J. Vélez1, M. K. Lange1, P. Zieger2, I. Yoon2, K. Failing3 and C. Bauer1
1Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany; 2Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, USA; 3Unit of Biomathematics and Data Processing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
Email: christian.bauer@vetmed.uni-giessen.de
Introduction The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is one of the four main enteropathogens causing diarrhea in newborn calves worldwide. Currently, halofuginone is the only anticryptosporidial drug approved by the authorities in Europe for use in newborn calves. However, its prophylactic effect against cryptosporidiosis is often equivocal, and additionally it has a low therapeutic index. Therefore, there is a demand for alternatives. Recently, it was reported that a 4-week feeding of Cryptosporidium infected calves with Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products resulted in significantly less fragmented and atrophied villi of the lower small intestines in comparison to untreated controls, suggesting a preventive effect of these products against this parasite (Vázquez Flores et al., 2016). Therefore, a longitudinal field study was performed to determine the parasitological, clinical and economical effects of commercial non-GMO S. cerevisiae fermentation products against Cryptosporidium infections in calves in comparison with both a ‘positive’ (halofuginone treated) and ‘negative’ (untreated) control group.
Materials and Methods The study was performed on a Cryptosporidium endemic commercial dairy farm with approximately 1,600 cows in eastern Germany. A total of 123 newborn female calves, housed in individual hutches, were sequentially enrolled in 41 blocks of 3 animals based on their date of birth. Calves within each block were allocated randomly to one of 3 treatment groups: (i) remained untreated (CON); (ii) fed with S. cerevisiae fermentation products (Diamond V SmartCare® at 1 g/d in milk and NutriTek® at 5 g/d in starter grain) for the first 63 days (SCFP); (iii) treated daily with halofuginone (Halocur® at 2 ml/10 kg BW) for the first 7 days (HALO). Fecal samples collected daily during 4–21 days p.p. were examined semi-quantitatively for both Cryptosporidium oocysts and coproantigen as well as qualitatively for Rotavirus, Coronavirus and E. coli coproantigens. The presence and intensity of diarrhea were monitored by scoring daily for the first 4 weeks of life. Calves were weighed at 0, 21, 42 and 63 days of age. For each parameter arithmetic mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum were calculated. Differences of the detection of pathogens between the 3 treatment groups were analyzed for significance using Chi2-test or Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni corrected Dunn’s post-test.
To get a global basis for evaluation the intensity of the Cryptosporidium infection was estimated using the ‘area under the curve’
(AUC) of both the oocyst shedding and coproantigen scores over the time. Correlation analyses were done to analyze the relationship between the number of days with diarrhea and serum total protein concentrations, as well as AUC values of Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding or coproantigen scores.
Results The serum total protein concentration 4 days p.p. reached or exceeded the value of 55 g/l in almost all calves indicating a sufficient transfer of immunoglobulins by colostrum to calves. Almost all calves, regardless of the treatment group, were Cryptosporidium positive at least once during the study. Co-infections with Rotavirus, Coronavirus or E. coli were detected in a few calves and in few fecal samples only. The HALO treatment significantly reduced the number of Cryptosporidium positive fecal samples as compared to both the SCFP fed and CON calves. Based on coproantigen scores, both HALO treatment and SCFP feeding significantly reduced the intensity of Cryptosporidium infection as compared to the CON group. Diarrhea was recorded in almost all calves at least once. Overall, the intensity of Cryptosporidium infection (coproantigen scores) was positively correlated with the number of days with diarrhea. However, neither the proportion of diarrheic calves nor the intensity and duration of diarrhea differed between the 3 treatment groups significantly. The mean daily weight gain during the first 3 weeks of life was significantly lower in HALO treated calves than in the SCFP and CON groups; however, at the end of the 9-week study period the total weight gain did not significantly differ among the 3 treatment groups. Although the HALO treatment showed a partial anticryptosporidial activity, it did not significantly affect the onset, nor the frequency, duration and intensity of diarrhea in the present study. The same findings were recorded for the SCFP feeding that was, in other words, neither better nor worse than the HALO treatment.
Conclusions A pre-weaning supplementation with the two S. cerevisiae fermentation feed additives showed very similar clinical results and weight gains in Cryptosporidium infected newborn calves as a 7-day halofuginone treatment under the conditions on this farm. This suggests that feeding with these S. cerevisiae fermentation products may be a natural alternative measure, instead of halofuginone treatment, in bovine cryptosporidiosis.
References
Vázquez Flores, S., De Jésus Guerrero Carrillo, M., Scott, M.F., Hamann, J., Barrera Almanza S., Guizar Bravo, C., Baños Quintana A.P., Aranda Vargasb, P.J. (2016).
Effects of Saccaromyces cerevisiae fermentation products on intestinal villi integrity in neonatal calves naturally infected with Cryptosporidium spp. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (E-Suppl. 5), 714–715.
Hypernatremia in diarrheic calves fed electrolytes mixed with milk replacer without access to water
J. Wilms, L. Leal and J. Martín-TeresoTrouw Nutrition R&D, Amersfoort, the Netherlands Email: juliette.wilms@trouwnutrition.com
Introduction Oral electrolyte solutions (OES) fed to diarrhoeic calves aim to mitigate dehydration and correct metabolic acidosis.
However, the composition of OES products and the administration protocols present wide variations that can compromise the efficacy and safety of these treatments. Mixing OES with whole milk (WM) or milk replacer (MR) has become a common practice as it allows reducing labor associated with treatment of diarrhoeic calves. However, one should consider that WM and especially MR already contain high concentrations of lactose (140 to 230 mmol/L) and sodium (17 to 80 mmol/L; Byers et al., 2014). As a consequence, mixing sugar and electrolyte powder into WM or MR can exceed tolerance levels, especially in systems where water access is not available. In this light, the objective of the current study was to expose the risks associated with administration of OES into MR and water without access to fresh water.
Materials and Methods Sixty eight Holstein male calves (17 ± 2 d of age and 45 ± 2 kg) were purchased from a collection center (Pali group, the Netherlands). Calves were enrolled in the study upon diarrhea incidence and the first day of which diarrhea was observed, was called d 1. Calves were blocked based on BW and within each block, calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatments. Treatments included a hypertonic OES (OES; n = 14; 50 g/L in water and 25 g/L in MR), or a placebo consisting of whey powder (CON; n = 12; 5 g/L of water and MR). Treatments were administered over a 4 d period into MR (2.5 L at 0800 h and 1730 h) and into water (3 L at 1300 h and 2200 h), without access to fresh water. Treatments were never drenched. Blood samples we re taken from the jugular vein once daily at 0600 h for a length of 4 d, and fecal scores were assessed daily at 0900 h for a length of 15 d.
Results Intakes of treatments administered in water (4.6 L/d) and in MR (5.0 L/d) did not differ between treatment groups. Diarrhea incidence was higher in calves fed OES on d 3, d 4, and d 5 when compared to CON calves (Figure 1). Besides the digestive disturbances, the OES treatment resulted in a state of nutritional dehydration. Seventy one percent of calves fed OES developed hypernatremia (serum Na > 145 mmol/L) within 48 h after the first OES administration (Table 1). Development of acute hypernatremia (serum Na > 160 mmol/L) occurred in 21% of calves fed OES. Similarly to serum Na, serum osmolarity was higher in calves fed OES (313 mOsm/L) when compared to CON calves (295 mOsm/L; P < 0.001). Serum SID did not differ across treatment groups as serum Cl increased with the OES treatment (P < 0.01; Table 1). Additionally, there was a significant treatment by time interaction for serum urea, which was higher on d 3 and 4 in calves fed OES (P = 0.01).
Table 1 Effect of oral administration of OES in MR and water or a placebo solution without fresh water access on blood minerals, blood hematology, and blood chemistry in calves with naturally occurring diarrhea (n = 26).
Blood
1Expressed in mmol/L unless specified otherwise.
2
Strong ion different (mEq/L) = (Na+ + K+) – (Cl-)
3Serum osmolarity (mOsm/L) = 2 Na+ + 2K+ + Glucose + Urea
Figure 1 Diarrhea incidence in diarrhoeic calves fed oral electrolyte solutions in MR and water or a placebo solution without fresh water access (n = 26). Significant differences at each time point are indicated by * (P ≤ 0.05) and † (P <
0.1).
Conclusions Administration of OES in MR without access to water exacerbated digestive disturbances and prolonged recovery from diarrhea. Additionally, calves fed OES developed various degrees of hypernatremia. One should consider that not all diarrhoeic calves are able to drink water by themselves and water access for young calves is not always available in all dairy and veal farms. Providing OES into MR therefore represents a dangerous practice and proper guidelines for OES administration should be developed in order to emphasize the importance of water access.
References
Byers, S.R., A.S. Lear, and D.C. Van Metre. 2014. Sodium balance and the dysnatremias. Vet. Clin. North Am. - Food Anim. Pract. 30:333–350.
Session 09: Neonate health: impact of feeding management and colostrum
Immune modulating effect of a seaweed extract on specific IgG and total IgA titers in the colostrum and milk
F. Bussy, M. Le Goff and P. CollenOlmix Group, Brehan, France Email: FBussy@olmix.com
Introduction Investment in sow vaccination and feedback to improve their immune status and the immune status of their piglets has become more and more important. Therefore, the transfer of this protective immunity from the sow to its piglets is a key factor that could be optimized. A specific extract (MSPIMMUNITY) was prepared from the green algae Ulva armoricana. The ability of MSPIMMUNITY to stimulate the expression of a wide range of immune mediators was evidenced in vitro (Berri et al, 2016 and 2017).
The aim of the present study was to test, in vivo, the capacity of MSPIMMUNITY to improve the transfer of immunity from gilts to piglets.
Materials and Methods Thirty-five gilts (Large White*Landrace) were randomly distributed to 4 groups: 1 control group (n=10), and 3 test groups receiving MSPIMMUNITY at different doses 2g (n=8, MSP 1), 8g (n=8, MSP 2), 16g (n=9, MSP3) per gilt per day.
Gilts were vaccinated against atrophic rhinitis (Porcilis AR-T DF) at 180, 200 and 322 days of age (ie 172, 152 and 30 days before farrowing). MSPIMMUNITY was distributed during the 3 days before the third vaccine booster and during 3 days one week before farrowing. The transfer of immunity from gilts to their piglets was evaluated by the measurement of IgG anti-Bordetella bronchiseptica (AB) level in serum and colostrum (using ELISA anti-FHA test, IBL International, Germany), and IgA level in milk (using ELISA polyclonal specific porcine IgA test, Bethyl, Montgomery, USA). Blood was collected 34 and 23 days before the theoretical day of farrowing. Colostrum samples were collected 2 hours after the beginning of farrowing and milk samples 7 and 21 days after farrowing.
Data normality was validated by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, and immunoglobulin concentrations were compared between experimental groups by Student's t-tests, applying Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons. Data are shown as average ± standard error of the mean (SEM) and differences were considered significant at p < 0.05 in all tests. All statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 4.03 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA).
Results The MSPIMMUNITY supplementation did not impact IgG AB levels in gilts’ serum, but significantly increased their transfer to the colostrum, as shown by the increased level of IgG AB in the colostrum of the test groups compared to control (Figure 1, MSP1: P
= 0.07, MSP2: P = 0.05, MSP3: P = 0.03).
The MSPIMMUNITY supplementation had a dose-dependent effect on the IgA level in milk. The highest increase was obtained with MSP2, compared to the control group (Figure 2).
Figure 1 IgG Anti-Bordetella in gilt’s serum at D-23 Figure 2 IgA level in milk at 7 and 21 days after farrowing and in the colostrum at D-0 from farrowing
Conclusions I These results show that MSPIMMUNITY has the capacity to increase the amount of IgG AB in gilts’ colostrum via an increased transudation from the serum, and to increase the level of IgA in gilts’ milk. Therefore, this study highlights the capacity of MSPIMMUNITY to improve both systemic and mucosal immunity and makes it a good candidate to support immune status and health of sows and piglets in farms.
References
Berri M., Slugocki C., Olivier M., Helloin E., Jacques I., Salmon H., Demais H., Le Goff M., Nyvall Collèn P. 2016. Marine-sulfated polysaccharides extract of Ulva armoricana green algae exhibits an antimicrobial activity and stimulates cytokine
expression by intestinal epithelial cells. J Appl Phycol, 28:1.
Berri M., Olivier M., Holbert S., Dupont J., Demais H., Le Goff M., Nyvall Collèn P. 2017. Ulvan from Ulva armoricana (Chlorophyta) activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway via TLR4 to induce intestinal cytokine production. Algal Research, 28, 39-47.