title: Haematological and immunological adaptations of non-pregnant, non-lactating dairy cows to a high-energetic diet containing mycotoxins.
abstract: Diet change and fatness are supposed to challenge the immune system of the cow. Therefore, immunological and haematological consequences of adaptation to and continued feeding of a high-energy diet were studied in eight non-pregnant, non-lactating Holstein cows over 16 weeks. Blood haptoglobin concentration remained unaltered, suggesting that an acute phase reaction was not induced. Stimulation ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and stimulated oxidative burst capacity of granulocytes increased significantly in the course of the experiment after an initial drop. While total leucocyte counts increased, the proportion of granulocytes increased and that of lymphocytes decreased at the same time as the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) lymphocytes did. Capability of rumen microbes to detoxify the immune-modulating mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) was not compromised as indicated by the exclusive presence of de-DON as the detoxified DON metabolite in blood. In conclusion, both diet change and prolonged positive energy balance influenced the bovine immune system.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Animal Nutrition Braunschweig, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dänicke
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Animal Nutrition Braunschweig, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Animal Nutrition Braunschweig, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Animal Nutrition Braunschweig, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Animal Nutrition Braunschweig, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Germany.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frahm
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Animal Nutrition Braunschweig, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Animal Nutrition Braunschweig, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Germany.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.affiliation: b Clinic for Cattle , University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation , Hannover , Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehage
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn , Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Häussler
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Animal Science, Physiology & Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn , Germany.
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sauerwein
authors.affiliation: b Clinic for Cattle , University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation , Hannover , Germany.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Locher
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003612:Dairying; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins; D014255:Trichothecenes; D015025:Zearalenone; C007262:deoxynivalenol
keywords: Dairy cows; deoxynivalenol; energy consumption; functional responses; haematology; leucocytes; mycotoxins; zearalenone