1
|
Sobczyński B, Piwczyński D, Siatka K, Sitkowska B, Kolenda M. Efficiency of Utilizing Bulls with High Immune Response (HIR) in Terms of Reproductive Traits of PHF Cows. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2144. [PMID: 39123670 PMCID: PMC11311036 DOI: 10.3390/ani14152144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Reproductive traits in dairy cattle are crucial for herd productivity and profitability. This study investigates the influence of relatedness to high immune response (HIR) Immunity+ sires on reproductive performance indicators in Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. A total of 5094 cows were analyzed, categorized based on their relatedness to HIR Immunity+ sires, and assessed for various reproductive parameters, including age at first insemination, gestation length, days open, calving interval, and calving ease. The results showed that the level of relatedness to HIR Immunity+ sires influenced certain reproductive traits, such as service period, gestation length, and age at first and second calving. Additionally, cows related to HIR Immunity+ sires exhibited a higher frequency of twin pregnancies and more complicated births. While some benefits were observed in certain reproductive traits among cows related to HIR Immunity+ sires, such as reduced age at first insemination and shortened gestation length, the overall impact on reproductive efficiency remains inconclusive. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the effects of using semen from HIR Immunity+ sires on reproductive performance in dairy cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bogumił Sobczyński
- Department of Animal Biotechnology and Genetics; Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (B.S.); (D.P.); (B.S.)
| | - Dariusz Piwczyński
- Department of Animal Biotechnology and Genetics; Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (B.S.); (D.P.); (B.S.)
| | - Kamil Siatka
- Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition; Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Beata Sitkowska
- Department of Animal Biotechnology and Genetics; Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (B.S.); (D.P.); (B.S.)
| | - Magdalena Kolenda
- Department of Animal Biotechnology and Genetics; Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (B.S.); (D.P.); (B.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Vahedi SM, Ardestani SS, Banabazi MH, Fraser Clark K. Aleutian disease: Risk factors and ImmunAD strategy for genetic improvement of tolerance in American mink (Neogale vison). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306135. [PMID: 39024380 PMCID: PMC11257266 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Aleutian disease (AD) is a devastating infectious disease in American mink (Neogale vison) industry caused by Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV). Two crucial steps toward controlling infectious diseases in farm animals are: (i) assessment of the infection risk factors to minimize the likelihood of infection and (ii) selection of animals with superior immune responses against pathogens to build tolerant farms. This study aimed to investigate AD risk factors and evaluate a novel "ImmunAD" approach for genetic improvement of AD tolerance. Phenotypic records and pedigree information of 1,366 and 24,633 animals were included in this study. The risk of animal's age, sex, color type, and year of sampling on AMDV infection was assessed using a logistic regression model and counter immune-electrophoresis (CIEP) test results. ImmunAD phenotype was calculated based on AMDVG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and CIEP test results, and breeding values for ImmunAD were estimated using an animal model. Animals were classified into high-coordinated (HCIR), average-coordinated (ACIR), and low-coordinated immune responders (LCIR) using ImmunAD's breeding values, and the impact of selection of HCIR on live grade of pelt quality (PQ), harvest weight (HW), and harvest length (HL) breeding values were evaluated. Age of > 1 year, male sex, and year of sampling were identified as significant risk factors of AD (p < 0.05). A moderate-to-high heritability (0.55±0.07) was estimated for ImmunAD, while a higher heritability was observed among the CIEP-positive animals (0.76±0.06). Significantly higher breeding values were observed for PQ and HL among HCIR than those for LCIR and ACIR (p < 0.05). Our findings indicate the critical role of male breeders in AD distribution within mink farms. Regular screening of AD in male breeders before pairing them with females during breeding seasons can help disease control. ImmunAD strategy can be applied to genetic improvement of AD tolerance, with favorable impacts on some growth and production traits. Higher genetic gains can be achieved in populations with higher AD seroprevalences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Milad Vahedi
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
| | | | - Mohammad Hossein Banabazi
- Centre for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (VHC), Department of Animal Biosciences (HBIO), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biotechnology, Animal Science Research Institute of IRAN (ASRI), Agricultural Research, Education & Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - K. Fraser Clark
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Arshad U, Kennedy KM, Cid de la Paz M, Kendall SJ, Cangiano LR, White HM. Immune cells phenotype and bioenergetic measures in CD4 + T cells differ between high and low feed efficient dairy cows. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15993. [PMID: 38987567 PMCID: PMC11237092 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66345-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Identifying sources of variance that contribute to residual feed intake (RFI) can aid in improving feed efficiency. The objectives of this study were to investigate immune cells phenotype and bioenergetic measures in CD4+ T cells in low feed efficient (LE) and high feed efficient (HE) dairy cows. Sixty-four Holstein cows were enrolled at 93 ± 22 days in milk (DIM) and monitored for 7 weeks to measure RFI. Cows with the highest RFI (LE; n = 14) or lowest RFI (HE; n = 14) were selected to determine immune cells phenotype using flow cytometry. Blood was sampled in the same LE and HE cows at 234 ± 22 DIM to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells, followed by magnetic separation of CD4+ T lymphocytes using bovine specific monoclonal antibodies. The metabolic function of isolated CD4+ T lymphocytes was evaluated under resting and activated states. An increased expression of CD62L+ cells within CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD21+ B lymphocytes was observed in HE cows compared to LE cows. CD4+ T lymphocytes of HE cows exhibited an increased mitochondrial and glycolytic activity in resting and activated states compared to LE cows. These data suggest that immune cells in HE cows exhibit an increased metabolic function, which might influence nutrient partitioning and utilization and serve as a source of variation in feed efficiency that warrants future investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Usman Arshad
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive Rm 952D, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Katherine M Kennedy
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive Rm 952D, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Malena Cid de la Paz
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive Rm 952D, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sophia J Kendall
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive Rm 952D, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Lautaro R Cangiano
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive Rm 952D, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Heather M White
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive Rm 952D, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Colditz IG, Campbell DLM, Ingham AB, Lee C. Review: Environmental enrichment builds functional capacity and improves resilience as an aspect of positive welfare in production animals. Animal 2024; 18:101173. [PMID: 38761442 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101173] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The success of the animal in coping with challenges, and in harnessing opportunities to thrive, is central to its welfare. Functional capacity describes the capacity of molecules, cells, organs, body systems, the whole animal, and its community to buffer against the impacts of environmental perturbations. This buffering capacity determines the ability of the animal to maintain or regain functions in the face of environmental perturbations, which is recognised as resilience. The accuracy of physiological regulation and the maintenance of homeostatic balance underwrite the dynamic stability of outcomes such as biorhythms, feed intake, growth, milk yield, and egg production justifying their assessment as indicators of resilience. This narrative review examines the influence of environmental enrichments, especially during developmental stages in young animals, in building functional capacity and in its subsequent expression as resilience. Experience of enriched environments can build skills and competencies across multiple functional domains including but not limited to behaviour, immunity, and metabolism thereby increasing functional capacity and facilitating resilience within the context of challenges such as husbandry practices, social change, and infection. A quantitative method for measuring the distributed property of functional capacity may improve its assessment. Methods for analysing embedded energy (emergy) in ecosystems may have utility for this goal. We suggest functional capacity provides the common thread that links environmental enrichments with an ability to express resilience and may provide a novel and useful framework for measuring and reporting resilience. We conclude that the development of functional capacity and its subsequent expression as resilience is an aspect of positive animal welfare. The emergence of resilience from system dynamics highlights a need to shift from the study of physical and mental states to the study of physical and mental dynamics to describe the positive dimension of animal welfare.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I G Colditz
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
| | - D L M Campbell
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - A B Ingham
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, St. Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - C Lee
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Asselstine V, Medrano JF, Muniz MMM, Mallard BA, Karrow NA, Cánovas A. Novel lncRNA regulatory elements in milk somatic cells of Holstein dairy cows associated with mastitis. Commun Biol 2024; 7:98. [PMID: 38225372 PMCID: PMC10789785 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05764-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite regulatory elements such as long non - coding RNAs representing most of the transcriptome, the functional understanding of long non - coding RNAs in relation to major health conditions including bovine mastitis is limited. This study examined the milk somatic cell transcriptome from udder quarters of 6 Holstein dairy cows to identify differentially expressed long non - coding RNAs using RNA - Sequencing. Ninety - four differentially expressed long non - coding RNAs are identified, 5 of which are previously annotated for gene name and length, 11 are annotated for gene name and 78 are novel, having no gene name or length previously annotated. Significant inflammatory response and regulation of immune response pathways (false discovery rate < 0.05) are associated with the differentially expressed long non - coding RNAs. QTL annotation analysis revealed 31 QTL previously annotated in the genomic regions of the 94 differentially expressed long non - coding RNAs, and the majority are associated with milk traits. This research provides a better understanding of long non - coding RNAs regulatory elements in milk somatic cells, which may enhance current breeding strategies for more adaptable or high mastitis resistant cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Asselstine
