MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    Effect of abrupt weaning at housing on leukocyte distribution, functional activity of neutrophils, and acute phase protein response of beef calves


    Lynch, E.M. and Earley, B. and McGee, M. and Doyle, Sean (2010) Effect of abrupt weaning at housing on leukocyte distribution, functional activity of neutrophils, and acute phase protein response of beef calves. BMC Veterinary Research, 6 (39). pp. 1-9. ISSN 1746-6148

    [img] Download (541kB)


    Share your research

    Twitter Facebook LinkedIn GooglePlus Email more...



    Add this article to your Mendeley library


    Abstract

    Background: Sixteen, spring-born, single suckled, castrated male calves of Limousin × Holstein-Friesian and Simmental × Holstein-Friesian dams respectively, were used to investigate the effect of weaning on total leukocyte and differential counts, neutrophil functional activity, lymphocyte immunophenotypes, and acute phase protein response. Calves grazed with their dams until the end of the grazing season when they were housed in a slatted floor shed. On the day of housing, calves were assigned to a treatment, (i) abruptly weaned (W: n = 8) or (ii) nonweaned (controls) (C: n = 8). Weaned calves were housed in pens without their dams, whereas non-weaned (control) calves were housed with their dams. Blood was collected on day -7, 0 (housing), 2, 7, and 14 to determine total leukocyte and differential counts and concentration of fibrinogen and haptoglobin. Lymphocyte immunophenotypes were characterised using selected surface antigens (CD4+, CD8+, WC1+ (gδ T cells), MHC Class II+ lymphocytes), and the functional activities of neutrophils (surface expression of L-selectin (CD62L), phagocytic and oxidative burst activity) were investigated using flow cytometry. Results: Treatment × sampling time interactions (P < 0.05) were detected for total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, all lymphocyte subsets, mean fluorescence intensity of CD62L+ neutrophils, and percentage neutrophils performing phagocytosis. On d 2, total leukocyte and neutrophil count increased (P < 0.001), and percentage CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, percentage phagocytic neutrophils, mean fluorescence intensity of CD62L+ neutrophils decreased (P < 0.05) in W compared with baseline (d 0), whereas they were unchanged (P > 0.05) in C. On d 2, percentage WC1+ lymphocytes decreased (P < 0.05), whereas percentage MHC class II+ lymphocytes increased (P < 0.05) in W and C, however the magnitude of change was greater in W than C. There were no treatment × sampling time interactions (P > 0.05) for monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts, percentage G1+ neutrophils, or percentage oxidative burst positive neutrophils. Conclusions: Abrupt weaning resulted in increased neutrophil counts and impaired trafficking and phagocytic function. Together with the changes in lymphocyte subsets, the results suggest that there was a greater transitory reduction in immune function at housing in abruptly weaned than non-weaned beef calves.

    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: This study was supported by a Teagasc Walsh Fellowship to E. M. Lynch. The authors thank E. Mulligan and P. Lawrence (Teagasc, Grange Beef Research Centre) for their excellent technical assistance with blood sample collection, and M. Murray (Teagasc Animal, Grassland and Bioscience Research Centre) and J. Larkin (Teagasc, Grange Beef Research Centre) for their excellent technical assistance with haematological and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. Many thanks are due to the farm staff at Teagasc, Grange Beef Research Centre for the care and management of the animals. E. M. Lynch was a recipient of a Teagasc Walsh Fellowship and a John and Pat Hume Scholarship, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland.
    Keywords: abrupt weaning; housing; leukocyte distribution; neutrophil functional activity; acute phase protein response; beef calves;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
    Item ID: 2426
    Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-6-39
    Depositing User: Dr. Sean Doyle
    Date Deposited: 09 Feb 2011 15:37
    Journal or Publication Title: BMC Veterinary Research
    Publisher: BioMed Central
    Refereed: Yes
    Funders: Teagasc Walsh Fellowship to E. M. Lynch, John and Pat Hume Scholarship to E. M. Lynch
    URI:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

    Repository Staff Only(login required)

    View Item Item control page

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads