eimeria spp.; Eimeriosis; Haptoglobin; Intestinal pathogens