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Juan F Medrano
- Department of Animal Science, University of California-Davis, 95616, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Malane M M Muniz
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Bonnie A Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Niel A Karrow
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Angela Cánovas
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Altvater-Hughes TE, Wagter-Lesperance LC, Hodgins DC, Bauman CA, Larmer S, Mallard BA. The association of immune response and colostral immunoglobulin G in Canadian and US Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:2857-2865. [PMID: 36797191 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22562] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
In cattle, maternal immunoglobulins are transferred through colostrum to provide passive immunity to the neonatal calf once they are absorbed into circulation. Cows can be assessed for antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses (AMIR and CMIR, respectively), and through estimated breeding values (EBV) and genomic parent averages (GPA), cows can be classified as having high, average, or low immune response (IR). The objective of this study was to identify associations of colostral IgG concentrations with IR in dairy cows. High IR dairy cows identified by GPA or EBV were hypothesized to produce higher colostral IgG concentrations than cows with average or low IR. Colostrum was collected from Holstein dairy cows from 3 large commercial herds (n = 590) in the United States and 1 research herd at the Ontario Dairy Research Centre (n = 275) in Canada. For the US herds, IR GPA were available through genotyping. For the Canadian herd, IR EBV were available through phenotyping and pedigree information. Colostral IgG concentrations were measured by radial immunodiffusion and analyzed using general linear models in SAS. Based on a prediction equation, cows in US herds with a CMIR GPA of 1 would have colostral IgG concentrations 6.3 g/L higher on average than cows with a CMIR GPA of 0. High CMIR cows produced statistically greater colostral IgG concentrations (least squares mean ± standard error of the mean, 107.5 ± 7.7 g/L) than low CMIR cows (91.4 ± 7.1 g/L), with intermediate values for average CMIR cows (105.1 ± 5.6 g/L). No differences were found among AMIR categories in US cows. The Canadian herd showed a trend for cows with high CMIR EBV (continuous variable) to produce greater colostral IgG. No differences were observed among high, average, and low AMIR EBV classifications in Canadian cows. The findings suggest that selective breeding of Holstein cows to enhance CMIR could contribute to higher-quality colostrum in succeeding generations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T E Altvater-Hughes
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - L C Wagter-Lesperance
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - D C Hodgins
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - C A Bauman
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - S Larmer
- Semex Alliance, Guelph, Ontario N1H 6J2, Canada
| | - B A Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ogilvie L, Spricigo J, Mion B, Van Winters B, Karrow N, McBride B, LeBlanc S, Steele M, Ribeiro E. Neutrophil function and antibody production during the transition period: Effect of form of supplementary trace minerals and associations with postpartum clinical disease and blood metabolites. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:9944-9960. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-21909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
8
|
Hine BC, Acton GA, Elks DJ, Niemeyer DDO, Bell AM, Colditz IG, Ingham AB, Smith JL. Targeting improved resilience in Merino sheep - Correlations between immune competence and health and fitness traits. Animal 2022; 16:100544. [PMID: 35777298 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Resilience can be defined as the ability of an animal to remain productive in the face of diverse environmental challenges. Several factors contribute to an animal's resilience including its ability to resist disease, cope with climatic extremes and respond to stressors. Immune competence, a proxy trait for general disease resistance, is expected to contribute to an animal's resilience. This research aimed to develop a practical method to assess immune competence in Merino sheep which would not restrict the future sale of tested animals, and to estimate genetic parameters associated with the novel trait. We also aimed to explore associations between immune competence and other industry-relevant disease resistance and fitness-related traits and to assess the ability of immune competence phenotypes to predict health outcomes. Here, the ability of Merino wethers (n = 1 339) to mount both an antibody-mediated and cell-mediated immune response was used to define their immune competence phenotype. For that purpose, antigens in a commercial vaccine were administered at the commencement of weaning and their responses were assessed. Univariate sire models were used to estimate variance components and heritabilities for immune competence and its component traits. Bivariate sire models were used to estimate genetic correlations between immune competence and a range of disease resistance and fitness-related traits. The heritability of immune competence and its component traits, antibody-mediated immune response and cell-mediated immune response were estimated at 0.49 ± 0.14, 0.52 ± 0.14 and 0.36 ± 0.11, respectively. Immune competence was favourably genetically correlated with breech flystrike incidence (-0.44 ± 0.39), worm egg count (-0.19 ± 0.23), dag score (-0.26 ± 0.31) and fitness compromise (-0.35 ± 0.24) but not fleece rot (0.17 ± 0.23). Results suggest that selection for immune competence has the potential to improve the resilience of Merino sheep; however, due to the large standard errors associated with correlation estimates reported here, further studies will be required in larger populations to validate associations between immune competence and disease resistance and fitness traits in Australian Merino sheep.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B C Hine
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
| | - G A Acton
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - D J Elks
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - D D O Niemeyer
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - A M Bell
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - I G Colditz
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - A B Ingham
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd., St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - J L Smith
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ajose DJ, Oluwarinde BO, Abolarinwa TO, Fri J, Montso KP, Fayemi OE, Aremu AO, Ateba CN. Combating Bovine Mastitis in the Dairy Sector in an Era of Antimicrobial Resistance: Ethno-veterinary Medicinal Option as a Viable Alternative Approach. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:800322. [PMID: 35445101 PMCID: PMC9014217 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.800322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine mastitis (BM) is the traditional infectious condition in reared cattle which may result in serious repercussions ranging from animal welfare to economic issues. Owing to the high costs associated with preventative practices and therapeutic measures, lower milk output, and early culling, bovine mastitis is accountable for most of the financial losses suffered in cattle farming. Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and coliform bacteria are the predominant pathogens for bovine mastitis. In addition, the occurrence of BM has been linked to lactation stage and poor management, in the latter case, the poor stabling conditions around udder hygiene. BM occurs throughout the world, with varying rates of Streptococcus agalactiae infection in different regions. Despite the modern techniques, such as the appropriate milking practices that are applied, lower levels of pathogen vulnerability may help to prevent the development of the disease, BM treatment is primarily reliant on antibiotics for both prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Nevertheless, as a result of the proliferation of bacterial agents to withstand the antibiotic effects, these therapies have frequently proven ineffectual, resulting in persistent BM. Consequently, alternative medicines for the management of udder inflammation have been researched, notably natural compounds derived from plants. This review focuses on BM in terms of its risk factors, pathogenesis, management, the molecular identification of causative agents, as well as the application of ethno-veterinary medicine as an alternative therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Jesuwenu Ajose
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Bukola Opeyemi Oluwarinde
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Tesleem Olatunde Abolarinwa
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Justine Fri
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Kotsoana Peter Montso
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Omolola Esther Fayemi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Collins Njie Ateba
- Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Grala T, Kuhn-Sherlock B, Crookenden M, Walker C, Roche J, Price M, Burke C, Meier S. Adaptive immune response ranking is associated with reproductive phenotypes in grazing dairy cows divergent in genetic merit for fertility traits. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:5519-5533. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
11
|
Cartwright S, Schmied J, Livernois A, Mallard BA. Physiological Response to Heat Stress in Immune Phenotyped Canadian Holstein Dairy Cattle in Free-Stall and Tie-Stall Management Systems. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.852958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The climate in northern latitude countries, such as Canada, are changing twice as fast as in lower latitude countries. This has resulted in an increased frequency of hot days and longer more frequent heat waves. Canadian dairy cattle are therefore at increased risk of heat stress, especially those in management systems without the infrastructure to properly cool animals. Cattle experiencing heat stress undergo numerous physiological changes. Previous research has shown dairy cattle classified as high immune responders have lower incidence of disease. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the variation in respiration rate, rectal temperature, and rumination activity in immune phenotyped dairy cattle during a natural heat stress challenge. Additionally, the relationship between physiological response and temperature humidity index was compared between free-stall and tie-stall management systems. A total of 27 immune phenotyped (nine high, nine average and nine low) lactating dairy cattle were housed in a free-stall during the summer months for a duration of 27 days. Concurrently, two groups of six (three high and three low) immune phenotyped lactating dairy cattle were housed in a tie-stall for a duration of 12 days. Rumination was measured for the duration of the study for all cattle using SCR Heatime rumination collars. Respiration was measured using EMKA respiration bands for cattle housed in the tie-stalls, and manually [once in the morning (a.m.) and once in the afternoon (p.m.)] for cattle in free-stall management. Rectal temperature was measured using a digital thermometer twice daily (a.m. and p.m.) in both free-stall and tie-stall management systems. The temperature humidity index was recorded every 15 min in both management systems for the duration of the study. The results showed that high responders had significantly lower respiration rates compared to low responders when the temperature humidity index was high in both free-stall and tie-stall management systems, but there was no difference in rectal temperature, or rumination activity between phenotypes. Temperature humidity index values in the free-stall were significantly lower than the tie-stall. These findings increase the evidence that high immune responders are more likely to be tolerant to heat stress than low immune responders.
Collapse
|
12
|
Cartwright S, Schmied J, Livernois A, Mallard B. Effect of In-vivo Heat Challenge on Physiological Parameters and Function of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Immune Phenotyped Dairy Cattle. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2022; 246:110405. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2022.110405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
13
|
Lai E, Danner AL, Famula TR, Oberbauer AM. Pleiotropic Loci Associated With Foot Disorders and Common Periparturient Diseases in Holstein Cattle. Front Genet 2021; 12:742934. [PMID: 34938311 PMCID: PMC8685441 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.742934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lameness is an animal welfare issue that incurs substantial financial and environmental costs. This condition is commonly caused by digital dermatitis (DD), sole ulcers (SU), and white line disease (WLD). Susceptibility to these three foot disorders is due in part to genetics, indicating that genomic selection against these foot lesions can be used to reduce lameness prevalence. It is unclear whether selection against foot lesions will lead to increased susceptibility to other common diseases such as mastitis and metritis. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the genetic correlation between causes of lameness and other common health disorders to identify loci contributing to the correlation. Genetic correlation estimates between SU and DD and between SU and WLD were significantly different from zero (p < 0.05), whereas estimates between DD and mastitis, DD and milk fever, and SU and metritis were suggestive (p < 0.1). All five of these genetic correlation estimates were positive. Two-trait genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for each of these five pairs of traits revealed common regions of association on BTA1 and BTA8 for pairs that included DD or SU as one of the traits, respectively. Other regions of association were unique to the pair of traits and not observed in GWAS for other pairs of traits. The positive genetic correlation estimates between foot disorders and other health disorders imply that selection against foot disorders may also decrease susceptibility to other health disorders. Linkage disequilibrium blocks defined around significant and suggestive SNPs from the two-trait GWAS included genes and QTL that were functionally relevant, supporting that these regions included pleiotropic loci.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anita M. Oberbauer
- Animal Science Department, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cartwright SL, McKechnie M, Schmied J, Livernois AM, Mallard BA. Effect of in-vitro heat stress challenge on the function of blood mononuclear cells from dairy cattle ranked as high, average and low immune responders. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:233. [PMID: 34210328 PMCID: PMC8252269 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02940-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The warming climate is causing livestock to experience heat stress at an increasing frequency. Holstein cows are particularly susceptible to heat stress because of their high metabolic rate. Heat stress negatively affects immune function, particularly with respect to the cell-mediated immune response, which leads to increased susceptibility to disease. Cattle identified as having enhanced immune response have lower incidence of disease. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of in vitro heat challenge on blood mononuclear cells from dairy cattle, that had previously been ranked for immune response, in terms of heat shock protein 70 concentration, nitric oxide production, and cell proliferation. Results Blood mononuclear cells from dairy cattle classified as high immune responders, based on their estimated breeding values for antibody and cell-mediated responses, produced a significantly greater concentration of heat shock protein 70 under most heat stress treatments compared to average and low responders, and greater cell-proliferation across all treatments. Similarly, a trend was observed where high responders displayed greater nitric oxide production compared to average and low responders across heat treatments. Conclusion Overall, these results suggest that blood mononuclear cells from high immune responder dairy cows are more thermotolerant compared to average and low immune responders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L Cartwright
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Marnie McKechnie
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Julie Schmied
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Alexandra M Livernois
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.,Centre of Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Bonnie A Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.,Centre of Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Jaiswal S, Jagannadham J, Kumari J, Iquebal MA, Gurjar AKS, Nayan V, Angadi UB, Kumar S, Kumar R, Datta TK, Rai A, Kumar D. Genome Wide Prediction, Mapping and Development of Genomic Resources of Mastitis Associated Genes in Water Buffalo. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:593871. [PMID: 34222390 PMCID: PMC8253262 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.593871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are an important animal resource that contributes milk, meat, leather, dairy products, and power for plowing and transport. However, mastitis, a bacterial disease affecting milk production and reproduction efficiency, is most prevalent in populations having intensive selection for higher milk yield, especially where the inbreeding level is also high. Climate change and poor hygiene management practices further complicate the issue. The management of this disease faces major challenges, like antibiotic resistance, maximum residue level, horizontal gene transfer, and limited success in resistance breeding. Bovine mastitis genome wide association studies have had limited success due to breed differences, sample sizes, and minor allele frequency, lowering the power to detect the diseases associated with SNPs. In this work, we focused on the application of targeted gene panels (TGPs) in screening for candidate gene association analysis, and how this approach overcomes the limitation of genome wide association studies. This work will facilitate the targeted sequencing of buffalo genomic regions with high depth coverage required to mine the extremely rare variants potentially associated with buffalo mastitis. Although the whole genome assembly of water buffalo is available, neither mastitis genes are predicted nor TGP in the form of web-genomic resources are available for future variant mining and association studies. Out of the 129 mastitis associated genes of cattle, 101 were completely mapped on the buffalo genome to make TGP. This further helped in identifying rare variants in water buffalo. Eighty-five genes were validated in the buffalo gene expression atlas, with the RNA-Seq data of 50 tissues. The functions of 97 genes were predicted, revealing 225 pathways. The mastitis proteins were used for protein-protein interaction network analysis to obtain additional cross-talking proteins. A total of 1,306 SNPs and 152 indels were identified from 101 genes. Water Buffalo-MSTdb was developed with 3-tier architecture to retrieve mastitis associated genes having genomic coordinates with chromosomal details for TGP sequencing for mining of minor alleles for further association studies. Lastly, a web-genomic resource was made available to mine variants of targeted gene panels in buffalo for mastitis resistance breeding in an endeavor to ensure improved productivity and the reproductive efficiency of water buffalo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarika Jaiswal
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Jaisri Jagannadham
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Juli Kumari
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Mir Asif Iquebal
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Anoop Kishor Singh Gurjar
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Varij Nayan
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, India
| | - Ulavappa B Angadi
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Animal Biotechnology Centre, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Dairy research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Tirtha Kumar Datta
- Animal Biotechnology Centre, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Dairy research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Anil Rai
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar
- Centre for Agricultural Bioinformatics, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Livernois AM, Mallard BA, Cartwright SL, Cánovas A. Heat stress and immune response phenotype affect DNA methylation in blood mononuclear cells from Holstein dairy cows. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11371. [PMID: 34059695 PMCID: PMC8166884 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89951-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat stress negatively affects health and production in cows. Examining the cellular response to heat stress could reveal underlying protective molecular mechanisms associated with superior resilience and ultimately enable selection for more resilient cattle. This type of investigation is increasingly important as future predictions for the patterns of heat waves point to increases in frequency, severity, and duration. Cows identified as high immune responders based on High Immune Response technology (HIR) have lower disease occurrence compared to their average and low immune responder herd-mates. In this study, our goal was to identify epigenetic differences between high and low immune responder cows in response to heat stress. We examined genome-wide DNA methylation of blood mononuclear cells (BMCs) isolated from high and low cows, before and after in vitro heat stress. We identified differential methylation of promoter regions associated with a variety of biological processes including immune function, stress response, apoptosis, and cell signalling. The specific differentially methylated promoter regions differed between samples from high and low cows, and results revealed pathways associated with cellular protection during heat stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A M Livernois
- Deptartment of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - B A Mallard
- Deptartment of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - S L Cartwright
- Deptartment of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - A Cánovas
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Reverter A, Hine BC, Porto-Neto L, Li Y, Duff CJ, Dominik S, Ingham AB. ImmuneDEX: a strategy for the genetic improvement of immune competence in Australian Angus cattle. J Anim Sci 2021; 99:6156144. [PMID: 33677583 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In animal breeding and genetics, the ability to cope with disease, here defined as immune competence (IC), with minimal detriment to growth and fertility is a desired objective which addresses both animal production and welfare considerations. However, defining and objectively measuring IC phenotypes using testing methods which are practical to apply on-farm has been challenging. Based on previously described protocols, we measured both cell-mediated immune response (Cell-IR) and antibody-mediated immune response (Ab-IR) and combined these measures to determine an animal's IC. Using a population of 2,853 Australian Angus steers and heifers, we compared 2 alternative methods to combine both metrics into a single phenotype to be used as a tool for the genetic improvement of IC. The first method, named ZMEAN, is obtained by taking the average of the individual metrics after subjecting each to a Z-score standardization. The second, ImmuneDEX (IDEX), is a weighted average that considers the correlation between Cell-IR and Ab-IR, as well as the difference in ranking of individuals by each metric, and uses these as weights in the averaging. Both simulation and real data were used to understand the behavior of ZMEAN and IDEX. To further ascertain the relationship between IDEX and other traits of economic importance, we evaluated a range of traits related to growth, feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics. We report estimates of heritability of 0.31 ± 0.06 for Cell-IR, 0.42 ± 0.06 for Ab-IR, 0.42 ± 0.06 for ZMEAN and 0.370 ± 0.06 for IDEX, as well as a unity genetic correlation (rg) between ZMEAN and IDEX. While a moderately positive rg was estimated between Cell-IR and Ab-IR (rg = 0.33 ± 0.12), strongly positive estimates were obtained between IDEX and Cell-IR (rg = 0.80 ± 0.05) and between IDEX and Ab-IR (rg = 0.85 ± 0.04). We obtained a moderately negative rg between IC traits and growth including an rg = -0.38 ± 0.14 between IDEX and weaning weight, and negligible with carcass fat measurements, including an rg = -0.03 ± 0.12 between IDEX and marbling. Given that breeding with a sole focus on production might inadvertently increase susceptibility to disease and associated antibiotic use, our analyses suggest that ImmuneDEX will provide a basis to breed animals that are both highly productive and with an enhanced ability to resist disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Reverter
