Male Holstein Calf Research Articles

Pyelonephritis and Polycystic Kidneys in a Male Holstein Calf

Introduction: Pyelonephritis and cystitis in cattle are urinary tract bacterial infections that can ascend to the kidneys and cause inflammation. This study presented a rarely-seen clinical kidney complication in a male Holstein calf. This problem was accompanied by respiratory tract infections. Bacterial infection caused bovine pyelonephritis and cystitis and consequently, there was an inflammation in the kidneys. A wide range of bacteria were responsible for such infections. 
 Case report: A 5-day-old male Holstein calf was initially diagnosed with high body temperature (> 40˚C), followed by respiratory signs. Treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs (dexamethasone and gentamicin) began immediately after diagnosis of the high body temperature, but the clinical signs, such as appetite loss and cough did not fully disappear. The calf’s growth was hindered and finally, died at the age of 90 days. Post-mortem necropsy findings included inflamed and cystic kidneys that coexisted with severe lung infections.
 Conclusion: The present uncommon renal complication may provide further information about the physiology and pathology of such rare kidney disorders in newborn Holstein calves.

A Missense Variant in PLP2 in Holstein Cattle with X-Linked Congenital Mast Cell Tumor.

Simple SummaryCongenital mast cell tumor is an uncommon disease in both human and veterinary medicine. In cattle, usually, such anomalies are not further investigated at the molecular genetic level, mainly because of a lack of resources and diagnostic tools and the low value and short life expectancy of the affected animals. Here we reported the clinical, pathological and genetic findings of a Holstein calf that had multiple cutaneous and visceral poorly differentiated embryonal mast cell tumors consistent with a form of congenital mast cell tumor. Whole-genome sequencing identified a single X-linked recessive protein-changing variant in the PLP2 gene that was unique to the affected male calf and its dam and absent in a representative control cohort. Given the rarity of the identified variant, its predicted deleterious effect and the known function of proteolipid protein 2, a small transmembrane lipoprotein associated with skin cancer, we proposed a novel candidate gene associated with mast cell tumors.Congenital tumors occur infrequently in cattle. The aim of this study was to detail the clinicopathological phenotype of a Holstein calf with a congenital mast cell tumor and to identify the genetic cause by a whole-genome sequencing (WGS) trio-approach. An 18-day-old male Holstein calf was clinically examed and revealed multifocal, alopecic, thick and wrinkled skin lesions over the entire body. At 6 months of age, the general condition of the calf was characterized by retarded growth, poor nutritional status, and ulceration of the skin lesions. Histopathological examination revealed a primary cutaneous, poorly differentiated embryonal mast cell tumor with metastases in the lymph nodes and liver. Genetic analysis revealed a private X-linked variant in the PLP2 gene (chrX:87216480C > T; c.50C > T), which was present only in the genomes of the case (hemizygous) and his mother (heterozygous). It was absent in the sire as well as in 5365 control genomes. The identified missense variant exchanges the encoded amino acid of PLP2 at position 17 (p.Thr17Ile), which is classified as deleterious and affects a protein that plays a role in tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, we suggested that the detected PLPL2 variant could be a plausible cause for this congenital condition in the affected calf.

Gallbladder agenesis in a male Holstein calf

Gallbladder agenesis in a male Holstein calf

Splanchnic malfunction in a male Holstein calf: A problem beyond abomasal ulcers and bloat

Splanchnic malfunction in a male Holstein calf: A problem beyond abomasal ulcers and bloat

Effects of delaying increase in milk allowance and type of gradual weaning program on performance and health of calves fed lower levels of milk

