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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #199192
Title: NEUTROPHIL FUNCTION AND ENERGY STATUS IN HOLSTEIN COWS WITH UTERINE HEALTH DISORDERS

Author
item HAMMON, D - UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
item EVJEN, I - UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
item DHIMAN, T - UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
item Goff, Jesse
item WALTERS, J - UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2006
Publication Date: 9/15/2006
Citation: Hammon, D.S., Evjen, I.M., Dhiman, T.R., Goff, J.P., Walters, J.L. 2006. Neutrophil function and energy status in Holstein cows with uterine health disorders. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 113(1-2):21-29.

Interpretive Summary: Uterine health often dictates whether a cow will become pregnant. In this study, immune competence assays of white blood cells, biochemical assessment of energy status, feed intake, and uterine examinations were performed on 83 cows before and after calving. Cows with subclinical endometritis, diagnosed 28 days after calving, were shown to have a greater degree of negative energy balance and poorer immune function than normal cows beginning the week before calving. This was also true for cows that were diagnosed with metritis or that had a sustained fever during the first 10 days after calving. Examination of the data revealed that the poor immune function and negative energy balance were linked with a reduced level of feed intake prior to calving in the affected cows. This study points out that uterine health of the cow is greatly influenced by her ability to mount a strong immune response in the days immediately before and after calving, and that the responsiveness of the immune system is dependent on feed intake and energy metabolism in the periparturient cow.

Technical Abstract: The objectives of this study were to investigate the associations between peripheral blood neutrophil (PMN) function, energy status, and uterine health in periparturient dairy cows. Data were collected from 83 multiparous Holstein cows. Blood samples for PMN function determination were collected weekly from 1 week prior to calving (week -1) through 4 weeks after calving and again at 8 weeks after calving. Energy metabolites were measured and dry matter intake (DMI) was determined from weeks -2 to 5 to evaluate energy status of cows during the periparturient period. All cows were examined for uterine health disorders. Blood PMN killing ability was evaluated by determining myeloperoxidase activity and cytochrome c reduction activity in isolated blood PMN's. For cows that were diagnosed with puerperal metritis and subclinical (SC) endometritis and puerperal metritis, blood PMN functions were significantly (P < 0.05) impaired during the periparturient period, compared to cows with normal uterine health. Cows with subclinical endometritis and puerperal metritis or SC endometritis also had significantly (P < 0.01) higher NEFA and significantly (P < 0.001) lower DMI during the periparturient period, and significantly (P < 0.05) higher BHBA during early lactation, compared to cows with normal uterine health. Neutrophil function was also significantly (P < 0.01) impaired in cows with peripartum negative energy balance, which was characterized by elevated blood levels of NEFA and decreased DMI. Decreased PMN function and energy balance were associated with uterine health disorders and the decreases in PMN function and energy balance occurred prior to parturition and prior to the detection of these uterine disorders.