Natural Antibodies Related to Energy Balance in Early Lactation Dairy Cows

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 90; no. 12; pp. 5490 - 5498
• Main Authors: van Knegsel, A.T.M., de Vries Reilingh, G., Meulenberg, S., van den Brand, H., Dijkstra, J., Kemp, B., Parmentier, H.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Savoy, IL Elsevier Inc 01.12.2007; American Dairy Science Association; Am Dairy Sci Assoc
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - immunology; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Animal productions; Animals; antibodies; Antibodies - analysis; Antibodies - blood; b-lymphocytes; Biological and medical sciences; blood composition; blood lipids; bovine lymphocytes; Cattle - immunology; Cattle - metabolism; Cell Count - veterinary; Cholesterol - blood; dairy cows; Diet - veterinary; dry matter intake; early lactation; Eating; energy balance; Energy Intake; Energy Metabolism - immunology; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Escherichia coli; experimental diets; fc-receptor; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hematologic tests; Hemocyanins - metabolism; immune system; immune-response; Immunity, Innate - immunology; Immunity, Innate - physiology; ketone-bodies; Lactation - immunology; Lactation - metabolism; Lipids - analysis; Lipopolysaccharides - metabolism; lymphocyte function; metabolic-disorders; Milk - chemistry; Milk - cytology; Milk - immunology; Milk Proteins - analysis; milk-production; nutrition; Parity; Parturition; periparturient period; Pregnancy; Random Allocation; ruminal acidosis; somatic cell count; Terrestrial animal productions; Time Factors; Vertebrates; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; immune system; nutrition; energy balance; parity; Farming animal; Lactation; Nutrition; Antibody; Dairy cattle; Energy balance; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Dairy industry; Early; Artiodactyla; Parity; Ungulata; Immune system
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2007-0289

The objectives of this study were to determine the presence of natural antibodies (NAb) in plasma and milk of individual dairy cows and to study the relation between NAb concentrations and energy balance (EB) and dietary energy source. Cows (n=76) were fed a mainly glucogenic, lipogenic, or a mixture of both diets (50:50 dry matter basis) from wk 3 before the expected calving date until wk 9 postpartum. Diets were isocaloric (net energy basis) and equal in intestinal digestible protein. Blood and milk were sampled weekly. Liver biopsies were taken in wk −2, 2, 4, and 6 relative to calving. Data are expressed as LSM±SEM. The NAb titers are expressed as the 2log values of the highest dilution giving a positive reaction. The NAb concentration in plasma binding either keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased with parity. The NAb concentration binding KLH was greater for cows fed the glucogenic diet (9.63±0.08) compared with the lipogenic diet (9.26±0.08). In milk, cows fed the glucogenic diet had smaller NAb concentrations binding KLH (3.98±0.18) and LPS (2.88±0.17) compared with cows fed the mixed diet (KLH: 4.93±0.18; LPS: 3.70±0.17). The NAb concentration in plasma had a positive relation with energy balance variables: EB, dry matter intake, milk yield, and plasma cholesterol, whereas NAb concentration in milk had a negative relation with energy balance variables: EB, dry matter intake, and plasma cholesterol. Additionally, NAb concentrations in milk had a positive relation with plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentration and milk fat and protein percentage. There was a tendency for a positive relation of NAb concentration binding LPS in plasma and somatic cell count in milk. No significant relations were detected between NAb concentrations in milk or plasma and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentration and liver triacyl glyceride content. In conclusion, NAb are present in both milk and plasma of dairy cows peripartum and NAb concentrations increase with parity. Furthermore, our data indicate that a negative energy balance in dairy cows in early lactation can be associated with compromised innate immune function as indicated by decreased NAb concentration in plasma.