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of delayed increase in milk allowance and type of gradual weaning program on the feed intake, health, and growth of male Holstein calves. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, each male Holstein calf was randomly assigned to 1 of 2 milk level treatments and 1 of 2 weaning treatments upon arrival to a rearing facility. Calves were either assigned to a moderate (MM) or lower (LM) milk level treatment. All calves received the same milk program from arrival until d 12, increasing from 4 to 5 L/d (115 to 125 g/L) over the 12 d. On d 13, MM calves began receiving additional milk compared with LM calves until they were weaned, with MM offered milk increasing to a peak of 9 L/d (140 g/L). Calves on the MM treatment received a total of 35 kg of milk replacer over 45 d, compared with LM calves, who received a total of 25 kg of milk replacer over 45 d. Calves were also assigned to be weaned by either a 2-step gradual program or a 4-step gradual program. Calves assigned to the 2-step program had their milk reduced in 2 steps from d 30 to 45, and 4-step calves had their milk reduced in 4 steps from d 30 to 45. After d 46, calves received no milk but continued to be monitored until d 59. Calves had ad libitum access to water from arrival, and solid feed was offered from d 5 onward. No interactions of effects of milk level and weaning treatment were detected. By design, calves on the MM treatment consumed greater amounts of milk than LM calves in the preweaning phase from d 13 to 29 (6.1 vs. 4.8 L/d) and weaning phases from d 30 to 45 (4.7 vs. 3.2 L/d). The LM calves consumed greater amounts of solid feed than MM calves from d 22 to 29 of the preweaning phase, and from d 30 to 40 and d 43 to 45 of the weaning phase, whereas postweaning feed consumption was similar for both milk treatments. Calves in both milk treatments had similar blood β-hydroxybutyrate levels, indicating similar rumen development. Body weight and size measurements were similar between milk treatments across the study, although LM calves had a greater average daily gain than MM calves between d 38 and 46 (0.96 vs. 0.71 kg/d). Both gradual weaning treatments resulted in similar feed consumption, growth, and health parameters. Overall, the results indicate that delaying a moderate increase in milk until 12 d after arrival at a rearing facility provided no overall beneficial effect on growth or rumen development.

Clinical, cytogenetic and molecular genetic characterization of a tandem fusion translocation in a male Holstein cattle with congenital hypospadias and a ventricular septal defect.

Hypospadias, disorder of sex development (DSD), is a sporadic congenital abnormality of the genital region in male ruminants, which is characterized by a non-fused urethra during fetal development. Detailed clinical examination classified the hypospadias phenotype of a male Holstein calf studied here as the perineal type. In combined use of cytogenetic analysis and whole genome sequencing, a non-mosaic, pseudo-monosomy 59, XY + tan(18;27) was detected. This chromosomal aberration had its origin in a tandem fusion translocation of the bovine autosomes (BTA) 18 and 27 with an accompanying loss of genomic sequences mainly in the distal end of BTA 18 and the proximal end of BTA 27. The resulting phenotype included hypospadias, growth retardation and ventricular septal defect.

Osteogenesis imperfecta in a male holstein calf associated with a possible oligogenic origin

Background Neuromusculoskeletal anomalies generally in combination with severe clinical symptoms, comprise a heterogeneous group of fairly common and mostly fatal disorders in man and animals. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease, causes bone fragility and deformity. Prominent extra-skeletal accessory manifestations of OI comprise blue/gray sclerae, hearing impairment, lung abnormalities and hypercalciuria. Cases of OI in cattle have been reported. However, no causative mutations have been identified in cattle so far. Aim To report a possible oligogenic origin identified in a calf from clinically healthy parents suffering from OI. Materials and Methods A neonatal embryo transfer male Holstein calf developing multiple fractures with bone tissue showing marked osteopenia was used for whole genome re-sequencing as well as its parents. In addition, 2,612 randomly chosen healthy Holstein cattle were genotyped as well as controls. Results Sixteen candidate genes with potential protein-altering variants were selected revealing non-synonymous variants only within IFITM5 and CRTAP genes. However, in-depth gene analysis did not result in the identification of a single causative mutation in the OI calf. Conclusion The analysis of the OI case revealed a possible oligogenic origin of the disease attributable to additive effects of three candidate genes, i.e., ABCA13, QRFPR, and IFTIM5. Clinical relevance Most OI cases in humans and domestic animals reported so far are caused by distinct dominant or recessive monogenic mutations, therefore a potential oligogenic additive genetic effect is a novel finding. Furthermore, the case presented here demonstrates that cross-species genetic analyses might not always be straightforward.