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brad C Hine
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Laercio Porto-Neto
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yutao Li
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Sonja Dominik
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Aaron B Ingham
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hine BC, Bell AM, Niemeyer DDO, Duff CJ, Butcher NM, Dominik S, Porto-Neto LR, Li Y, Reverter A, Ingham AB, Colditz IG. Associations between immune competence phenotype and feedlot health and productivity in Angus cattle. J Anim Sci 2021; 99:6105286. [PMID: 33476384 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic strategies aimed at improving general immune competence (IC) have the potential to reduce the incidence and severity of disease in beef production systems, with resulting benefits of improved animal health and welfare and reduced reliance on antibiotics to prevent and treat disease. Implementation of such strategies first requires that methodologies be developed to phenotype animals for IC and demonstration that these phenotypes are associated with health outcomes. We have developed a methodology to identify IC phenotypes in beef steers during the yard weaning period, which is both practical to apply on-farm and does not restrict the future sale of tested animals. In the current study, a total of 838 Angus steers, previously IC phenotyped at weaning, were categorized as low (n = 98), average (n = 653), or high (n = 88) for the IC phenotype. Detailed health and productivity data were collected on all steers during feedlot finishing, and associations between IC phenotype, health outcomes, and productivity were investigated. A favorable association between IC phenotype and number of mortalities during feedlot finishing was observed with higher mortalities recorded in low IC steers (6.1%) as compared with average (1.2%, P < 0.001) or high (0%, P = 0.018) IC steers. Disease incidence was numerically highest in low IC steers (15.3 cases/100 animals) and similar in average IC steers (10.1 cases/100 animals) and high IC steers (10.2 cases/100 animals); however, differences between groups were not significant. No significant influence of IC phenotype on average daily gain was observed, suggesting that selection for improved IC is unlikely to incur a significant penalty to production. The potential economic benefits of selecting for IC in the feedlot production environment were calculated. Health-associated costs were calculated as the sum of lost production costs, lost capital investment costs, and disease treatment costs. Based on these calculations, health-associated costs were estimated at AUS$103/head in low IC steers, AUS$25/head in average IC steers, and AUS$4/head in high IC steers, respectively. These findings suggest that selection for IC has the potential to reduce mortalities during feedlot finishing and, as a consequence, improve the health and welfare of cattle in the feedlot production environment and reduce health-associated costs incurred by feedlot operators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brad C Hine
- F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Amy M Bell
- F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Sonja Dominik
- F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Laercio R Porto-Neto
- Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Yutao Li
- Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Antonio Reverter
- Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Aaron B Ingham
- Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Ian G Colditz
- F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Mehrotra A, Bhushan B, Kumar A, Panigrahi M, A K, Singh A, Tiwari AK, Pausch H, Dutt T, Mishra BP. A 1.6 Mb region on SSC2 is associated with antibody response to classical swine fever vaccination in a mixed pig population. Anim Biotechnol 2021; 33:1128-1133. [PMID: 33451274 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.1873145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is a contagious viral disease of pigs which is endemic in several parts of the world, including India. Prophylactic vaccination using live attenuated vaccine is the preferred method of control. However, there is significant inter-individual variation in the antibody response to vaccination. In this study, we measured the E2 antibody blocking percentage after 21 days of CSF vaccination in a mixed pig population consisting of Landrace, indigenous Ghurrah pigs, and their crossbreds. A Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) carried out using single-SNP and haplotype based methods detected a 1.6 Mb region on SSC2 (28.92-30.52 Mb) as significantly associated with antibody response to CSF vaccination. The significant region and 1 Mb flanking sequences encompass 3 genes - EIF3M, DNAJC24 and ARL14EP, which code for proteins involved in Pestivirus replication and host immune response system. Our results combined with previous studies on immune response of pigs present this region as a suitable candidate for future functional investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arnav Mehrotra
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| | - Manjit Panigrahi
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| | - Karthikeyan A
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| | - Akansha Singh
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| | - Ashok K Tiwari
- Biological Standardization Division, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| | | | - Triveni Dutt
- Division of Livestock Production and Management, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| | - Bishnu P Mishra
- Animal Biotechnology, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, India
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Fukushima Y, Kino E, Furutani A, Minamino T, Mikurino Y, Horii Y, Honkawa K, Sasaki Y. Epidemiological study to investigate the incidence and prevalence of clinical mastitis, peracute mastitis, metabolic disorders and peripartum disorders, on a dairy farm in a temperate zone in Japan. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:389. [PMID: 33054781 PMCID: PMC7557088 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02613-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Our aim was to investigate the incidence and prevalence of clinical mastitis, peracute mastitis, metabolic disorders, and peripartum disorders, and to examine factors affecting the prevalence of each disease in cows raised on a large dairy farm in a temperate climate in Japan. The present study was performed on a large commercial dairy farm with approximately 2500 Holstein cows. Data were collected from 2014 to 2018, and involved 9663 calving records for 4256 cows. Results The incidence rate on the farm was 21.9% for clinical mastitis, 10.4% for peracute mastitis, 2.9% for metabolic disorders, and 3.2% for peripartum disorders. The prevalence rates for clinical mastitis, peracute mastitis, metabolic disorders, and peripartum disorders were 28.0, 13.3, 3.7, and 4.0%, respectively. In all four diseases, the probability of time to occurrence for each disease was associated with parity and calving season (P < 0.05). Regarding metabolic disorders and peripartum disorders, the probability of occurrence decreased during the first 10 days after calving. Conclusions Our results showed that clinical mastitis occurred most often in this temperate zone, and that metabolic disorders and peripartum disorders occurred from calving to day 10 post-calving.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fukushima
- Course of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Erina Kino
- Department of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen Kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan
| | - Aina Furutani
- Course of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | | | | | - Yoichiro Horii
- Honkawa Ranch, Oita, Japan.,Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | | | - Yosuke Sasaki
- Course of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan. .,Department of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen Kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan. .,Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Melendez P, Bargo F, Tuñón G, Grigera J. Associations between postpartum diseases and milk yield and changes in body condition between drying off and parturition of dairy cows in Argentina. N Z Vet J 2020; 68:297-303. [PMID: 32422082 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2020.1763218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Aims: To assess the change in body condition score (BCS) during the early and late dry periods and its association with postpartum diseases and milk yield in grazing dairy cows from central Argentina. Methods: BCS assessments during the dry period, and cow health and milk production records up to 90 days in milk (DIM), were collated for cows from 28 farms at monthly visits between 2007 and 2008. Cows were categorised into four groups; those in Group 1 (n=7,067) maintained or gained BCS during the early and late dry periods; Group 2 (n=2,615) maintained or gained BCS during the early dry period and lost BCS during the late dry period; Group 3 (n=1,989) lost BCS during the early dry period and maintained or gained BCS during the late dry period; and Group 4 (n=5,144) lost BCS during the early and late dry periods. Results: Cows in Group 1 had reduced odds of having retained fetal membranes (RFM), metritis, and clinical mastitis up to 90 DIM than cows in Group 2 (p<0.001), but the odds of disease were similar to cows in Group 3. The odds of having RFM or clinical mastitis tended to be lower in cows in Group 1 than cows in Group 4 (p=0.08). The odds of cows being culled or dying during the first 90 DIM were lower for cows in Group 1 than for those in Groups 2, 3, and 4 (p≤0.05). Mean accumulated milk yield up to 90 DIM was higher in cows in Group 1 than Group 2 and Group 4 (p<0.001), but was similar to that of cows in Group 3 (p=0.28). Conclusions and clinical relevance: Cows that lost BCS during the late dry period had increased odds of being diagnosed with several postpartum diseases and had decreased milk yield compared to cows that maintained or gained BCS during the entire dry period. Loss of BCS during any stage of the dry period was also associated with increased incidence of culling or death during the first 90 DIM. These results should raise awareness among dairy cattle producers of the importance of properly managing cow body condition during the dry period, especially during the late dry period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Melendez
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, USA
| | - F Bargo
- PROLACT (FIL-UNLZ), EPG, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G Tuñón
- Department of Animal Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - J Grigera
- Bovine practitioner, Pergamino, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Sheldon IM, Molinari PCC, Ormsby TJR, Bromfield JJ. Preventing postpartum uterine disease in dairy cattle depends on avoiding, tolerating and resisting pathogenic bacteria. Theriogenology 2020; 150:158-165. [PMID: 31973964 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Up to forty percent of dairy cows develop metritis or endometritis when pathogenic bacteria infect the uterus after parturition. However, resilient cows remain healthy even when exposed to the same pathogens. Here, we provide a perspective on the mechanisms that dairy cows use to prevent postpartum uterine disease. We suggest that resilient cows prevent the development of uterine disease using the three complementary defensive strategies of avoiding, tolerating and resisting infection with pathogenic bacteria. Avoidance maintains health by limiting the exposure to pathogens. Avoidance mechanisms include intrinsic behaviors to reduce the risk of infection by avoiding pathogens or infected animals, perhaps signaled by the fetid odor of uterine disease. Tolerance improves health by limiting the tissue damage caused by the pathogens. Tolerance mechanisms include neutralizing bacterial toxins, protecting cells against damage, enhancing tissue repair, and reprogramming metabolism. Resistance improves health by limiting the pathogen burden. Resistance mechanisms include inflammation driven by innate immunity and adaptive immunity, with the aim of killing and eliminating pathogenic bacteria. Farmers can also help cows prevent the development of postpartum uterine disease by avoiding trauma to the genital tract, reducing stress, and feeding animals appropriately during the transition period. Understanding the mechanisms of avoidance, tolerance and resistance to pathogens will inform strategies to generate resilient animals and prevent uterine disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Martin Sheldon
- Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom.
