Evaluating intestinal integrity and inflammatory genes in beef-on-dairy calves with and without colostrum

Authors: MIGL, KAGAN - Texas Tech University; SANTOS, RAFAELA - Texas Tech University; HOLZAPFEL, KEERA - Texas Tech University; GADE, SRAVANI - Texas Tech University; KLUPPEL, LUCIANA - Texas Tech University; TUBBS, TYLER - Texas Tech University; MYERS, STEPHANIE - Texas Tech University; CRUZ-PENN, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University; MORAIS, DIEGO - Texas Tech University; ROCHA, CAROLINA - Texas Tech University; MACHADO, VINICIUS - Texas Tech University; BALLOU, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University; Broadway, Paul; Sanchez, Nicole; ROSA, FERNANDA - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Annual Merck Merial Veterinary Scholars Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2024
Publication Date: 8/10/2024
Citation: Migl, K., Santos, R., Holzapfel, K., Gade, S., Kluppel, L., Tubbs, T., Myers, S., Cruz-Penn, M., Morais, D., Rocha, C., Machado, V., Ballou, M., Broadway, P.R., Sanchez, N.C., Rosa, F. 2024. Evaluating intestinal integrity and inflammatory genes in beef-on-dairy calves with and without colostrum. Annual Merck Merial Veterinary Scholars Symposium.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Colostrum consumption is crucial for improving the intestinal health of pre-weaned calves and reducing the incidence of gut diseases. This study aimed to assess ileum mRNA expression by quantifying concentrations of tight junction proteins and inflammatory genes in neonatal beef-on-dairy calves (n=24). Calves were randomly assigned to either a colostrum-deprived control group (n=12) or a colostrum treatment group (n=12). At 9 days of age, 6 calves in each group were inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium, and these calves were harvested and samples collected at 72h post-challenge. While non-inoculated calves were harvested and samples collected at 23 days of age. Ileum tissue samples were collected from all calves for total RNA extraction and gene expression analysis via RT-qPCR. Relative gene expression abundance was normalized using housekeeping genes (GAPDH, B2M, ACTB). Genes of interest included specific intestinal epithelial markers (KRT8, FABP2), tight junction proteins (TJP1, CLDN1, CLDN4), inflammatory markers (IL6, TNFa, NFKB), and the anti-inflammatory gene (IL10). The non-inoculated treatment group had a tendency (P=0.07) for greater NFKB expression compared with the non-inoculated control group. The treatment-inoculated calves had a tendency (P=0.07) for greater CLDN1 expression relative to the control-inoculated calves. Within the inoculated calves, a group×sex interaction (P=0.01) was observed for CLDN4 which was reflected by greater CLDN4 in females-treated compared to the females-control calves. Our results suggest a positive relationship between colostrum consumption and the intestinal health of beef-on-dairy calves regardless of induction of inflammation.