Evaluation of different acute-phase proteins for herd health diagnostics in early postpartum Holstein Friesian dairy cows

Abstract

This research communication describes (1) the comparison of acute-phase protein (APP) concentrations in transition dairy cows on different farms using both pooled and individual blood samples, and (2) the association among different APP and clinical health parameters. The first hypothesis was that early postpartum dairy cows from different farms differ in the level of inflammation, which might be determined using APP assays in both pooled and individual blood samples. The second hypothesis was that the APP haptoglobin (Hp) might be the most sensitive parameter to detect cows at risk of excessive postpartum inflammation concomitant with systemic disease. Serum concentrations of Hp, serum amyloid-A (SAA), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), coeruloplasmin (Cp) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 100 fresh lactating cows (within 0–8 d postpartum) from 10 farms were compared and associated to clinical health parameters (rectal body temperature, vaginal discharge (Metricheck™ score), rumen fill, vulvovaginal laceration) using both pooled and individual blood samples. Mean serum concentrations of Hp, SAA and TP revealed significant differences among farms. Pooled serum samples of farms showed high correlations with the mean of individual samples. Only Hp was significantly positively correlated to both body temperature and Metricheck™ score. In conclusion, Hp differentiates dairy farms regarding the inflammatory state of transition cows using individual and pooled serum samples within the first week postpartum. It also mirrors the individual degree of inflammation, thus proving to be a diagnostic parameter of high interest during the periparturient period.

Serum Amyloid A Concentrations of Healthy and Clinically Diseased Japanese Black Breeding Cattle—Preliminary Measurements for Determining the Cut-Off Concentrations

“…Thus, the establishment of MPT, including SAA measurement with the LATIA method in our routine MPT, could be useful in assessing both the nutritional and non-nutritional inflammatory status of JB breeding cows in the perinatal period, and possibly improve the reproductive efficiency of JB breeding cattle herds. Additionally, SAA concentration reportedly revealed significant differences among the examined farms [ 23 ]. Therefore, screening based on the cut-off SAA values obtained in the present study would help veterinarians identify diseased JB breeding cows or herds under regulatory inspection programs, such as MPT.…”

Investigation of cattle plasma proteome in response to pain and inflammation using next generation proteomics technique, SWATH-MS

“…Previous studies measuring haptoglobin and serum amyloid-A in cattle have used immunoassays which provide absolute quantification. 75,76 The small sample size was also a problem and more numbers in each group may have confirmed changes in protein concentrations as significant. Furthermore, the high number of proteins reported in human serum (4300) 77 and plasma (465) 78 was not possible since the depletion methods used to remove high abundant proteins, such as albumin and immunoglobulins, 77,78 was unavailable for bovine plasma or serum.…”

Acute-phase protein concentrations in serum of clinically healthy and diseased European bison (Bison bonasus) – preliminary study

“…Comparing to our results, the SAA concentration both in ELIM and HEAL (70.81 µg/ml and 18.95 µg/ml, respectively) were significantly higher than cows kept under hardy conditions (3.46 µg/ml and 4.50 µg/ml). However, the levels of APPs may also vary in physiological conditions such as pregnancy, lactation [ 33 , 34 ].…”