| | - Paula C C Molinari
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, United States
| | - Thomas J R Ormsby
- Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - John J Bromfield
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0910, United States
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Hine BC, Bell AM, Niemeyer DDO, Duff CJ, Butcher NM, Dominik S, Ingham AB, Colditz IG. Immune competence traits assessed during the stress of weaning are heritable and favorably genetically correlated with temperament traits in Angus cattle1. J Anim Sci 2019; 97:4053-4065. [PMID: 31581299 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Selection for production traits with little or no emphasis on health-related traits has the potential to increase susceptibility to disease in food-producing animals. A possible genetic strategy to mitigate such effects is to include both production and health traits in the breeding objective when selecting animals. For this to occur, reliable methodologies are required to assess beneficial health traits, such as the immune capacity of animals. We describe here a methodology to assess the immune competence of beef cattle which is both practical to apply on farm and does not restrict the future sale of tested animals. The methodology also accommodates variation in prior vaccination history of cohorts of animals being tested. In the present study, the immune competence phenotype of 1,100 Angus calves was assessed during yard weaning. Genetic parameters associated with immune competence traits were estimated and associations between immune competence, temperament, and stress-coping ability traits were investigated. Results suggested that immune competence traits, related to an animal's ability to mount both antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, are moderately heritable (h2 = 0.32 ± 0.09 and 0.27 ± 0.08, respectively) and favorably genetically correlated with the temperament trait, flight time (r = 0.63 ± 0.31 and 0.60 ± 0.29 with antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, respectively). Development of methodologies to assess the immune competence phenotype of beef cattle is a critical first step in the establishment of genetic selection strategies aimed at improving the general disease resistance of beef herds. Strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of disease in beef cattle are expected to significantly improve animal health and welfare, reduce reliance on the use of antibiotics to treat disease, and reduce disease-associated costs incurred by producers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brad C Hine
- CSIRO, Agriculture and Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Amy M Bell
- CSIRO, Agriculture and Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Sonja Dominik
- CSIRO, Agriculture and Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Aaron B Ingham
- CSIRO, Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Ian G Colditz
- CSIRO, Agriculture and Food, F.D. McMaster Laboratory, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Abstract
Inflammation is not only the first line of defense of the organism but is also required in many reproductive processes such as ovulation, corpus luteum development, luteolysis, uterine clearance after insemination and post partum. Nevertheless, if excessive or persistent, inflammation can switch from a positive mechanism to a deleterious process, impairing oocyte quality and embryo development. Not only uterine but also non genital inflammatory sites can depreciate reproductive performances, with a carry over effect of 2 to 4 months. Since the metabolic challenges of the peripartum transition period make difficult for the cow to control inflammation, dairy cows are frequently in a pro-inflammatory stage, suggesting that inflammation, rather than infection, is a limiting factor of fertility in modern dairy cows. Within the first week after calving, cows have to mount an intense inflammatory response to the bacterial invasion of the uterine cavity with the challenge of being able to switch it off in no more than 5-6 weeks. The absence of neutrophils on endometrial smear is associated with the highest success rate at insemination. Since a fine tuning – rather than an absence - of inflammation is required along the reproductive cycle, anti-inflammatory drugs do not allow any improvement of pregnancy rate, except in the specific case of embryo transfer. Appropriate management of the transition period (especially nutritional) and in a long term perspective, genetic selection contribute to improve the aptitude of cows to controls the intensity of inflammatory process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Chastant
- Reproduction, UMR INRA/ENVT 1225, Toulouse National Veterinary School, Toulouse, France
| | - Marie Saint-Dizier
- Université de Tours, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Centre INRA Val-de-Loire, Nouzilly, France
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Emam M, Tabatabaei S, Sargolzaei M, Sharif S, Schenkel F, Mallard B. The effect of host genetics on in vitro performance of bovine monocyte-derived macrophages. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:9107-9116. [PMID: 31400895 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-15960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The dynamic interaction between the host and pathogens, along with environmental factors, influences the regulation of mammalian immune responses. Therefore, comprehensive in vivo immune-phenotyping during an active response to a pathogen can be complex and prone to confounding effects. Evaluating critical fundamental aspects of the immune system at a cellular level is an alternative approach to reduce this complexity. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to examine an in vitro model for functional phenotyping of bovine monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM), cells which play a crucial role at all phases of inflammation, as well influence downstream immune responses. As indicators of MDM function, phagocytosis and nitric oxide (NO-) production were tested in MDM of 16 cows in response to 2 common bacterial pathogens of dairy cows, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Notable functional variations were observed among the individuals (coefficient of variation: 33% for phagocytosis and 70% in the production of NO-). The rank correlation analysis revealed a significant, positive, and strong correlation (rho = 0.92) between NO- production in response to E. coli and S. aureus, and a positive but moderate correlation (rho = 0.58) between phagocytosis of E. coli and S. aureus. To gain further insight into this trait, another 58 cows were evaluated solely for NO- response against E. coli. The pedigree of the tested animals was added to the statistical model and the heritability was estimated to be 0.776. Overall, the finding of this study showed a strong effect of host genetics on the in vitro activities of MDM and the possibility of ranking Holstein cows based on the in vitro functional variation of MDM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Emam
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Bioscience, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Saeid Tabatabaei
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Mehdi Sargolzaei
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Select Sires Inc., Plain City, OH 43064
| | - Shayan Sharif
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Flavio Schenkel
- Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Bioscience, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Bonnie Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Bioscience, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Hine BC, Hunt PW, Colditz IG. Production and active transport of immunoglobulins within the ruminant mammary gland. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2019; 211:75-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2019.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
27
|
Zheng T, Crews J, McGill JL, Dhume K, Finn C, Strutt T, McKinstry KK, Huo Q. A Single-Step Gold Nanoparticle-Blood Serum Interaction Assay Reveals Humoral Immunity Development and Immune Status of Animals from Neonates to Adults. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:228-238. [PMID: 30521752 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
A well-developed, functional immune system is paramount to combat harmful attacks from pathogenic organisms and prevent infectious diseases. Newborn animals and humans have only limited immunity upon birth, but their immune functions are expected to develop within weeks to months and eventually to reach a maturity that will provide full protection. Despite the importance of immune activity in animal and human health management, there is no convenient test available that allows for rapid assessment of the state of immune function in nonlaboratory settings. Here we report an extremely simple and rapid blood test that may be used in point-of-care clinics or field settings to evaluate the humoral immune status of animals. The test detects a cooperative interaction between a gold nanoparticle and arguably the three most important proteins involved in the immune system: immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and at least one complement protein, C3, in the blood serum. Such interactions cause the gold nanoparticles to form clusters and aggregates. The average particle size of the gold nanoparticle-serum mixture, measured by dynamic light scattering, corresponds positively to the immune status and activity of the subject. Our study demonstrates that the test may be used not only for monitoring the immune function development from neonates to adults, but also for detecting active immune responses during infection. Although data reported here are largely based on murine and bovine models, it is likely that this test will be applicable to humans as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zheng
- Department of Chemistry and NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - John Crews
- Warner University, 13896 Highway 27, Lake Wales, Florida 33859, United States
| | - Jodi L. McGill
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, 1800 Christensen Drive, Ames, Iowa 50011-1134, United States
| | - Kunal Dhume
- Burnett School of Biomedical Science, Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 6900 Lake Nona Blvd., Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | - Caroline Finn
- Burnett School of Biomedical Science, Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 6900 Lake Nona Blvd., Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | - Tara Strutt
- Burnett School of Biomedical Science, Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 6900 Lake Nona Blvd., Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | - Karl K. McKinstry
- Burnett School of Biomedical Science, Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 6900 Lake Nona Blvd., Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | - Qun Huo
- Department of Chemistry and NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, 12424 Research Parkway Suite 400, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Aleri JW, Hine BC, Pyman MF, Mansell PD, Wales WJ, Mallard B, Stevenson MA, Fisher AD. Associations between immune competence, stress responsiveness, and production in Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × Jersey heifers reared in a pasture-based production system in Australia. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:3282-3294. [PMID: 30738667 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-14578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to assess antibody and cellular immune responses in first-lactation dairy heifers reared under a pasture-based production system and to investigate associations between immune competence and stress responsiveness, health, and productivity. A commercial vaccine was used to induce antibody and cellular immune responses and, based on measured responses, animals were classified as above average, average, and below average for each trait independently and in combination (overall immune competence). Overall immune competence phenotypic rankings were generated by combining standardized residual values for antibody and cellular responses measured in individual heifers. Cortisol responses to handling and yarding were used to assess stress responsiveness, worm egg counts were used to assess internal parasite burden, somatic cell counts to assess udder health and estimates of total daily milk volume, and milk fat and milk protein contents to assess productivity. A total of 393 Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × Jersey crossbred heifers from 2 herds practicing seasonal calving in a pasture-fed production system were enrolled in the study. The immune competence phenotypes of individual heifers were assessed before their first mating and their subsequent performance during their first lactation was monitored. Animals with below-average antibody and cellular immune competence had higher serum cortisol concentrations compared with their counterparts following handling, suggesting they had a reduced ability to cope with management-induced stress. Furthermore, a significant negative (favorable) correlation was observed between antibody responses and stress responsiveness. Similarly, correlations between antibody responses and internal parasite burden were significant and negative (favorable). No correlations were observed between overall immune competence and milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein content.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J W Aleri
- College of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - B C Hine
- CSIRO Agriculture, Armidale, New South Wales 2350, Australia
| | - M F Pyman
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - P D Mansell
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - W J Wales
- Agriculture Research and Development Division, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia
| | - B Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario NIG2W1, Canada
| | - M A Stevenson
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - A D Fisher
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Abstract
Mastitis is a prevalent and costly disease on dairy farms. Improved management and hygiene can reduce the risk of infection by contagious or environmental pathogens, and genetic selection can confer permanent improvement in mastitis resistance. National veterinary recording systems in the Nordic countries have allowed direct selection for sire families with low incidence of clinical mastitis for 3 decades, whereas other countries have practiced indirect selection for lower somatic cell count. Recently, pooling of producer-recorded data from on-farm herd management software programs has enabled selection for reduced incidence of clinical mastitis in the United States and other leading dairy countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kent A Weigel
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1205, USA.
| | - George E Shook
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1205, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Denholm SJ, McNeilly TN, Banos G, Coffey MP, Russell GC, Bagnall A, Mitchell MC, Wall E. Immune-associated traits measured in milk of Holstein-Friesian cows as proxies for blood serum measurements. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:10248-10258. [PMID: 30172405 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-14825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Previous work has highlighted that immune-associated (IA) traits measurable in blood are associated with health, productivity, and reproduction in dairy cows. The aim of the present study was to determine relationships between IA traits measured in blood serum and those simultaneously measured in milk as well as their association with disease phenotypes. All animals were Holstein-Friesian cows from the Langhill research herd (n = 546) housed at the SRUC Dairy Research Centre in Scotland. Milk and serum samples were collected on 20 separate occasions between July 2010 and March 2015 and analyzed by ELISA for haptoglobin (Hp), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and natural antibodies binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin (NAbKLH) and lipopolysaccharide (NAbLPS). Data were analyzed using mixed linear models that included pedigree information. Analyses revealed positive phenotypic correlations between milk and serum NAb (0.59 ≤ r ≤ 0.77), Hp (r = 0.37), and TNF-α (r = 0.12). Milk and serum NAb were also found to have a strong genetic correlation (0.81 ≤ r ≤ 0.94) and were genetically correlated with cow lameness (0.66 and 0.79 for milk NAbKLH and serum NAbLPS, respectively). Clinical mastitis was found to be phenotypically correlated with both milk and serum Hp (0.09 ≤ r ≤ 0.23). Serum Hp was also strongly genetically correlated with other cellular IA traits such as percent NKp46+ (a natural killer cell marker; 0.35) and percent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC; -0.90). Similarly, genetic correlations were found to exist between serum TNF-α and percent NKp46+ (0.22), percent PBMC (0.41), and percent lymphocytes (0.47). Excluding serum Hp, all milk and serum IA traits were repeatable, ranging from 0.11 (milk Hp) to 0.43 (serum NAbLPS). Between-animal variation was highest in milk and serum NAb (0.34-0.43) and significant estimates of heritability were also observed in milk and serum NAb (0.17-0.37). Our findings show that certain IA traits, such as NAbKLH and NAbLPS, found in milk and serum are strongly correlated and highlight the potential of using routinely collected milk samples as a less invasive and cost-effective source of informative data for predictive modeling of animal IA traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott J Denholm
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Peter Wilson Building, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, United Kingdom.
