Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology of Large and Small Animals with an Ambulatory of Large and Small Animals with an Ambulatory

ServiceServiceof the Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germanyof the Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

M Herr, H BostedtM Herr, H Bostedt Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the disturbances on the humoral immunity in humoral immunity in

dairy cowsdairy cowsThis research project is promoted by the This research project is promoted by the Schaumann StiftungSchaumann Stiftung

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows In dairy cows, diseases arise within the In dairy cows, diseases arise within the

periparturient period with a higher periparturient period with a higher incidence than in other farm animals incidence than in other farm animals (Lewis, 1997; McDougall, 2001; Diez-(Lewis, 1997; McDougall, 2001; Diez-Fraile et al., 2003; Lamote et al., 2006).Fraile et al., 2003; Lamote et al., 2006).

On the majority there occure cases of On the majority there occure cases of mastitis a.p. and directly p.p., mastitis a.p. and directly p.p., retained retained fetal membranes, puerperal toxicaemia, fetal membranes, puerperal toxicaemia, puerperal septicaemia and chronic puerperal septicaemia and chronic endometritisendometritis . .

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cowsDetilleux et al. (1995) as well as Franklin et al. (2005) Detilleux et al. (1995) as well as Franklin et al. (2005) describe an abartement of IgGdescribe an abartement of IgG11 until the birth. until the birth. Additionally, there is present a study, that shows a Additionally, there is present a study, that shows a coincidence between the occurrence of coincidence between the occurrence of retained retained placenta (RP)placenta (RP) and a degraded colostral content of and a degraded colostral content of immunoglobulins.immunoglobulins.

PartusPartus Colostral Ig-contentColostral Ig-contentwithout RPwithout RP 15,13 ± 8,56 g/l 15,13 ± 8,56 g/l

with RPwith RP 7,58 ± 6,72 g/l 7,58 ± 6,72 g/l Source:Source: Lona, V.; Romero, C. (2001); J. Dairy Sci. 84: 389-391Lona, V.; Romero, C. (2001); J. Dairy Sci. 84: 389-391

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows Following questions should be Following questions should be

answered by this study:answered by this study: What are the concentrations of humoral What are the concentrations of humoral

immunoglobulins (IgG/IgM) in the periparturient immunoglobulins (IgG/IgM) in the periparturient period period ??

Are there relations between the severity of birth Are there relations between the severity of birth as well as disturbances in the postpartal period to as well as disturbances in the postpartal period to the humoral concentrations of immunoglobulins the humoral concentrations of immunoglobulins ??

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows Survey designSurvey design : :

Tested subjects: n = 57 dairy cows (HF SB, HF RB), Tested subjects: n = 57 dairy cows (HF SB, HF RB), aged between 3 and 5 yearsaged between 3 and 5 years

Eutocia:Eutocia: n = 21n = 21 with postpartal intricacies :with postpartal intricacies : n = 3n = 3 without postpartal intricacies :without postpartal intricacies : n = 18n = 18

(control group)(control group)

Dystocia:Dystocia: n = 36n = 36 with postpartal intricacies :with postpartal intricacies : n = 18n = 18 without postpartal intricacies :without postpartal intricacies : n = 18n = 18

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows

Method:Method:

the humorale IgG- and the humorale IgG- and IgM-titer were IgM-titer were determined by using determined by using new developed and new developed and evaluated competitive evaluated competitive ELISA'sELISA's

(Stengel, K.-H. (1998); Bender, P. (Stengel, K.-H. (1998); Bender, P. (2004))(2004))

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows Results:Results:

rapid decrease rapid decrease of IgG from the of IgG from the 88thth week a.p. to week a.p. to parturition parturition (p<0,001)(p<0,001)

reconciliation up reconciliation up to the 4to the 4thth week week p.p.p.p.

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows Results:Results:

decline of IgM decline of IgM between the 4between the 4thth and 2and 2ndnd week a.p. week a.p.

enhancement 2 enhancement 2 weeks a.p. to weeks a.p. to partus partus (p < 0,001)(p < 0,001)

decrease i.p.; up decrease i.p.; up to the 4to the 4thth week week p.p. on degraded p.p. on degraded level (p > 0,05)level (p > 0,05)

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows Results:Results:

relatively relatively constant between constant between the 8the 8thth week a.p. week a.p. until 1 day a.p.until 1 day a.p.

precipitous precipitous increase i.p.increase i.p.(p < 0,001)(p < 0,001)

24 hours p.p. 24 hours p.p. again on base again on base level (p < 0,01)level (p < 0,01)

Cortisol (control group)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

-56 P 1 3 7 14 28 d p.p.

ng/ml

Eutocia with Eutocia with undisturbed undisturbed postpartal postpartal periodperiod n n = 18= 18

Eutocia with Eutocia with disturbed disturbed postpartal postpartal period period n n = 3= 3

IgG

02468

101214

G II G IV 0,5 1 3 5 7 10 d p.p.

mg/ml

Eutocia w ithout postpartal intricacies Eutocia w ith Mastitis p.p.

