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- Author or Editor: Jeff W. Tyler x
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Abstract
Objective—To determine serum lactoferrin concentrations (SLFC) in neonatal calves before and after ingestion of colostrum and to develop models that predict SLFC as a function of colostral lactoferrin concentrations (CLFC) in calves.
Animals—13 Holstein calves.
Procedure—Calves were fed 4 L of colostrum via oroesophageal feeder within 3 hours after birth. Serum samples were collected before ingestion of colostrum (day 0) and 2, 4, 6, and 7 days after birth. Colostrum and serum IgG concentrations were measured by use of radial immunodiffusion. The CLFC and SLFC were determined by use of an ELISA.
Results—Mean ± SD SLFC on days 0, 2, 4, 6, and 7 were 2.5 ± 1.6 (range 0.47 to 7.1), 6.0 ± 3.0 (range 2.0 to 16.6), 12.0 ± 12.4 (range 0.0 to 43.5), 17.1 ± 13.6 (range 2.2 to 39.4), and 13.6 ± 16.4 (range 0.0 to 43.8) mg/ml, respectively. The SLFC on days 6 and 7 differed significantly from SLFC on day 0. The model that best estimated SLFC on day 6 predicted that (SLFC)2 was a function of the logarithm of relative efficiency of passive transfer (REPT) and ([CLFC]2 × [REPT]2), where R 2 = 0.4. The model for SLFC on day 7 predicted that (SLFC)2 was a function of log(REPT), where R 2 = 0.44.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Definitive evidence for passive transfer of lactoferrin via colostrum is lacking, because SLFC on day 2 or 4 were not significantly different than day 0. Relative efficiency of lactoferrin absorption was directly related to SLFC on day 6 but inversely related to SLFC on day 7. (Am J Vet Res 2002;63:476–478)
Abstract
Objective—To determine the prevalence of detectable serum IgG concentrations in calves prior to ingestion of colostrum and to assess whether a detectable IgG concentration was related to dam parity, calf birth weight, calf sex, season of calving, or infectious agents that can be transmitted transplacentally.
Animals—170 Holstein dairy calves.
Procedures—Serum samples were obtained from calves prior to ingestion of colostrum, and serologic testing for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and Neospora caninum was performed. Relative risk, attributable risk, population attributable risk, and population attributable fraction for calves with a detectable serum IgG concentration attributable to positive results for N caninum and BVDV serologic testing were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether dam parity, calf sex, season of calving, and calf weight were associated with precolostral IgG concentration.
Results—90 (52.9%) calves had a detectable total serum IgG concentration (IgG ≥ 16 mg/dL). Relative risk, attributable risk, population attributable risk, and population attributable fraction for calves with a detectable serum IgG concentration attributable to positive results for N caninum serologic testing were 1.66, 0.34, 0.014, and 0.03, respectively. Calf sex, calf birth weight, and season of calving were not significant predictors for detection of serum IgG in precolostral samples.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Prevalence of IgG concentrations in precolostral serum samples was higher than reported elsewhere. There was no apparent link between serum antibodies against common infectious agents that can be transmitted transplacentally and detection of measurable serum IgG concentrations.
Abstract
Objective—To determine the interval to provirus and serum antibody detection (via PCR assay and ELISA, respectively) in calves after experimental inoculation with bovine leukemia virus (BLV).
Animals—8 colostrum-deprived, BLV-negative Holstein bull calves (≥ 6 weeks old).
Procedures—Via IM injection, each calf received a fresh whole-blood inoculum (day 0) calculated to contain 2 × 106 lymphocytes. Blood samples for the ELISA and PCR assay were collected from calves immediately prior to inoculation and weekly thereafter for 7 weeks. Mean and median number of weeks to PCR-detected conversion of BLV status and seroconversion were calculated. Point sensitivity and cumulative sensitivity of the 2 assays were calculated at each sample collection. At each sampling time, the proportion of calves identified as infected by the cumulative weekly ELISA and PCR assay results was compared by use of a Fisher exact test.
Results—In 5 calves, conversion of BLV status was detected via PCR assay before seroconversion was identified. However, seroconversion preceded PCR-detected conversion in 2 calves. In 1 calf, both assays yielded positive results at the same test date. These differences were not significant.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In experimentally inoculated BLV-negative calves, conversion of BLV status was detected via PCR assay more quickly than via ELISA; this difference was not significant and probably not clinically important. The PCR assay may be useful as a confirmatory test in animals of exceptional value; tests based on viral identification may become critically important if vaccines against BLV infection are developed and marketed.
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the use of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in detecting bovine leukosis virus (BLV) in adult dairy cows.
Design—Prospective study.
Animals—223 adult dairy cows.
Procedure—Cows were tested for BLV status by use of an ELISA and a PCR assay. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values of positive and negative tests, and the percentage of cows correctly classified by PCR assay were calculated. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals were calculated for sensitivity and specificity.