Wooden hutch space allowance influences male Holstein calf health, performance, daily lying time, and respiratory immunity

Dairy calves in the western United States are commonly raised individually in wooden hutches with a space allowance of 1.23m2/calf. Recent legislative initiatives in California and across the United States were passed regarding concern over space allowance for farm animals. The objective of this study was to determine if rearing male Holstein calves in wooden hutches modified to increase space allowance would influence measures of performance, lying time per day, health, and respiratory immunocompetence. At 4d of age, 60 calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3housing treatments: (1) conventional housing (CONV; 1.23m2/calf), (2) 1.5 × CONV (MOD; 1.85m2/calf), or (3) 3 × CONV (MAX; 3.71m2/calf). Intakes of milk and solid feed were recorded daily and body weight was measured at 0, 3, 6, 10, and 12 wk of age. For the first 3 wk of the trial, calves were scored daily for fecal consistency, hydration, and hide cleanliness. In addition, calves were scored for respiratory health (i.e., nasal and eye discharge, ear position) until 7 wk of age. The total lying duration per day was recorded using data loggers at 3, 6, and 10 wk of age. Eight clinically healthy calves from each treatment were sensitized with subcutaneous ovalbumin (OVA) and then challenged with aerosolized OVA to assess calf respiratory immunity at 11 wk of age. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected 4d after the OVA challenge and analyzed for leukocyte differentials and OVA-specific IgG, IgG1, IgA, and IgE. Calf average daily gain and body weight were positively associated with space allowance at approximately 3 wk before weaning and throughout postweaning, respectively. A greater space allowance decreased lying time after 46d. Space allowance did not influence fecal consistency, but there was a tendency for MAX calves to take 1d longer to recover from loose feces than MOD calves. The MAX calves had the fewest (%) observations with feces on their body compared with CONV or MOD. At 3 wk of age, peripheral eosinophil concentrations decreased with increased space allowance. However, observations (%) of eye discharge increased with greater space allowance. Among calves challenged with OVA, MOD calves had the least BALF OVA-IgE, and the percent of BALF eosinophils decreased with increased space allowance. Increased space allowance for calves raised in wooden hutches may improve some measures of calf performance, health, and respiratory immunocompetence.

Giant hydronephrosis and secondary pyelonephritis induced by Salmonella dublin in a Holstein calf.

Hydronephrosis occurs as a congenital or an acquired condition following obstruction of the urinary tract. In this study, a four month old male Holstein calf with emaciation, growth retardation and a poor dry scruffy hair coat was examined because of remarkable distention of right abdomen. At necropsy, right kidney was hydronephrotic as a very big fluid-filled round pelvis with the presence of multilocular cysts bulged from the cortical surface. With sectioning, more than 10 L of bloody fluid poured out from this sac. Microscopic examination showed severe atrophy of cortical tissue and fibrosis of the medulla. Also, the dilated pelvis was composed of fibrinous exudate and necrosis of epithelium associated with multifocal aggregations of neutrophils and bacterial microcolonies. In a culture and serotyping of isolated bacteria, Salmonella dublin was determined. In conclusion, S. dublin induced pyelonephritis secondary to congenital giant hydronephrosis is the first report in cattle in the world.

Citrobacter koseri Septicaemia in a Holstein Calf

A 4-day-old male Holstein calf with dull mentation, nystagmus and blindness was humanely destroyed and subject to necropsy examination. Gross lesions included severe suppurative meningitis characterized by diffuse cloudy thickening of the meninges, bilateral hypopyon and fibrinosuppurative polyarthritis affecting the hocks. Citrobacter koseri was isolated from the meninges, ocular fluid, synovial fluid, spleen and small intestine. Microscopically, there was neutrophilic and histiocytic meningitis with intralesional bacilli, endophthalmitis, neutrophilic splenitis and multiple renal microabscesses. Failure of passive transfer of colostrum was confirmed. This appears to be the first characterization of septicaemia in a calf caused by C. koseri, with lesions comparable with those described in human neonates.

Trichoepithelioma in a neonatal calf

A 5-day-old male Holstein calf was presented with a proliferative mass under the right eye. A solid multilobulated gray lesion (5 cm × 3 cm) was removed surgically. Histopathological findings were characterized by multiple nests of cells, resembled abortive hair follicles. A diagnosis of trichoepithelioma was made. This is considered to be the first report of trichoepithelioma in a neonatal calf.

