Neonatal calf diarrhoea (NCD) is one of the most important problems in calf rearing in dairy farms worldwide. The U.S. National Animal Health Monitoring System reported that 57% of weaning calf mortality is dued to diarrhoea and most cases occurred in calves less than 1 month old. In Europe NCD is the most important disease problem in calves and causes a great economic loss. Diarrhoea is a complex, multifactorial disease with numerous infectious and noninfectious factors. Although different studies have aimed to identify risk factors for the presence of NCD in farms, little is known about factors involved in the outcome in affected calves. Indeed, only few investigations are available in calves on the influence of some biochemical data on outcome of neonatal diarrhoea. When adequate amounts of immunoglobulins (IgG) are not absorbed, calves are defined as having failure of passive transfer (FPT). Passive transfer of immunity is a critical factor and an important concern for the management of neonatal calf health. Despite the significant progress made in understanding biology and mechanisms of FPT, the application of this knowledge into improved treatments of sick calves has been limited because absorption of colostral components by the intestine of calves decreases quickly, and completely ceases approximately 24 h after birth, limiting the time available for the veterinarians to administer colostrum therapeutically. Immunoglobulin transfusion through plasma administration is empirically recommended as a therapeutic intervention in calves with FPT but the experimental data are rather controversial and there is no general agreement about the correct dosage of IgG in the treatment of FPT. The specific objectives of this research are 1) to identify risk factors associated with outcome of the neonatal diarrhoea in calves undergoing standard therapy protocol. In particular to study the hematological, biochemical and clinical values to predict the fate of diarrhoeic calves, 2) compare sIgG and sTP in a control group of calves fed with a high quality colostrum vs. a treated group of colostrum–deprived calves submitted to an IV administration of IgG by plasma transfusion, in order to establish the dose of IgG which could provide a serum protective level (10 g/L).

Impact of colostral administration practices on the outcome of diarrhoeic calves and future therapeutic options for the failure of passive transfer of immunity / A. Boccardo ; tutor: A. Belloli. DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE VETERINARIE PER LA SALUTE, LA PRODUZIONE ANIMALE E LA SICUREZZA ALIMENTARE, 2015 Mar 11. 27. ciclo, Anno Accademico 2014. [10.13130/a-boccardo_phd2015-03-11].

Impact of colostral administration practices on the outcome of diarrhoeic calves and future therapeutic options for the failure of passive transfer of immunity

A. Boccardo
2015

Abstract

Neonatal calf diarrhoea (NCD) is one of the most important problems in calf rearing in dairy farms worldwide. The U.S. National Animal Health Monitoring System reported that 57% of weaning calf mortality is dued to diarrhoea and most cases occurred in calves less than 1 month old. In Europe NCD is the most important disease problem in calves and causes a great economic loss. Diarrhoea is a complex, multifactorial disease with numerous infectious and noninfectious factors. Although different studies have aimed to identify risk factors for the presence of NCD in farms, little is known about factors involved in the outcome in affected calves. Indeed, only few investigations are available in calves on the influence of some biochemical data on outcome of neonatal diarrhoea. When adequate amounts of immunoglobulins (IgG) are not absorbed, calves are defined as having failure of passive transfer (FPT). Passive transfer of immunity is a critical factor and an important concern for the management of neonatal calf health. Despite the significant progress made in understanding biology and mechanisms of FPT, the application of this knowledge into improved treatments of sick calves has been limited because absorption of colostral components by the intestine of calves decreases quickly, and completely ceases approximately 24 h after birth, limiting the time available for the veterinarians to administer colostrum therapeutically. Immunoglobulin transfusion through plasma administration is empirically recommended as a therapeutic intervention in calves with FPT but the experimental data are rather controversial and there is no general agreement about the correct dosage of IgG in the treatment of FPT. The specific objectives of this research are 1) to identify risk factors associated with outcome of the neonatal diarrhoea in calves undergoing standard therapy protocol. In particular to study the hematological, biochemical and clinical values to predict the fate of diarrhoeic calves, 2) compare sIgG and sTP in a control group of calves fed with a high quality colostrum vs. a treated group of colostrum–deprived calves submitted to an IV administration of IgG by plasma transfusion, in order to establish the dose of IgG which could provide a serum protective level (10 g/L).
11-mar-2015
Settore VET/08 - Clinica Medica Veterinaria
BELLOLI, ANGELO
Doctoral Thesis
Impact of colostral administration practices on the outcome of diarrhoeic calves and future therapeutic options for the failure of passive transfer of immunity / A. Boccardo ; tutor: A. Belloli. DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE VETERINARIE PER LA SALUTE, LA PRODUZIONE ANIMALE E LA SICUREZZA ALIMENTARE, 2015 Mar 11. 27. ciclo, Anno Accademico 2014. [10.13130/a-boccardo_phd2015-03-11].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/264785
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