| | - Tom N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios Banos
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Peter Wilson Building, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, United Kingdom; The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Mike P Coffey
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Peter Wilson Building, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, United Kingdom
| | - George C Russell
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ainsley Bagnall
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Peter Wilson Building, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, United Kingdom
| | - Mairi C Mitchell
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Eileen Wall
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Peter Wilson Building, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Santos K, Souza F, Blagitz M, Batista C, Bertagnon H, Gomes R, Molinari P, Diniz S, Silva M, Haddad J, Heinemann M, Libera A. Mastitis in the transition period: identification of potential blood markers. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2018. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-10069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study identified potential blood markers associated with mastitis in dairy cows under different dry therapies during the transition period, using a logistic regression model. Thirty-four Holstein dairy cows were divided into three groups: untreated controls (13 cows, 42 quarters); animals that received an antimicrobial at drying-off (10 cows, 40 quarters); and animals that were administered an internal teat sealant at drying-off (11 cow, 44 quarters). Blood and quarter milk samples were collected 60 days before the expected day of calving, on the day of calving, and three, seven, 15, 21, and 30 days after calving. Milk samples were submitted for bacteriological analysis and somatic cell count. Blood samples were collected for analyses of the following: the erythrogram and leucogram; plasm fibrinogen concentration; hepatic and renal functions; metabolic profile; serum calcium and phosphorous levels; total serum protein and albumin concentrations. The concentration of total serum proteins was associated with a high somatic cell count. Similarly, the concentrations of total serum proteins and triglycerides were associated to milk bacteriological positive samples during the transition period. Thus, the occurrence of mastitis in dairy cows during the transition period was greater in animals that showed higher concentrations of serum total proteins and triglycerides, in contrast to the use of dry cow therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - H.G. Bertagnon
- Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil; Universidade Centro Oeste do Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Yang L, Liu Z, Li J, He K, Kong L, Guo R, Liu W, Gao Y, Zhong J. Association of the expression of Th cytokines with peripheral CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subsets after vaccination with FMD vaccine in Holstein young sires. Res Vet Sci 2018; 119:79-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
|
33
|
Type I and type II cytokine production of CD4+ T-cells in immune response biased dairy cattle around calving. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2018; 199:70-76. [PMID: 29678232 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The peripartum period is a period of high stress, transition and management changes for dairy cows. It is associated with higher incidence of both metabolic and pathogenic disease. Both antibody-(AMIR) and cell-(CMIR) mediated immune responses play a key role in the maintenance of health in mammals protecting against extracellular and intracellular pathogens, respectively. Generally, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) has been associated with CMIR, whereas interleukin 4 (IL-4) has been associated with AMIR bias, and interleukin 17 (IL-17A) is associated with pro-inflammatory. It has been previously demonstrated that cows can be classified as high (H), average (A), and low (L) immune responders based upon their AMIR and CMIR to test antigens, and that this classification is associated with disease occurrence throughout lactation. The mechanisms behind these differences in phenotype and the effects of the peripartum period have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the peripartum period on cytokine production of CD4+ T-cells or T helper (Th) cells, key mediators of the adaptive immune response. Immune response phenotyped cows were selected based on H-AMIR/L-CMIR (H-AMIR cows; n = 10) and H-CMIR/L-AMIR (H-CMIR cows; n = 11) response to test antigens. Isolated CD4+ T-cells collected at 28 days before calving (prepartum samples), 4 days after calving (early postpartum samples), and 21 days after calving (late postpartum samples) from these groups were stimulated with Concanavalin-A (ConA) with unstimulated controls. Subsequently, IL-4, IFN-γ, and IL-17A concentrations were quantified by ELISA. Overall, there was no obvious decline in IL-4, IFN-γ or IL-17A close to calving observed from CD4+ T-cells from each of these phenotypically distinct groups of cows. However, CD4+ T-cells isolated from H-CMIR secreted higher amounts of IL-4 (746.43 ± 428 pg/mL), IL-17A (446IL ± 62 pg/mL), and IFN-γ (7755.79 ± 4449 pg/mL) than H-AMIR cows (IL-4 (212.15 ± 121 pg/mL), IL-17A (163.15 ± 87 pg/mL), and IFN-γ (2909.771 ± 1671 pg/mL)) on day 21 after calving, late postpartum. This study indicates a genetic predisposition based on immune response phenotype of cytokine production from CD4+ T-cells around calving.
Collapse
|
34
|
Verma S, Thakur A, Katoch S, Shekhar C, Wani AH, Kumar S, Dohroo S, Singh G, Sharma M. Differences in innate and adaptive immune response traits of Pahari (Indian non-descript indigenous breed) and Jersey crossbred cattle. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2017; 192:20-27. [PMID: 29042011 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Cattle are an integral part of the largely agrarian economy of India. Indigenous breeds of cattle comprise about 80% of total cattle population of the country and contribute significantly to the overall milk production. There are 40 recognized indigenous breeds of cattle and a number of uncharacterized non-descript cattle. Pahari cattle of Himachal Pradesh in Northern India are one such non-descript indigenous breed. Here we describe a comprehensive evaluation of haematobiochemical parameters and innate and adaptive immune response traits of Pahari cattle and a comparison with Jersey crossbred cattle. The study shows demonstrable differences in the two breeds with respect to some innate and adaptive immunological traits. This is a first attempt to characterize immune response traits of Pahari cattle and the results of the study provide an understanding of breed differences in immune status of cattle which could be useful for their breeding and conservations programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Verma
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India.
| | - Aneesh Thakur
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Shailja Katoch
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Chander Shekhar
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Aasim Habib Wani
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Shweta Dohroo
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Geetanjali Singh
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Mandeep Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Dr. G. C. Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur,176062, Himachal Pradesh, India
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Cartwright SL, Malchiodi F, Thompson-Crispi K, Miglior F, Mallard BA. Short communication: Prevalence of digital dermatitis in Canadian dairy cattle classified as high, average, or low antibody- and cell-mediated immune responders. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:8409-8413. [PMID: 28780089 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-12157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Lameness is a major animal welfare issue affecting Canadian dairy producers, and it can lead to production, reproduction, and health problems in dairy cattle herds. Although several different lesions affect dairy cattle hooves, studies show that digital dermatitis is the most common lesion identified in Canadian dairy herds. It has also been shown that dairy cattle classified as having high immune response (IR) have lower incidence of disease compared with those animals with average and low IR; therefore, it has been hypothesized that IR plays a role in preventing infectious hoof lesions. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of digital dermatitis in Canadian dairy cattle that were classified for antibody-mediated (AMIR) and cell-mediated (CMIR) immune response. Cattle (n = 329) from 5 commercial dairy farms in Ontario were evaluated for IR using a patented test protocol that captures both AMIR and CMIR. Individuals were classified as high, average, or low responders based on standardized residuals for AMIR and CMIR. Residuals were calculated using a general linear model that included the effects of herd, parity, stage of lactation, and stage of pregnancy. Hoof health data were collected from 2011 to 2013 by the farm's hoof trimmer using Hoof Supervisor software (KS Dairy Consulting Inc., Dresser, WI). All trim events were included for each animal, and lesions were assessed as a binary trait at each trim event. Hoof health data were analyzed using a mixed model that included the effects of herd, stage of lactation (at trim date), parity (at trim date), IR category (high, average, and low), and the random effect of animal. All data were presented as prevalence within IR category. Results showed that cows with high AMIR had significantly lower prevalence of digital dermatitis than cattle with average and low AMIR. No significant difference in prevalence of digital dermatitis was observed between high, average, and low CMIR cows. These results indicate that having more robust AMIR is associated with lower prevalence of digital dermatitis hoof lesions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S L Cartwright
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1.
