Bioactive Feed Additive for the Prevention of Clostridial Disease in High-Yielding Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop and test a new approach to prevent clostridial disease in cattle, based on the use of a new compound biologically active feed additive (BFA). Some properties of the separate components of BFA are characterized. The research showed that a strain of the bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens159 has an expressed antagonism to toxin-producing strains of C. perfringens. When using the test strains of C. perfringens from the ATCC collection (13124 as type A, 10543 as type C, 12916 as type F), the anticlostridial activity of the tested strains varied, with size range of 14.0 ± 0.95–15.0 ± 1.28 mm of delayed growth zones. The bactericidal properties of lauric acid and the sorption properties of diatomaceous earth, included in BFA, were confirmed. The experiment was conducted on Holstein cows at the beginning of lactation (control, C (n = 15) vs. experimental E48 (n = 15), E80 (n = 15) and E112 (n = 15), 48, 80 and 112 g/head/day BFA, respectively. All cows were vaccinated with “Coglavax” (vaccine against bovine and sheep clostridial disease, Ceva-Phylaxia VeterinaryBiologicals, Hungary), reinjected two weeks before the experiment. At the end of the experiment (3.5 months after the vaccination and 3 months after the start of BFA feeding according to the scheme of the experiment), the immune response in the control and Group E48 to C. perfringens β-toxin remained at the initial level, while the response in Group E80 and Group E112 became higher under the influence of BFA feeding. Cows fed BFA saw a guaranteed improvement in non-specific resistance. The increase in serum lysozyme concentration in cows of Groups E was 1.01–2.91 mkg/mL vs. control (p < 0.001). TP, GLB, ALB/GLB vs. Groups C and E48 (p < 0.001); this stabilized and normalized while feeding Group E80 and E112 animals with BFA. They also had improved nitrogen, fat, mineral metabolism, as indicated by significant increase in ALB (p < 0.05), UREA (p < 0.01), CHOL (p < 0.01), and CHL (p < 0.01) vs. Groups C and E48. Consumption of BFA increased the amount of anti-oxidants in the blood (highest TAWSA values in Group E80 14.45 mg/g, p = 0.002). Serum TBA–AP/ CP ratio was directly related to TBA–AP (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), and decreased in Group E80. The milk productivity increased under the action of BFA; the average daily milk yield of the cows from the experimental groups for the period of the experiment (d0-d98) was 1.24–1.66 kg higher than that of the control. At the same time, Group E112 cows had a significant increase in milk yield (by 5.1%, p = 0.03 vs. Control). Thus, feeding BFA to dairy cows was found to improve resistance, prevent toxicoses and increase milk production of cattle, which can serve as an additional strategy for bioprotection of cattle against infection.

A Novel Direct-Fed Microbial for Beef Cattle Has a Supportive Effect against Clostridium perfringens In Vitro and In Vivo

“…Feeding a mixture of L. animalis LA-51 and P. freudenreichii PF-24 to Holstein calves supported the development of intestinal cells during the pre-weaning period [2]. Lastly, it is noteworthy to mention that the support of the health of the host against C. perfringens serotypes cannot solely rely on vaccination, as it has been demonstrated that only 40-50% of vaccinated lactating dairy cows develop an effective memory against this pathogen [32]. This can be even more critical if we consider that newborn calves do not have a developed immune system from a systemic or gut-located standpoint [33] and are not vaccinated early in life, meaning that they are at high risk if they encounter C. perfringens.…”

A Comprehensive Review of the Common Bacterial Infections in Dairy Calves and Advanced Strategies for Health Management

“… 61 Good hygiene practices, feeding management, and vaccination can prevent the infection caused by C. perfringens . 4 , 62 Preventive strategies for pathogens depend on good farm management practices, limiting their susceptibility to infection through vaccination, high hygienic levels of tools and structures for handling of the animal can avoid risk of infections ( Table 1 ). Good management practices in harvesting, storing, and feeding the animals prevent diseases associated with enterotoxic clostridia.…”

Clostridial Bovine Infections: A Review Focusing on Diseases in Brazil

“…With increased vascular permeability, extravasation of fluids and proteins occurs into the perivascular space, with consequent edema. When it occurs in brain tissue, it is called eosinophilic proteinaceous perivascular edema or microangiopathy [40][41][42][43][44].…”

“…There are also different PCR techniques that, despite not directly detecting the toxin(s) produced by C. perfringens types A-E, but rather the genes that encode their production, allow the typification of the C. perfringens involved in a particular case or outbreak. Although the presence of toxins in intestinal contents is the most important indicator of enterotoxemia, it is necessary to combine this finding with others, especially the history of the animal and the property, clinical signs, necropsy findings and histopathology of the injured organs [40][41][42][43].…”