Perforating abomasal ulcer caused by yolk sac tumor in a Holstein calf

A 2-month-old male Holstein calf showed clinical signs of abdominal bloating, melena, and pain and was suspected of having a perforating abomasal ulcer. Necropsy revealed a large mass located preferentially around the abomasum and a large perforating abomasal ulcer on the pyloric antrum. Milky white masses of various sizes were also found in the abdominal cavity that consisted of agglutinated nodules ranging in size from a pinhead to a golf ball and were distributed on the surfaces of the liver, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, and diaphragm. Microscopic examination revealed that the masses were composed primarily of hyaline matrices, epithelioid tumor cells, and large atypical cells with hyaline droplets and/or vacuoles. Stromal hyaline matrices and hyaline droplets of the large tumor cells stained positive with periodic acid-Schiff stain. Tumor cells showed a positive reaction to anti-human alpha-fetoprotein, which is a marker of yolk sac tumors. These findings strongly suggested that the masses found in the abdominal cavity were yolk sac tumor, a rare germ cell tumor in cattle.

Myocardial epithelial inclusions in a Holstein calf

Summary Epithelial inclusions were detected in myocardium of a 2-month-old male Holstein calf. Microscopically, nonpurulent myocarditis along with focal tubular and acinar structures covered with cuboidal epithelial cells was seen in the myocardium. Most tubular and acinar structures stained with Masson’s trichrome were found to be surrounded with a dense collagen. Tubular and acinar structures had PAS positive basement membrane. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that tubular and acinar structures were both vimentin and pancytokeratin positive, while the connective tissue was only vimentin positive.

Calf Cloned From Bovine Cell Line

In the beginning there was Dolly, the first mammal cloned from an adult cell; then Polly, a lamb cloned from genetically altered fetal skin cells. Now there's Gene, a male Holstein calf. ABS Global, an animal breeding company in DeForest, Wisconsin, last week unveiled 6-month-old Gene, who was produced much the same way a Scottish team made the sheep clones (Science, 7 March, p. 1415).

In vitro growth of bovine articular cartilage chondrocytes in various capacitively coupled electrical fields.

Isolated articular cartilage chondrocytes from 1- to 3-week-old male Holstein calf knee joints were formed into pellets containing 4 X 10(6) isolated cells and were grown in tissue culture medium (minimum essential medium/NCTC 135) containing either 1 or 10% newborn calf serum (NBCS) in plastic Petri dishes in 5% CO2 and air at 37 degrees C in saturation humidity. On the 4th postisolation day either [35S]sulfate or [3H]thymidine was added to the medium, and the pellets were exposed for 24 h to capacitively coupled electrical fields (10, 100, 250, and 1,000 V peak-to-peak, 60 kHz, sine wave signals). The pellets were then harvested, dialyzed, hydrolyzed, and assayed for DNA, protein, [35S]sulfate incorporation, and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Results indicated that at 250 V peak-to-peak there was a statistically significant increase in [35S]sulfate in 1% NBCS and a statistically significant increase in [3H]thymidine in 10% NBCS. At potentials above or below 250 V no changes were noted. Thus, articular cartilage chondrocytes grown in pellet form can be stimulated to increase glycosaminoglycan synthesis or to increase cell proliferation by an appropriate capacitively coupled electrical field. The importance of the serum concentration in the medium in evaluation of biosynthesis in vitro is noted.

Effect of Calf Contact on Hormonally Induced Lactation

The effect of a young calf on dairy cows undergoing hormonal inducement to lactate was investigated. Fourteen Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss cows were paired and assigned randomly to two groups. Each cow received .1mg 17-β-estradiol and .25 mg/kg body weight progesterone daily for 7 days. A male Holstein calf under 14 days of age was placed with each cow of one group during induction and prior to milking while the other group served as a control. Milk production was recorded for the initial 90 days on 12 cows and for 305 days on 6 of the 12 cows. Milk secretion was induced successfully in that all cows produced in excess of 10 kg/day. First secretion was at 10.1±2.0 days for the control group and at 8.9±1.1 days for the experimental group. The control group had an extended 305-day mean production of 4292±390kg which was not significantly different from 4731±290kg for cows in the experimental group. Compared to the previous lactation, milk production was 55±8% for the control group and 63±3% for the experimental group. Six cows allowed to complete lactations produced at 80±2% of their previous lactations.