References

Ahmann J, Steinhoff-Wagner J, Büscher W Determining immunoglobulin content of bovine colostrum and factors affecting the outcome: a review. Animals (Basel). 2021; 11:(12) https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123587

Alawneh JI, Barreto MO, Moore RJ Systematic review of an intervention: the use of probiotics to improve health and productivity of calves. Prev Vet Med. 2020; 183 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105147

Alipour MJ, Jalanka J, Pessa-Morikawa T The composition of the perinatal intestinal microbiota in cattle. Sci Rep. 2018; 8:(1) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28733-y

Barden M, Richards-Rios P, Ganda E Maternal influences on oral and faecal microbiota maturation in neonatal calves in beef and dairy production systems. Anim Microbiome. 2020; 2:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-020-00049-1

Besser TE, McGuire TC, Gay CC The transfer of serum IgG1 antibody into the gastrointestinal tract in newborn calves. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1987; 17:(1–4)51-56 https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-2427(87)90126-7

Besser TE, McGuire TC, Gay CC, Pritchett LC Transfer of functional immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody into the gastrointestinal tract accounts for IgG clearance in calves. J Virol. 1988a; 62:(7)2234-2237 https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.62.7.2234-2237.1988

Besser TE, Gay CC, McGuire TC, Evermann JF Passive immunity to bovine rotavirus infection associated with transfer of serum antibody into the intestinal lumen. J Virol. 1988b; 62:(7)2238-2242 https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.62.7.2238-2242.1988

Cangiano LR, Yohe TT, Steele MA, Renaud DL Invited review: Strategic use of microbial-based probiotics and prebiotics in dairy calf rearing. Applied Animal Science. 2020; 36:(5)630-651 https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2020-02049

Chase C, Kaushik RS Mucosal immune system of cattle: all immune responses begin here. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2019; 35:(3)431-451 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.08.006

Chung JJ, Rayburn MC, Chigerwe M Randomized controlled clinical trial on the effect of oral immunoglobulin supplementation on neonatal dairy calves with diarrhea. J Vet Intern Med. 2019; 33:(4)1807-1813 https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15538

Collado MC, Rautava S, Aakko J, Isolauri E, Salminen S Human gut colonisation may be initiated in utero by distinct microbial communities in the placenta and amniotic fluid. Sci Rep. 2016; 6 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep23129

Cortese VS Neonatal immunology. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2009; 25:(1)221-227 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2008.10.003

Crouch CF, Oliver S, Hearle DC, Buckley A, Chapman AJ, Francis MJ Lactogenic immunity following vaccination of cattle with bovine coronavirus. Vaccine. 2000; 19:(2-3)189-196 https://doi.org/10.1016/s0264-410x(00)00177-8

Dias J, Marcondes MI, Motta de Souza S Bacterial community dynamics across the gastrointestinal tracts of dairy calves during preweaning development. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2018; 84:(9)e02675-17 https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02675-17

Du W, Wang X, Hu M Modulating gastrointestinal microbiota to alleviate diarrhea in calves. Front Microbiol. 2023; 14 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1181545

Dzidic M, Boix-Amorós A, Selma-Royo M, Mira A, Collado MC Gut microbiota and mucosal immunity in the neonate. Med Sci (Basel). 2018; 6:(3) https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci6030056

Fischer AJ, Song Y, He Z, Haines DM, Guan LL, Steele MA Effect of delaying colostrum feeding on passive transfer and intestinal bacterial colonization in neonatal male Holstein calves. J Dairy Sci. 2018a; 101:(4)3099-3109 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13397

Fischer AJ, Malmuthuge N, Guan LL, Steele MA Short communication: The effect of heat treatment of bovine colostrum on the concentration of oligosaccharides in colostrum and in the intestine of neonatal male Holstein calves. J Dairy Sci. 2018b; 101:(1)401-407 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13533

Geiger AJ Colostrum: back to basics with immunoglobulins. J Anim Sci. 2020; 98:S126-S132 https://doi.org/10.1093/JAS/SKAA142

Godden SM, Lombard JE, Woolums AR Colostrum management for dairy calves. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2019; 35:(3)535-556 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.07.005

Godden SM, Smolenski DJ, Donahue M Heat-treated colostrum and reduced morbidity in preweaned dairy calves: results of a randomized trial and examination of mechanisms of effectiveness. J Dairy Sci. 2012; 95:(7)4029-4040 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-5275