Results—Sensitivity and specificity were 0.672 and 1.00, respectively. Prevalence of BLV in this herd was 0.807. Predictive value of a positive test was 1.00, and predictive value of a negative test was 0.421. The percentage of cows correctly classified by PCR assay was 73.5%.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—A positive PCR assay result provided definitive evidence that a cow was infected with BLV. Sensitivity and negative predictive value for PCR assay were low. Consequently, PCR assay alone is unreliable for routine detection of BLV in herds with high prevalence of the disease. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:983–985)
Abstract
Objective—To determine whether strength of serologic recognition of bovine leukosis virus (BLV) by use of ELISA is associated with blood lymphocyte counts.
Design—Prospective study.
Animals—161 cows with positive results of ELISA for BLV.
Procedure—Sample-to-positive ratio (S:P), which is the ratio between the test sample and a positive control sample, was compared among lymphocytotic and nonlymphocytotic cows. A regression model was constructed to evaluate the association between blood lymphocyte concentration and S:P, age, and the interaction of these terms.
Results—Mean S:P differed significantly between lymphocytotic (2.58 ± 0.36) and nonlymphocytotic (2.38 ± 0.39) cows. Age and S:P were significantly associated with lymphocyte count.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Sample-topositive ratio and lymphocyte count were related; however, cows with high S:P were not always lymphocytotic. Culling cows on the basis of S:P will reduce the herd load of infectious virus faster than random culling of ELISA-positive cows; however, culling on the basis of lymphocyte count will eliminate a greater proportion of the reservoir of infection. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;220:1681–1684)
Abstract
Objective—To determine the relationship between serum and liver copper concentrations and evaluate serum copper determination for diagnosis of copper deficiency in juvenile beef calves.
Design—Cross-sectional study.
Animals—105 juvenile beef calves.
Procedure—Copper concentrations were measured in paired liver and serum samples from 6- to 9-monthold beef calves. Regression models that predicted liver copper concentration as a function of serum copper concentration were developed. Sensitivity and specificity of serum copper concentration for detection of low liver copper concentration were determined, using a range of serum copper concentrations as test endpoints. Positive and negative predictive values were calculated.
Results—The association between serum and liver copper concentrations was significant; however, regression models accounted for only a small portion of the variation in liver copper concentrations. For a serum copper concentration endpoint of 0.45 µg/g, sensitivity and specificity for detection of low liver copper concentration were 0.53 and 0.89, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values of serum copper concentration for detection of low liver copper concentration ranged from 0.37 to 0.85 and 0.63 to 0.94, respectively.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Regression models are inappropriate for predicting copper status as a function of serum copper concentration. Serum copper concentration is fairly specific for detection of low liver copper concentration but only marginally sensitive when serum copper concentration of 0.45 µg/g is used as a test endpoint. The value of serum copper concentration as a diagnostic indicator depends on prevalence of copper deficiency. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:756–760)
Abstract
Objective—To evaluate diagnostic utility of a commercially available immunoassay for assessing adequacy of passive transfer of immunity in neonatal calves.
Design—Prospective study.
Animals—123 calves.
Procedure—Blood and serum samples were obtained from the calves prior to 2 weeks of age. The immunoassay was performed, along with refractometry and an 18% sodium sulfite turbidity test. Serum IgG concentration was determined with a radial immunodiffusion assay. Sensitivity and specificity of the immunoassay, refractometry, and the sodium sulfite test were calculated by comparing results with results of the radial immunodiffusion assay.
Results—Sensitivity and specificity of the blood IgG immunoassay were 0.93 and 0.88, respectively, compared with 1.00 and 0.53 for the sodium sulfite test. For refractometry, sensitivity and specificity were 0.71 and 0.83, respectively, when a serum total solids concentration of 5.2 g/dl was used as the cutoff between positive and negative test results.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that the immunoassayperforms well in detecting calves with inadequate passive transfer of immunity. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;220:791–793)
Abstract
Objective—To determine whether serum IgG concentrations in neonatal calves are adversely affected by short-term frozen storage of colostrum.
Design—Prospective study.
Sample Population—Experiment 1 consisted of 10 pairs of Holstein calves (n = 20) fed matched aliquots of either fresh (n = 10) or frozen and thawed (10) colostrum. In experiment 2, 26 Holstein calves were fed either fresh (n = 13) or frozen and thawed (n = 13) colostrum.
Procedure—Experiment 1 consisted of calves resulting from observed parturitions; calves were randomly assigned to treatment groups (fresh or frozen and thawed colostrum) in pairs. Calves were fed 4 L aliquots of colostrum via oroesophageal intubation at 3 hours of age. Serum IgG concentrations at 2 days of age were compared between the 2 groups by use of a paired t-test. Experiment 2 consisted of calves resulting from observed parturitions; calves were randomly assigned to treatment groups (fresh or frozen and thawed colostrum). Calves were fed 4 L aliquots of colostrum via oroesophageal intubation at 3 hours of age. Regression analysis was used to determine whether calf serum IgG concentration was a function of colostral IgG concentration and colostrum storage group.
Results—Significant differences were not observed between the 2 groups in experiment 1. No significant relationship was observed between colostrum storage group and serum IgG concentration in experiment 2. The model that best predicted serum IgG concentrations accounted for 20% of the variability in serum IgG concentration.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance—Frozen colostrum is an adequate source of IgG for calves. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;219:357–359)
