Milk lactoferrin in heifers: Influence of health status and stage of lactation

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to analyze the variations in lactoferrin (LF) concentrations in primiparous cows with intramammary infection and to study how the lactation stage affects these variations. In addition, we aimed to study the potential of the LF concentration in early lactation as a predictive factor for future infections. To accomplish this goal, a longitudinal analysis was performed for 96 primiparous cows. Milk samples were collected each month from individual quarters, and the LF concentration was determined for each sample. Criteria that included both somatic cell count (SCC) and a microbiological analysis were used to assess the health status of the quarters. Of the diseased quarters (SCC >200,000 or positive for pathogen isolation, or both), 62% corresponded to nonspecific mastitis (SCC >200,000 but microbiologically negative) and 25% corresponded to the category "presence of bacterial growth" (SCC <200,000 but microbiologically positive). Diseased quarters showed increased concentrations of LF compared with healthy quarters. However, this increase was greater during the first days of lactation compared with later periods. Kaplan-Meier analysis of time free of infection demonstrated that quarters with LF concentrations at early lactation (3-10d in milk) greater than 0.1mg/mL are more likely to become infected during the following lactation compared with quarters with lower LF concentrations in early lactation. The results support that LF plays a relevant role in combating intramammary infection, particularly during the first days of lactation. In addition, we present evidence of the potential use of LF as a predictive marker of future infections in the individual quarters of dairy heifers.

Concentration of lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G in cows’ milk in relation to health status of the udder, lactation and season

“…Significant differences in these immunity components were observed between quarters with BG, NM, SM and HQ (p<0.05). The same tendency of LF was also shown by Chaneton et al (2013), but no significant differences were observed between quarters. Kocina et al (2012) reported that IgG mean values in milk samples with pathogenic agents and without pathogens differed slightly and insignificantly.…”

“…Two combined variables were used to determine the quarter health status: the SCC value and the isolation of pathogenic bacteria. Similar criteria have been used by other authors (Pyörälä 2002, Chaneton et al 2013. In the present study 59% corresponded to diseased quarters and 41% to healthy quarters.…”

“…In the present study 59% corresponded to diseased quarters and 41% to healthy quarters. Chaneton et al (2013) show that the majority of analyzed milk samples consisted of healthy quarters (86.8%) and of the diseased quarters 62% corresponded to nonspecific mastitis. Most of the analysed milk samples with SCC levels lower than 200,000 were positive for bacterial isolation.…”

“…This observation means that some specific bacterial species could be associated with weak immune responses (Schwarz et al 2010) and it is possible that the physiological status of the mammary gland could induce a diminished immune response to bacterial invasion. Chaneton et al (2013) established that most of the samples with an SCC level higher than 200,000 were negative for bacterial isolation; their explanation for this is that an inflammation process can occur without detectable bacteria in milk. The present research demonstrated higher LF and IgG concentrations in diseased quarters compared to healthy quarters (p<0.001).…”

“…The health status of the udder quarters was assessed according to microbiological analysis and SCC in milk (Chaneton et al 2013). Quarters with presence of bacterial growth, nonspecific mastitis, or subclinical mastitis were classified as diseased quarters (Table 1).…”