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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396443
Research Project: Nutritional Intervention and Management Strategies to Reduce Stress and Improve Health and Well-being in Cattle and Swine

Location: Livestock Issues Research

Title: Injecting Fusobacterium necrophorum into the general circulation or hepatic portal vein of pre-weaned Holstein calves failed as experimental liver abscess challenge models

Author
item COX, HANNAH - Texas Tech University
item MENTA, PAULO - Texas Tech University
item NAGARAJA, T - Arkansas State University
item CROSSLAND, WHITNEY - Texas Tech University
item HALES, KRISTIN - Texas Tech University
item HENRY, DARREN - University Of Georgia
item STRIEDER-BARBOZA, CLARISSA - Texas Tech University
item CRUZ PENN, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University
item Broadway, Paul
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item BALLOU, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University
item MACHADO, VINICIUS - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to develop and test an improved experimental liver abscess induction model using pre-ruminant dairy calves to successfully induce liver abscesses through inoculation of the hepatic portal system or the peripheral circulation. The study was divided into two phases, the hepatic portal circulation and the peripheral circulation model. During the hepatic portal system model, 20 calves were divided into four groups: CONPV, FUSOPV6, FUSOPV8, and FUSOPV10, receiving intraportal infusion of saline, 10exp6, 10exp8, and 10exp10 CFU of F. necrophorum, respectively, via ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheterization of portal vein. During the peripheral circulation model, 18 calves were divided into four groups: CONIV, FUSOIV7, FUSOIV9, and FUSOIV11, receiving intrajugular infusion of saline, 10exp7, 10exp9, and 10exp11 CFU of F. necrophorum, respectively. During both phases, calves were ultrasound daily to monitor for the potential progression of liver abscesses. Blood samples were collected on days 0,1,3,5,7, and 14 and submitted for hematological analysis. Calves were euthanized 14 days after inoculation where the liver was examined for gross liver abscesses. None of the calves from either of the challenge models developed liver abscesses. However, there were significant changes in blood cell counts throughout both the challenges. During the peripheral circulation challenge, monocyte counts were greater for FUSOIV11 calves than CONIV, FUSOIV7, and FUSOIV9 on days 3 and 5 post-challenge (P < 0.01). The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was greater for FUSOIV11 than CONIV (P = 0.03) and FUSOIV9 (P = 0.04) on day 7 post-challenge. During the hepatic portal circulation model, animals enrolled in the FUSOPV8 group had greater monocyte counts than CONPV (P = 0.04) and FUSOPV6 (P = 0.04). Additionally, FUSOPV6 calves had greater neutrophil counts than CONPV (P = 0.01), FUSOPV6 (P = 0.04) and FUSOPV10 (P = 0.02) 5 days post-challenge. Despite previous reporting, neither the ultrasound guided percutaneous hepatic portal catheterization model, or the peripheral intravenous jugular catheterization model produced liver abscesses after 14 days. However, there were significant changes in blood cell counts that are associated with chronic or sub-acute infections.