Transcript Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology of

Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology of
Large and Small Animals with an Ambulatory Service
of the Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
M Herr, H Bostedt
Influence of peripartal
disturbances on the humoral
immunity in dairy cows
This research project is promoted by the Schaumann Stiftung
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows


In dairy cows, diseases arise within the
periparturient period with a higher incidence
than in other farm animals (Lewis, 1997;
McDougall, 2001; Diez-Fraile et al., 2003;
Lamote et al., 2006).
On the majority there occure cases of
mastitis a.p. and directly p.p., retained fetal
membranes, puerperal toxicaemia, puerperal
septicaemia and chronic endometritis .
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows
Detilleux et al. (1995) as well as Franklin et al. (2005)
describe an abartement of IgG1 until the birth.
Additionally, there is present a study, that shows a
coincidence between the occurrence of retained placenta
(RP) and a degraded colostral content of
immunoglobulins.
Partus
Colostral Ig-content
without RP
15,13 ± 8,56 g/l
with RP
7,58 ± 6,72 g/l
Source: Lona, V.; Romero, C. (2001); J. Dairy Sci. 84: 389-391
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows

Following questions should be answered
by this study:


What are the concentrations of humoral
immunoglobulins (IgG/IgM) in the periparturient
period ?
Are there relations between the severity of birth as
well as disturbances in the postpartal period to the
humoral concentrations of immunoglobulins ?
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows
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Survey design :

Tested subjects: n = 57 dairy cows (HF SB, HF RB),
aged between 3 and 5 years

Eutocia:
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

with postpartal intricacies :
without postpartal intricacies :
(control group)
Dystocia:


n = 21
n = 36
with postpartal intricacies :
without postpartal intricacies :
n=3
n = 18
n = 18
n = 18
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows


Method:
the humorale IgG- and
IgM-titer were
determined by using new
developed and evaluated
competitive ELISA's
(Stengel, K.-H. (1998); Bender, P. (2004))
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows
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
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Results:
rapid decrease of
IgG from the 8th
week a.p. to
parturition
(p<0,001)
reconciliation up to
the 4th week p.p.
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows
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
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Results:
decline of IgM
between the 4th
and 2nd week a.p.
enhancement 2
weeks a.p. to
partus
(p < 0,001)
decrease i.p.; up
to the 4th week
p.p. on degraded
level (p > 0,05)
Influence of peripartal
disturbances on the humoral
immunity in dairy cows

Cortisol (control group)
14
Results:
ng/ml
12

10
8
6
4

2
0
-56
P
1
3
7
14
28 d p.p.

relatively constant
between the 8th
week a.p. until 1
day a.p.
precipitous
increase i.p.
(p < 0,001)
24 hours p.p.
again on base
level (p < 0,01)
IgG

IgM
mg/ml

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
G II
G IV
0,5
1
Eutocia w ithout postpartal intricacies
3
5
7
10 d p.p.
Eutocia w ith Mastitis p.p.
Eutocia with
undisturbed
postpartal
period
n = 18
Eutocia with
disturbed
postpartal
period
n=3
IgG KGH

mg/ml
25
Tested subjects:
20

15
10
5
0
i.p.
p.p.
0,5
1
2
3
without postpartal intricacies
4
5
7
10 d p.p.
with postpartal intricacies

IgM KGH
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
mg/ml

i.p.
p.p.
0,5
1
2
without postpartal intricacies
3
4
5
7
10 d p.p.
with postpartal intricacies
Dystocia with
undisturbed postpartal
period
n=8
Dystocia with disturbed
postpartal period
n=8
p
p
p
p
(IgG i.p.) = 0,02
(IgG group) = 0,02
(IgM i.p.) > 0,05
(IgM group) > 0,05
IgG Sectio caesarea

mg/ml
25
Tested subjects:
20
15

10
5
0
i.p.
p.p.
0,5
1
2
3
without postpartal intricacies
4
5
7
10 d p.p.
with postpartal intricacies

IgM Sectio caesarea
8
mg/ml
Dystocia with
undisturbed postpartal
period
n = 10
Dystocia with
disturbed postpartal
period
n = 10
6
4

2
0
i.p.
p.p.
0,5
1
2
without postpartal intricacies
3
4
5
7
10 d p.p.
with postpartal intricacies
p
p
p
p
(IgG i.p.) = 0,02
(IgG group) = 0,02
(IgM i.p.) > 0,05
(IgM group) > 0,05
IgG
Eutocia p.p.
40
m g/m l
35
KGH w ith
undisturbed
postpartal period
30
25
20
Sectio caes. w ith
undisturbed
postpartal period
15
10
5

Tested subjects:

0
Partus
5
10
28
d p.p.
IgG
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Eutocia p.p.

mg/ml
KGH w ith disturbed
postpartal period
Sectio caes. w ith
disturbed postpartal
period
P
1
3
7
14
28 d p.p.

Dystocia with
undisturbed
postpartal period
n = 18
Dystocia with
disturbed
postpartal period
n = 18
p (group) = 0,02
p (time) < 0,001
IgM
Eutocia p.p.
mg/ml
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
KGH w ith undisturbed
postpartal period
Sectio caes. w ith
undisturbed postpartal
period
P
1
3
7
14

Tested subjects:

28 d p.p.

IgM
Eutocia p.p.
m g/m l
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
KGH w ith disturbed
postpartal period
Sectio caes. w ith
disturbed postpartal
period
P
1
3
7
14
28 d p.p.

Dystocia with
undisturbed
postpartal period
n = 18
Dystocia with
disturbed
postpartal period
n = 18
p (group) > 0,05
p (time) > 0,05
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows

Summary I:


The decline of the IgG concentrations in dairy cattle
with eutocia from the 7th month a.p. up to parturition,
as well as the degraded IgG- and IgM-concentrations
p.p. are the expression of a decreased
immunocompetence during periparturient period.
A dystocia, particulary in association with a disturbed
postpartal period, correspond with differently strong
depressions within the immune system, which are
slowly compensated during aftermath.
Influence of peripartal disturbances on
the humoral immunity in dairy cows
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Summary II:

The phase of the immunosuppression post partum,
which persists depending upon process of the birth
and the postpartale period at least four weeks, is an
tentative explanation for increased disease
susceptibility in the periparturient period.
Thank you for your attention