| | - F Malchiodi
- Center of Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - K Thompson-Crispi
- Trouw Nutrition Agresearch, Nutreco Canada Inc., Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 4T2
| | - F Miglior
- Center of Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1; Canadian Dairy Network, Guelph, ON, Canada N1K 1E5
| | - B A Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1; Center of Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Denholm SJ, McNeilly TN, Banos G, Coffey MP, Russell GC, Bagnall A, Mitchell MC, Wall E. Estimating genetic and phenotypic parameters of cellular immune-associated traits in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:2850-2862. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-11679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
37
|
Sulabh S, Bhushan B, Panigrahi M, Verma A, Baba NA, Kumar P. Differential response of immune-related genes to peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid challenge in vitro. Vet World 2016; 9:983-988. [PMID: 27733800 PMCID: PMC5057038 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.983-988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To study the effect of Staphylococcus aureus cell wall antigens, peptidoglycan (PGN) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) challenge on immune cells present in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, efforts have been made to investigate the effects of three combinations (10+10, 20+20 and 30+30 μg/ml) of PGN and LTA obtained from S. aureus. These antigens were used to challenge the bovine PBMCs. After 6 h of incubation quantitative, real time-polymerase chain reaction was used to study toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) and major cytokine mRNA expression in bovine PBMC challenged with three different antigen blends. RESULTS The results indicated that mRNA level of interferon gamma is influenced by the expression of TLR-2 gene. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and IL-8 genes showed a maximum response at a dose of 10 μg of PGN and 10 μg of LTA challenge per ml of culture medium. The outcome also suggests that both IL-10 and IL-8 followed the expression pattern of TNF-α. CONCLUSION A dose of 10 μg of PGN and 10 μg of LTA per ml of culture medium was found to be most suitable for challenging PBMC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sourabh Sulabh
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly - 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Bharat Bhushan
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly - 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Manjit Panigrahi
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly - 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ankita Verma
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly - 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Naseer Ahmad Baba
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly - 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Pushpendra Kumar
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly - 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Gunia M, David I, Hurtaud J, Maupin M, Gilbert H, Garreau H. Resistance to infectious diseases is a heritable trait in rabbits. J Anim Sci 2016; 93:5631-8. [PMID: 26641172 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-9377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Selection for disease resistance is a powerful way to improve the health status of herds and to reduce the use of antibiotics. The objectives of this study were to estimate 1) the genetic parameters for simple visually assessed disease syndromes and for a composite trait of resistance to infectious disease including all syndromes and 2) their genetic correlations with production traits in a rabbit population. Disease symptoms were recorded in the selection herds of 2 commercial paternal rabbit lines during weighing at the end of the test (63 and 70 d of age, respectively). Causes of mortality occurring before these dates were also recorded. Seven disease traits were analyzed: 3 elementary traits visually assessed by technicians on farm (diarrhea, various digestive syndromes, and respiratory syndromes), 2 composite traits (all digestive syndromes and all infectious syndromes), and 2 mortality traits (digestive mortality and infectious mortality). Each animal was assigned only 1 disease trait, corresponding to the main syndrome ( = 153,400). Four production traits were also recorded: live weight the day before the end of test on most animals ( = 137,860) and cold carcass weight, carcass yield, and perirenal fat percentage of the carcass on a subset of slaughtered animals ( = 13,765). Records on both lines were analyzed simultaneously using bivariate linear animal models after validation of consistency with threshold models applied to logit-transformed traits. The heritabilities were low for disease traits, from 0.01 ± 0.002 for various digestive syndromes to 0.04 ± 0.004 for infectious mortality, and moderate to high for production traits. The genetic correlations between digestive syndromes were high and positive, whereas digestive and respiratory syndromes were slightly negatively correlated. The genetic correlations between the composite infectious disease trait and digestive or respiratory syndromes were moderate. Genetic correlations between disease and production traits were favorable. Our results indicate that it is possible to select rabbits using visually assessed disease syndromes without the need for a trade-off between health and production traits. Using a composite criterion that includes all infectious syndromes is easy to implement and heritable and is, therefore, a promising way to improve the general disease resistance in livestock species.
Collapse
|
39
|
Aleri JW, Hine BC, Pyman MF, Mansell PD, Wales WJ, Mallard B, Fisher AD. Assessing adaptive immune response phenotypes in Australian Holstein-Friesian heifers in a pasture-based production system. J Anim Sci 2016; 93:3713-21. [PMID: 26440037 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-9078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the repeatability of ranking Holstein-Friesian heifers reared in an Australian pasture-based production system for immune responses (IR) when ranking was based on secondary versus tertiary IR. Further objectives were to investigate associations between IR and stress responsiveness, ADG and resistance to internal parasites. A total of 100 heifers were IR phenotyped at 5 to 6 mo of age and again at 12 to 13 mo of age using commercial vaccine antigens to induce measurable IR. Antibody production to tetanus toxoid (TT) was used to assess antibody-mediated IR (AMIR), and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to vaccine antigens were used to assess cell-mediated IR (CMIR). Changes in serum cortisol and haptoglobin were used to assess stress responsiveness and fecal egg counts used as a measure of resistance to internal parasites. Based on testing, animals were categorized as either average to above-average (High) or low responders for IR. Secondary and tertiary AMIR were well correlated (r = 0.651, adjusted R(2) = 0.418, P < 0.0001), whereas correlations between secondary and tertiary CMIR were poor (r = 0.078, R(2) = –0.004, P = 0.450). A Cohen kappa (κ) test of agreement was used to test the consistency of ranking of individual animal for IR and, therefore, the ability to consistently identify low immune responder animals within the herd across test periods. The consistency of ranking (High versus low) was moderately high for AMIR (κ = 0.445), poor for CMIR (κ = –0.055), and fair to moderate for combined IR (κ = 0.395). High AMIR phenotype animals had significantly higher serum cortisol concentrations than their low immune responder counterparts (P = 0.045). A similar relationship was observed in heifers categorized for CMIR, with High CMIR responders having higher serum cortisol concentrations than their low responder counterparts (P = 0.008). High AMIR calves had a higher ADG compared with low AMIR calves (0.72 ± 0.02 versus 0.66 ± 0.06 kg/d; P = 0.009). Serum haptoglobin concentrations and worm egg counts were very low and could not be used to investigate associations with immune responsiveness. It is concluded that secondary and tertiary antibody responses to TT were well correlated in the Holstein-Friesian heifers in this study and that by using the testing procedure described here, low antibody responders were able to be consistently identified in the herd.
Collapse
|
40
|
Aleri JW, Hine BC, Pyman MF, Mansell PD, Wales WJ, Mallard B, Fisher AD. Periparturient immunosuppression and strategies to improve dairy cow health during the periparturient period. Res Vet Sci 2016; 108:8-17. [PMID: 27663364 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Common health problems observed during peripartum include milk fever, mastitis, fatty liver disease, ketosis, dystocia, retained placenta, metritis, hypomagnesaemia and abomasal displacements. The increased incidence of health problems observed during the periparturient period can be partly attributed to suboptimal immune responses. Factors contributing to decreased periparturient immunity include the act of parturition itself, impaired leukocytic activity, effects of colostrogenesis and lactogenesis, and associated hypocalcemia and negative energy balance. Nutritional and other management strategies represent a relevant short-term strategy aimed at improving the health and welfare of the transitioning cow. Additionally, it is important to consider improving the health of dairy herds through the genetic selection of animals with enhanced robustness by identifying those with superior disease resistance or resilience in the face of infection. As a consequence these animals are better able to cope with the production and environmental stresses. These may provide long-term selection strategies for improving the health and welfare of the transitioning cow particularly when combined with sound management practices, allowing dairy cattle to reach their full genetic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J W Aleri
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - B C Hine
- CSIRO, Agriculture Flagship, Armidale, New South Wales 2350, Australia
| | - M F Pyman
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - P D Mansell
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - W J Wales
- Agriculture Research and Development Division, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia
| | - B Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1, Canada
| | - A D Fisher
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Stoop C, Thompson-Crispi K, Cartwright S, Mallard B. Short communication: Variation in production parameters among Canadian Holstein cows classified as high, average, and low immune responders. J Dairy Sci 2016; 99:4870-4874. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2015-10145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
42
|
Raszek MM, Guan LL, Plastow GS. Use of Genomic Tools to Improve Cattle Health in the Context of Infectious Diseases. Front Genet 2016; 7:30. [PMID: 27014337 PMCID: PMC4780072 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2016.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although infectious diseases impose a heavy economic burden on the cattle industry, the etiology of many disorders that affect livestock is not fully elucidated, and effective countermeasures are often lacking. The main tools available until now have been vaccines, antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs. Although these have been very successful in some cases, the appearance of parasite and microbial resistance to these treatments is a cause of concern. Next-generation sequencing provides important opportunities to tackle problems associated with pathogenic illnesses. This review describes the rapid gains achieved to track disease progression, identify the pathogens involved, and map pathogen interactions with the host. Use of novel genomic tools subsequently aids in treatment development, as well as successful creation of breeding programs aimed toward less susceptible livestock. These may be important tools for mitigating the long term effects of combating infection and helping reduce the reliance on antibiotic treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikolaj M Raszek
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Le L Guan
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Graham S Plastow
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Martin C, Paibomesai M, Emam S, Gallienne J, Hine B, Thompson-Crispi K, Mallard B. Short communication: Cytokine profiles from blood mononuclear cells of dairy cows classified with divergent immune response phenotypes. J Dairy Sci 2016; 99:2364-2371. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2015-9449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
44
|
Fleming K, Thompson-Crispi KA, Hodgins DC, Miglior F, Corredig M, Mallard BA. Short communication: Variation of total immunoglobulin G and β-lactoglobulin concentrations in colostrum and milk from Canadian Holsteins classified as high, average, or low immune responders. J Dairy Sci 2016; 99:2358-2363. [PMID: 26774725 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2015-9707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate IgG and β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) concentrations in colostrum and milk of Canadian Holsteins (n=108) classified as high (H), average (A), or low (L) for antibody-mediated (AMIR) or cell-mediated immune responses (CMIR) based on estimated breeding values. It was hypothesized that H-AMIR and H-CMIR cows produce colostrum (first milking) and milk (d 5 postcalving) with higher concentrations of IgG and β-LG. Data for IgG and β-LG in colostrum and milk were analyzed independently using mixed linear models. Least squares means were compared using Tukey's test. Cows classified as H-AMIR had higher IgG and β-LG concentrations in colostrum compared with A- and L-AMIR cows; 84% of H-AMIR, 69% of A-AMIR, and 68% of L-AMIR cows had over 5,000 mg/dL IgG in colostrum. No differences in IgG and β-LG concentrations in colostrum were noted among cows ranked on CMIR or in milk of cows ranked on AMIR. β-Lactoglobulin and IgG concentrations were positively correlated in colostrum. Breeding cows for H-AMIR status may reduce failure of passive transfer of IgG in their calves; β-LG may play a role in bovine immune defenses. Colostrum from H-AMIR cows may serve as a more economical feedstock source for manufacturing natural health products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Fleming
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - K A Thompson-Crispi
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - D C Hodgins
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - F Miglior
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Canadian Dairy Network, Guelph, Ontario, N1K 1E5, Canada
| | - M Corredig
- Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - B A Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Colditz IG, Hine BC. Resilience in farm animals: biology, management, breeding and implications for animal welfare. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/an15297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A capacity for the animal to recover quickly from the impact of physical and social stressors and disease challenges is likely to improve evolutionary fitness of wild species and welfare and performance of farm animals. Salience and valence of stimuli sensed through neurosensors, chemosensors and immunosensors are perceived and integrated centrally to generate emotions and engage physiological, behavioural, immune, cognitive and morphological responses that defend against noxious challenges. These responses can be refined through experience to provide anticipatory and learned reactions at lower cost than innate less-specific reactions. Influences of behaviour type, coping style, and affective state and the relationships between immune responsiveness, disease resistance and resilience are reviewed. We define resilience as the capacity of animals to cope with short-term perturbations in their environment and return rapidly to their pre-challenge status. It is manifested in response to episodic, sporadic or situation-specific attributes of the environment and can be optimised via facultative learning by the individual. It is a comparative measure of differences between individuals in the outcomes that follow exposure to potentially adverse situations. In contrast, robustness is the capacity to maintain productivity in a wide range of environments without compromising reproduction, health and wellbeing. Robustness is manifested in response to persistent or cyclical attributes of the environment and is effected via activity of innate regulatory pathways. We suggest that for farm animals, husbandry practices that incorporate physical and social stressors and interactions with humans such as weaning, change of housing, and introduction to the milking parlour can be used to characterise resilience phenotypes. In these settings, resilience is likely to be more readily identified through the rate of return of variables to pre-challenge or normal status rather than through measuring the activity of diverse stress response and adaptation mechanisms. Our strategy for phenotyping resilience of sheep and cattle during weaning is described. Opportunities are examined to increase resilience through genetic selection and through improved management practices that provide emotional and cognitive enrichment and stress inoculation.
