Abstract
The present study was carried out to evaluate the inflammatory response during acute ruminal drinking in milkfed calves and to describe the correlation between production of acute phase cytokines and the occurrence of depression in this clinical condition. For this purpose, twenty calves with acute ruminal drinking as well as ten clinically normal calves were included in the study. Blood and ruminal fluid samples were collected from all examined calves. The blood samples were used to obtain a blood gas profile and for estimation of selected acute phase proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines. A depression score was adopted to emphasize the relationship between the severity of the clinical signs and levels of acute phase cytokines. It was found that interleukin-1beta; interleukin-6, interferon gamma, c reactive protein, haptoglobin, and fibrinogen were significantly higher in diseased calves compared to the control group. There was also a positive correlation between the depression score and the examined acute phase cytokines. Our findings suggest that the acidity of the rumen Leads to inflammation of papillae with subsequent distinct inflammatory reaction. It seems that the pro-inflammatory cytokines play a role in the pathogenesis of acute ruminal drinking in milk-fed calves.
Highlights
In the past two decades, ruminal drinking (RD) in milk-fed calves has drawn the attention of many scientists all over the world [1,2,3,4]
All diseased calves were in a moderate physical condition and defecated sticky, clay-like feces adhered to the tail and perineum
We suggest that Hp and c reactive protein (CRP) might be useful markers for detecting the severity of acute RD in milk-fed calves, understanding the mechanism behind the increase in Hp and CRP in diseased calves as well as consequences for the general health warrant further investigations
Summary
In the past two decades, ruminal drinking (RD) in milk-fed calves has drawn the attention of many scientists all over the world [1,2,3,4]. Calves that “gulp” rather than sip milk are at the greatest risk [5]. The milk retained in the rumen undergoes fermentation and acetic acid, butyric acid and lactic aid are produced, with a subsequent fall in the ruminal pH and the development of dyskeratosis of the ruminal mucosa. Lactic acid is the most detrimental product that is produced by bacterial fermentation of the carbohydrate fraction of the milk [3,7]. The cause of metabolic alterations in this case the absorption of both D and L isomers of lactic acid formed in the rumen. Secondary changes due to RD include villous atrophy in the small intestine and reduced disaccharidase activity of the brush border [5]
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