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Stockland EL, Smith MS, Pickett AT, Cooke RF, Poole RK. Influence of differing levels of concentrate on circulating cytokine concentrations in beef heifers. Transl Anim Sci 2024; 8:txae089. [PMID: 38873027 PMCID: PMC11170485 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Components of the immune system (e.g., cytokines and chemokines) can influence reproductive efficiency. Characterizing the influence nutrition has on shifts in circulating cytokine concentrations will allow for a better understanding of reproductive efficiency in beef cattle. This study aimed to determine the effect of diet composition on circulating cytokine concentrations of beef heifers. Using a 3 × 3 Latin square design, pubertal Bos taurus-influenced rumen-cannulated heifers (n = 15) were fed a diet based on different concentrate percentages. The treatment period consisted of 28-d feeding periods with a washout interval of 21 d. Treatment groups were fed 100% grass hay (high forage; HF), 60% grass hay with 40% corn-based concentrate (intermediate; INT), and 25% grass hay with 75% corn-based concentrate (high grain; HG). Heifers were offered 2% of their body weight in feed daily. Blood was collected on days 0 and 28 of the treatment period for cytokine analysis. Plasma cytokine concentrations were quantified using RayBiotech Quantibody Bovine Cytokine Array Q1 kit according to manufacturer instructions. Concentrations of interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP10) linearly decreased with an increased concentrate diet (P = 0.037). Concentrations of IP10 differed for heifers consuming HF diet vs. HG diet (3,069.52 vs. 1,001.84 ± 669.01 pg/mL, respectively) and heifers consuming INT diet vs. HG diet (2,886.77 vs. 1,001.84 ± 669.01 pg/mL, respectively); however, there were no significant differences in IP10 concentrations between HF and INT heifers. There was a tendency for interleukin-1 family member 5 (IL1F5) concentrations to be lower for heifers consuming the HG diet compared to INT diet (P = 0.08). Results suggest that heifers consuming a high-concentrate diet have lower concentrations of IP10 and IL1F5. Additional research is necessary to better understand the dietary influence on the immune system in developing heifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Stockland
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Molly S Smith
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Autumn T Pickett
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Reinaldo F Cooke
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Rebecca K Poole
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Tibbs-Cortes BW, Rahic-Seggerman FM, Schmitz-Esser S, Boggiatto PM, Olsen S, Putz EJ. Fecal and vaginal microbiota of vaccinated and non-vaccinated pregnant elk challenged with Brucella abortus. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1334858. [PMID: 38352039 PMCID: PMC10861794 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1334858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Brucella abortus is the causative agent of brucellosis in cattle and in humans, resulting in economic losses in the agricultural sector and representing a major threat to public health. Elk populations in the American Northwest are reservoirs for this bacterium and transmit the agent to domestic cattle herds. One potential strategy to mitigate the transmission of brucellosis by elk is vaccination of elk populations against B. abortus; however, elk appear to be immunologically distinct from cattle in their responses to current vaccination strategies. The differences in host response to B. abortus between cattle and elk could be attributed to differences between the cattle and elk innate and adaptive immune responses. Because species-specific interactions between the host microbiome and the immune system are also known to affect immunity, we sought to investigate interactions between the elk microbiome and B. abortus infection and vaccination. Methods We analyzed the fecal and vaginal microbial communities of B. abortus-vaccinated and unvaccinated elk which were challenged with B. abortus during the periparturient period. Results We observed that the elk fecal and vaginal microbiota are similar to those of other ruminants, and these microbial communities were affected both by time of sampling and by vaccination status. Notably, we observed that taxa representing ruminant reproductive tract pathogens tended to increase in abundance in the elk vaginal microbiome following parturition. Furthermore, many of these taxa differed significantly in abundance depending on vaccination status, indicating that vaccination against B. abortus affects the elk vaginal microbiota with potential implications for animal reproductive health. Discussion This study is the first to analyze the vaginal microbiota of any species of the genus Cervus and is also the first to assess the effects of B. abortus vaccination and challenge on the vaginal microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bienvenido W. Tibbs-Cortes
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Faith M. Rahic-Seggerman
- Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Stephan Schmitz-Esser
- Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Paola M. Boggiatto
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Steven Olsen
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Ellie J. Putz
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, United States
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Ault-Seay TB, Moorey SE, Mathew DJ, Schrick FN, Pohler KG, McLean KJ, Myer PR. Importance of the female reproductive tract microbiome and its relationship with the uterine environment for health and productivity in cattle: A review. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2023.1111636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Once thought to be sterile, the reproductive tract microbiome has been characterized due to the transition from culture-dependent identification of bacteria to culture-independent sequencing methods. The urogenital microbiome was first identified in women through the Human Microbiome Project, which led to research in other species such as the bovine. Previous research focused on uterine bacteria associated with postpartum disease, but next generation sequencing methods identified a normal, healthy bacterial community of the reproductive tract of cows and heifers. Bacterial communities are now understood to differ between the uterus and vagina, and throughout the estrous cycle with changes in hormone dominance. In a healthy state, the bacterial communities largely interact with the uterine environment by assisting in maintaining the proper pH, providing and utilizing nutrients and metabolites, and influencing the immunological responses of the reproductive tract. If the bacterial communities become unbalanced due to an increase in potentially pathogenic bacteria, the health and fertility of the host may be affected. Although the presence of a reproductive tract microbiome has become widely accepted, the existence of a placental microbiome and in utero colonization of the fetus is still a popular debate due to conflicting study results. Currently, researchers are evaluating methods to manipulate the reproductive bacterial communities, such as diet changes and utilizing probiotics, to improve reproductive outcomes. The following review discusses the current understanding of the reproductive tract microbiome, how it differs between humans and cattle, and its relationship with the uterine environment.
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Poole RK, Soffa DR, McAnally BE, Smith MS, Hickman-Brown KJ, Stockland EL. Reproductive Microbiomes in Domestic Livestock: Insights Utilizing 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Community Sequencing. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:485. [PMID: 36766374 PMCID: PMC9913168 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Advancements in 16S rRNA gene amplicon community sequencing have vastly expanded our understanding of the reproductive microbiome and its role in fertility. In humans, Lactobacillus is the overwhelmingly dominant bacteria within reproductive tissues and is known to be commensal and an indicator of fertility in women and men. It is also known that Lactobacillus is not as largely abundant in the reproductive tissues of domestic livestock species. Thus, the objective of this review is to summarize the research to date on both female and male reproductive microbiomes in domestic livestock species (i.e., dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, small ruminants, and horses). Having a comprehensive understanding of reproductive microbiota and its role in modulating physiological functions will aid in the development of management and therapeutic strategies to improve reproductive efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K. Poole
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, USA
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Smith MS, Hickman-Brown KJ, McAnally BE, Oliveira Filho RV, de Melo GD, Pohler KG, Poole RK. Reproductive microbiome and cytokine profiles associated with fertility outcomes of postpartum beef cows. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad219. [PMID: 37354343 PMCID: PMC10362934 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Shifts from commensal bacteria (for example, Lactobacillus in the phylum Firmicutes) within the reproductive tract have been associated with changes in local reproductive immune responses and decreased fertility in humans. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbiome and cytokine concentrations before artificial insemination (AI) in vaginal and uterine flushes from postpartum beef cows. Twenty Bos indicus-influenced beef cows (approximately 60 d postpartum and free of reproductive, health, or physical issues) were enrolled. The B. indicus prostaglandin (PG) 5-d + controlled intervaginal drug-releasing estrus synchronization protocol was initiated on day -8 of the study with timed AI on d0. Blood samples were collected on days -3, -1, and 28 via coccygeal venipuncture. Vaginal and uterine flushes were collected on days -3 and -1. Based on days 28 pregnancy status determined by transrectal ultrasonography, cows were identified as either Open (n = 13) or Pregnant (n = 7). Bacterial community analyses were conducted targeting the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Cytokine analyses were performed using the RayBiotech Quantibody Bovine Cytokine Array Q1 and MyBioSource ELISA kits per the manufacturer's instructions. Statistical analyses for bacteria relative abundance were conducted using PROC NPAR1WAY and for cytokine concentrations using PROC GLM in SAS 9.4. Uterine concentrations of interferon γ, interleukin (IL)1α, and IL21 were greater in Open than in Pregnant cows (P < 0.05). Regardless of pregnancy status, uterine IL13 increased from days -3 to -1 (9.76 vs. 39.48 ± 9.28 pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.05). Uterine relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes decreased from days -3 to -1 in Open cows (60.4% ± 0.9% vs. 48.5% ± 3.2%; P = 0.004). In Open cows, the genus Blautia decreased in relative abundance within the uterus from days -3 to -1 (2.1% ± 0.2% vs. 0.9% ± 0.1%; P = 0.002). Uterine relative abundance of the phylum Tenericutes increased from days -3 to -1 in Pregnant cows (1.0% ± 0.1% vs. 7.6% ± 4.1%; P = 0.002). In Pregnant cows, the genus Ureaplasma tended to increase within the uterus from days -3 to -1 (0.08% ± 0.06% vs. 7.3% ± 4.1%; P = 0.054). These findings suggest a distinct difference in the reproductive microbiome and cytokine profiles before AI for resulting Open vs. Pregnant cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly S Smith
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, USA
| | - Kyle J Hickman-Brown
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, USA
| | - Brooke E McAnally
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, USA
| | | | | | - Ky G Pohler
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, USA
| | - Rebecca K Poole
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, USA
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