Investigation of immunoglobulin (IgE, IgA, IgG, IgM) concentrations in calves naturally infected with coccidiosis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine immunoglobulin (IgA), immunoglobulin (IgE), immunoglobulin (IgG) and immunoglobulin (IgM) levels of calves naturally infected with coccidiosis and to determine the relationship between infection and calf immunity. The material of this study consisted of 30 calves (21-44 days old) which were brought to clinics of Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, of which 20 calves that were diagnosed as coccidiosis by detecting Eimeria spp. oocysts according to native faecal examination and 10 healthy calves as control group. For hematological and biochemical analysis, blood samples were taken from all animals from the v. jugularis before treatment. According to statistical analyses; there was a statistically significant increase in hematological parameters such as white blood cell count (WBC), hematocrit value (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), monocyte count (Mon) (P<0.05) and neutrophil (Neu) percentage (p<0.01), whereas there was a statistical decrease in lymphocyte (Lym) percentage and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (P<0.05) levels. Besides, there was a significant increase in urea and creatinine (P <0.05) levels of calves with coccidiosis compared to control group. IgA, IgE, IgG and IgM concentrations of calves with coccidiosis were significantly lower than the control group (P <0.001). As a result; there was a relationship between calf immunity and the risk of infection of calves with coccidiosis. It was concluded that determining passive transfer failure levels and oral immunoglobulin supplementation to calves with passive transfer failure would reduce the risk of coccidiosis in newborn calves.