IgM

Tested subjects:Tested subjects:

Dystocia with Dystocia with undisturbed postpartal undisturbed postpartal periodperiodn = 8n = 8

Dystocia with Dystocia with disturbed postpartal disturbed postpartal periodperiodn = 8n = 8

p (IgG i.p.) = 0,02p (IgG i.p.) = 0,02p (IgG group) = 0,02p (IgG group) = 0,02p (IgM i.p.) > 0,05p (IgM i.p.) > 0,05p (IgM group) > 0,05p (IgM group) > 0,05

IgG KGH

0

5

10

15

20

25

i.p. p.p. 0,5 1 2 3 4 5 7 10 d p.p.

mg/ml

without postpartal intricacies with postpartal intricacies

IgM KGH

012345678

i.p. p.p. 0,5 1 2 3 4 5 7 10 d p.p.

mg/ml

without postpartal intricacies with postpartal intricacies

Tested subjects:Tested subjects:

Dystocia with Dystocia with undisturbed undisturbed postpartal periodpostpartal periodn = 10n = 10

Dystocia with Dystocia with disturbed postpartal disturbed postpartal periodperiodn = 10n = 10

p (IgG i.p.) = 0,02p (IgG i.p.) = 0,02p (IgG group) = 0,02p (IgG group) = 0,02p (IgM i.p.) > 0,05p (IgM i.p.) > 0,05p (IgM group) > 0,05p (IgM group) > 0,05

IgG Sectio caesarea

0

5

10

15

20

25

i.p. p.p. 0,5 1 2 3 4 5 7 10 d p.p.

mg/ml

without postpartal intricacies with postpartal intricacies

IgM Sectio caesarea

0

2

4

6

8

i.p. p.p. 0,5 1 2 3 4 5 7 10 d p.p.

mg/ml

without postpartal intricacies with postpartal intricacies

Tested subjects:Tested subjects:

Dystocia with Dystocia with undisturbed undisturbed postpartal periodpostpartal periodn = 18n = 18

Dystocia with Dystocia with disturbed disturbed postpartal periodpostpartal periodn = 18n = 18

p (group) = 0,02p (group) = 0,02p (time) < 0,001p (time) < 0,001

IgG

05

10152025303540

Partus 5 10 28 d p.p.

mg/mlEutocia p.p.

KGH w ithundisturbedpostpartal period

Sectio caes. w ithundisturbedpostpartal period

IgG

05

10152025303540

P 1 3 7 14 28 d p.p.

mg/ml

Eutocia p.p.

KGH w ith disturbedpostpartal period

Sectio caes. w ithdisturbed postpartalperiod

Tested subjects:Tested subjects:

Dystocia with Dystocia with undisturbed undisturbed postpartal periodpostpartal periodn = 18n = 18

Dystocia with Dystocia with disturbed disturbed postpartal periodpostpartal periodn = 18n = 18

p (group) > 0,05p (group) > 0,05p (time) > 0,05p (time) > 0,05

IgM

23456789

P 1 3 7 14 28 d p.p.

mg/ml

Eutocia p.p.

KGH w ith undisturbedpostpartal period

Sectio caes. w ithundisturbed postpartalperiod

IgM

0123456789

P 1 3 7 14 28 d p.p.

mg/mlEutocia p.p.

KGH w ith disturbedpostpartal period

Sectio caes. w ithdisturbed postpartalperiod

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows Summary I:Summary I:

The decline of the IgG concentrations in dairy The decline of the IgG concentrations in dairy cattle with eutocia from the 7cattle with eutocia from the 7thth month a.p. up month a.p. up to parturition, as well as the degraded IgG- and to parturition, as well as the degraded IgG- and IgM-concentrations p.p. are the expression of a IgM-concentrations p.p. are the expression of a decreased immunocompetence during decreased immunocompetence during periparturient period.periparturient period.

A dystocia, particulary in association with a A dystocia, particulary in association with a disturbed postpartal period, correspond with disturbed postpartal period, correspond with differently strong depressions within the differently strong depressions within the immune system, which are slowly immune system, which are slowly compensated during aftermath.compensated during aftermath.

Influence of peripartalInfluence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral disturbances on the humoral

immunity in dairy cowsimmunity in dairy cows Summary II:Summary II:

The phase of the immunosuppression post The phase of the immunosuppression post partum, which persists depending upon partum, which persists depending upon process of the birth and the postpartale period process of the birth and the postpartale period at least four weeks, is an at least four weeks, is an tentative explanation tentative explanation for increased disease susceptibility in the for increased disease susceptibility in the periparturient periodperiparturient period..

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention