Assessment of Acute-Phase Protein Response Associated with the Different Pathological Forms of Bovine Paratuberculosis

Abstract

In this study, the concentrations of two acute-phase proteins (APPs), haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA), were quantitatively assessed in serum samples from cattle naturally infected with paratuberculosis (PTB). APP profiles were compared across 190 animals classified according to the different pathological forms associated with infection: uninfected (n = 59), with focal lesions (n = 73), multifocal lesions (n = 19), and diffuse paucibacillary (n = 11) and diffuse multibacillary lesions (n = 28). Our results showed a significant increase in both APPs in infected animals compared to the control group, with differences depending on the type of lesion. Hp and SAA levels were increased significantly in all infected animals, except in cows with diffuse multibacillary lesions that showed similar values to non-infected animals. The expression pattern of both APPs was similar and negatively correlated with the antibody levels against PTB. These results indicate that the release of Hp and SAA is related to the presence of PTB lesions associated with a high cell-mediated immune response and a lower bacterial load, suggesting that the pro-inflammatory cytokines that are associated with these forms are the main stimulus for their synthesis. These molecules could show some potential to be used as putative biomarkers of PTB infection, particularly for the identification of subclinical animals showing pathological forms related to latency or resistance to the development of advanced lesions.

Bovine Intelectin 2 Expression as a Biomarker of Paratuberculosis Disease Progression

“…The differential proteomic analysis combined with immunohistochemical validation highlighted several changes occurring in PTB tissues and provided novel molecular information on the distinct levels of tissue involvement that can be found within the asymptomatic, paucibacillary condition. Other studies have investigated the levels of inflammatory acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) developed during the course of MAP infection in serum as potential serum markers for the identification of sub-clinically infected cows bearing pathological forms related to latency or resistance to the development of advanced clinical stages [ 70 ]. These authors observed a significant increase of the level of these proteins in infected animals, especially with lesions characterized by a low bacterial load and with predominance of a cell-mediated immune response.…”

Paratuberculosis bovina, revisión de literatura

“…Esta patología lleva a una infección que desencadena un proceso inflamatorio crónico granulomatoso a nivel intestinal en rumiantes domésticos y salvajes (Mallikarjunappa et al, 2020;McAloon et al, 2019). Aunque es común en dichos rumiantes, tiene elevada prevalencia en los hatos lecheros, lo cual genera graves consecuencias económicas y efectos adversos sobre el bienestar animal (Espinosa et al, 2020;Ozsvari et al, 2020;Sanchez et al, 2020).…”

Alpha-2-Macroglobulin as a New Promising Biomarker Improving the Diagnostic Sensitivity of Bovine Paratuberculosis

“…A number of studies have previously identified potential biomarkers in MAP-infected animals (16,19,20). Acute phase proteins such as haptoglobin and serum amyloid A were significantly increased in various stages of paratuberculosis infection with different types of lesions (20). Shaughnessy et al identified three fecal biomarkers (hsa-miR-658, hsa-miR-92a-3p, and hsa-miR-501-5p) that were significantly upregulated in fecal samples of cattle with JD (19).…”

“…Biomarkers are measurable indicators that represent physiological alterations during disease progression. A number of studies have previously identified potential biomarkers in MAP-infected animals ( 16 , 19 , 20 ). Acute phase proteins such as haptoglobin and serum amyloid A were significantly increased in various stages of paratuberculosis infection with different types of lesions ( 20 ).…”