Collapse
|
46
|
Review: Towards the agroecological management of ruminants, pigs and poultry through the development of sustainable breeding programmes: I-selection goals and criteria. Animal 2016; 10:1749-1759. [DOI: 10.1017/s1751731116000926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
|
47
|
Foley C, Chapwanya A, Callanan JJ, Whiston R, Miranda-CasoLuengo R, Lu J, Meijer WG, Lynn DJ, O' Farrelly C, Meade KG. Integrated analysis of the local and systemic changes preceding the development of post-partum cytological endometritis. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:811. [PMID: 26482908 PMCID: PMC4617749 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1967-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The regulation of endometrial inflammation has important consequences for the resumption of bovine fertility postpartum. All cows experience bacterial influx into the uterus after calving; however a significant proportion fail to clear infection leading to the development of cytological endometritis (CE) and compromised fertility. We hypothesised that early immunological changes could not only act as potential prognostic biomarkers for the subsequent development of disease but also shed light on the pathogenesis of endometritis in the postpartum dairy cow. METHODS Endometrial biopsy RNA was extracted from 15 cows at 7 and 21 days postpartum (DPP), using the Qiagen RNeasy(®) Plus Mini kit and quality determined using an Agilent 2100 bioanalyser. Disease status was determined by histpathology based on inflammatory cell infiltrate. RNA-seq of both mRNA and miRNA libraries were performed on an Illumina® HiSeq(™) 2000. Paired reads were aligned to the bovine genome with Bowtie2 and differentially expressed genes were identified using EdgeR. Significantly over-represented Gene Ontology terms were identified using GO-seq, and pathway analysis was performed using KEGG. Quanititative real-time PCR was also performed for validation (ABI 7500 fast). Haematology was assessed using an automated ADVIA 2120 analyser. Serum proteins were evaluated by ELISA and metabolite analysis was performed using a Beckman Coulter AU 400 clinical analyser. Terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) was used to obtain fingerprints of the microbial communities present. RESULTS Next-generation sequencing from endometrial biopsies taken at 7 DPP identified significant induction of inflammatory gene expression in all cows. Despite the common inflammatory profile and enrichment of the Toll-like receptor and NFκB pathways, 73 genes and 31 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed between healthy cows (HC, n = 9) and cows which subsequently developed CE at 7 DPP (n = 6, FDR < 0.1). While significant differential expression of 4197 genes in the transcriptome of healthy cows between 7 and 21 DPP showed the transition from a proinflammatory to tissue profliferation and repair, only 31 genes were differentially expressed in cows with CE (FDR < 0.1), indicating the arrest of such a transition. A link betwene the dysregulated inflammatory response and the composition of the uterine microbial communities was suggested by the presence of significant differences in uterine bacterial tRFLP profiles between HC and CE groups. Furthermore, inflammatory activity was not confined to the uterus; decreased circulating granulocytes and increased Acute Phase Protein (SAA and HP) expression levels were detected in plasma at 7 DPP in cows that developed CE. CONCLUSION Our data suggests that the IL1 and IL17 inflammatory cascade activated early postpartum is resolved thereby restoring homeostasis in healthy cows by 21 DPP, but this transition fails to occur in cows which develop CE. Despite a common early inflammatory profile, elevated and differential expression of specific immune genes may identify cows at risk of prolonged inflammation and the development of CE postpartum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cathriona Foley
- Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland.,Comparative Immunology Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Aspinas Chapwanya
- Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine, St Kitts, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, West Indies, Dominica
| | - John J Callanan
- Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine, St Kitts, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, West Indies, Dominica.,UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Ronan Whiston
- Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland.,Comparative Immunology Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Raúl Miranda-CasoLuengo
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science and UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research. University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Junnan Lu
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science and UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research. University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Wim G Meijer
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science and UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research. University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - David J Lynn
- Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland.,South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, SA, Australia.,School of Medicine, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Flinders, 5042, SA, Australia
| | - Cliona O' Farrelly
- Comparative Immunology Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Kieran G Meade
- Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Toni F, Vincenti L, Ricci A, Schukken YH. Postpartum uterine diseases and their impacts on conception and days open in dairy herds in Italy. Theriogenology 2015. [PMID: 26210315 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe the incidence and the impact of postpartum uterine diseases in postpartum cows on future uterine status and reproductive performance in large Italian dairy herds. This study provides an important quantitative estimate of uterine and postpartum diseases incidence that afflict high-producing Italian dairy cows. The total number of cows included in the study was 1498 on three farms; all cows were followed from the dry period until 300 days postpartum. All farms used high-quality data collection systems and standard operating procedures: weekly herd health visits, monthly Dairy Herd Improvement Association visits, and, due to cheese-making milk quality requirements, a supplementary milk sample collected at 7 ± 3 days postpartum evaluated for milk components. Clinical metritis in primiparous cows did not change the time to the first artificial insemination (AI) or days open; conversely, clinical metritis in multiparous cows had impact on the time to first AI (hazard ratio: 0.66, P < 0.01) and resulted in a lower conception rate at first insemination and a increase in days open (odds ratio: 0.64, P < 0.05). Clinical endometritis had a strong deleterious effect on first AI conception rate (odds ratio: 0.34, P < 0.05) and days open across all lactations (hazard ratio: 0.68, P < 0.05). Persistent metritis, defined as the presence of both clinical metritis and clinical endometritis in the same animal in the same lactation, caused low conception rate both in the first-lactation and in older cows and had a strong negative effect on the proportion of pregnant cows at 300 days (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the impact of endometritis on fertility was true across lactation groups. A good management and precocious diagnosis of the pathologies is not resolutive to restore good fertility parameters, and understanding the immune response in first-lactation cows may be of value for developing alternative intervention protocols for older-lactation cows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Toni
- Zoetis Animal Health, Rome, Italy
| | - L Vincenti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - A Ricci
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy.
| | - Y H Schukken
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; GD Animal Health, Deventer, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Management Practices and Their Potential Influence on Johne’s Disease Transmission on Canadian Organic Dairy Farms—A Conceptual Analysis. SUSTAINABILITY 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/su6118237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
50
|
Thompson-Crispi K, Atalla H, Miglior F, Mallard BA. Bovine mastitis: frontiers in immunogenetics. Front Immunol 2014; 5:493. [PMID: 25339959 PMCID: PMC4188034 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mastitis is one of the most prevalent and costly diseases in the dairy industry with losses attributable to reduced milk production, discarded milk, early culling, veterinary services, and labor costs. Typically, mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland most often, but not limited to, bacterial infection, and is characterized by the movement of leukocytes and serum proteins from the blood to the site of infection. It contributes to compromised milk quality and the potential spread of antimicrobial resistance if antibiotic treatment is not astutely applied. Despite the implementation of management practises and genetic selection approaches, bovine mastitis control continues to be inadequate. However, some novel genetic strategies have recently been demonstrated to reduce mastitis incidence by taking advantage of a cow's natural ability to make appropriate immune responses against invading pathogens. Specifically, dairy cattle with enhanced and balanced immune responses have a lower occurrence of disease, including mastitis, and they can be identified and selected for using the high immune response (HIR) technology. Enhanced immune responsiveness is also associated with improved response to vaccination, increased milk, and colostrum quality. Since immunity is an important fitness trait, beneficial associations with longevity and reproduction are also often noted. This review highlights the genetic regulation of the bovine immune system and its vital contributions to disease resistance. Genetic selection approaches currently used in the dairy industry to reduce the incidence of disease are reviewed, including the HIR technology, genomics to improve disease resistance or immune response, as well as the Immunity(+)™ sire line. Improving the overall immune responsiveness of cattle is expected to provide superior disease resistance, increasing animal welfare and food quality while maintaining favorable production levels to feed a growing population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Thompson-Crispi
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Heba Atalla
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Filippo Miglior
- Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Canadian Dairy Network, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Bonnie A. Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|