Gomez DE, Galvão KN, Rodriguez-Lecompte JC, Costa MC The cattle microbiota and the immune system: an evolving field. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2019; 35:(3)485-505 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.08.002

Gonzalez R, Elvira L, Carbonell C, Vertenten G, Fraile L The specific immune response after vaccination against neonatal calf diarrhoea differs between apparent similar vaccines in a case study. Animals (Basel). 2021; 11:(5) https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051238

Gribble FM, Reimann F Function and mechanisms of enteroendocrine cells and gut hormones in metabolism. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2019; 15:(4)226-237 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-019-0168-8

Husso A, Lietaer L, Pessa-Morikawa T The composition of the microbiota in the full-term fetal gut and amniotic fluid: a bovine cesarean section study. Front Microbiol. 2021; 12 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.626421

Klein-Jöbstl D, Quijada NM, Dzieciol M Microbiota of newborn calves and their mothers reveals possible transfer routes for newborn calves' gastrointestinal microbiota. PLoS One. 2019; 14:(8) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220554

Macpherson AJ, Hunziker L, McCoy K, Lamarre A IgA responses in the intestinal mucosa against pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms. Microbes Infect. 2001; 3:(12)1021-1035 https://doi.org/10.1016/s1286-4579(01)01460-5

Maier GU, Breitenbuecher J, Gomez JP, Samah F, Fausak E, Van Noord M Vaccination for the prevention of neonatal calf diarrhea in cow-calf operations: a scoping review. Vet Anim Sci. 2022; 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2022.100238

Maldonado-Contreras AL, McCormick BA Intestinal epithelial cells and their role in innate mucosal immunity. Cell Tissue Res. 2011; 343:(1)5-12 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-010-1082-5

Malmuthuge N, Chen Y, Liang G, Goonewardene LA, Guan le L Heat-treated colostrum feeding promotes beneficial bacteria colonization in the small intestine of neonatal calves. J Dairy Sci. 2015; 98:(11)8044-8053 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-9607

Marshall JS, Warrington R, Watson W, Kim HL An introduction to immunology and immunopathology. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018; 14 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-018-0278-1

Maynard CL, Elson CO, Hatton RD, Weaver CT Reciprocal interactions of the intestinal microbiota and immune system. Nature. 2012; 489:(7415)231-241 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11551

Meganck V, Hoflack G, Opsomer G Advances in prevention and therapy of neonatal dairy calf diarrhoea: a systematical review with emphasis on colostrum management and fluid therapy. Acta Vet Scand. 2014; 56:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-014-0075-x

Nussbaum O, Gross JJ, Bruckmaier RM, Eicher R Efficacy of oral administration of specific immunoglobulins in preventing neonatal calf diarrhoea in dairy herds. Vet Rec. 2023; 193:(12) https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3559

Osorio JS Gut health, stress, and immunity in neonatal dairy calves: the host side of host-pathogen interactions. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2020; 11:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-020-00509-3

Robles-Rodríguez C, Muley VY, González-Dávalos ML, Shimada A, Varela-Echavarría A, Mora O Microbial colonization dynamics of the postnatal digestive tract of Bos indicus calves. Anim Sci J. 2023; 94:(1) https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13872

Srinivasjois R, Rao S, Patole S Prebiotic supplementation in preterm neonates: updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clin Nutr. 2013; 32:(6)958-965 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2013.05.009

Ulfman LH, Leusen JHW, Savelkoul HFJ, Warner JO, van Neerven RJJ Effects of bovine immunoglobulins on immune function, allergy, and infection. Front Nutr. 2018; 5 https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2018.00052

Vega C, Bok M, Chacana P, Saif L, Fernandez F, Parreño V Egg yolk IgY: protection against rotavirus induced diarrhea and modulatory effect on the systemic and mucosal antibody responses in newborn calves. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2011; 142:(3-4)156-169 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.05.003

Villot C, Chen Y, Pedgerachny K Early supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 in newborn dairy calves increases IgA production in the intestine at 1 week of age. J Dairy Sci. 2020; 103:(9)8615-8628 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-18274

Wang L, Sun H, Gao H, Xia Y, Zan L, Zhao C A meta-analysis on the effects of probiotics on the performance of pre-weaning dairy calves. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2023; 14:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-022-00806-z

Yeoman CJ, Ishaq SL, Bichi E, Olivo SK, Lowe J, Aldridge BM Biogeographical differences in the influence of maternal microbial sources on the early successional development of the bovine neonatal gastrointestinal tract. Sci Rep. 2018; 8:(1) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21440-8

Zhang C, Li L, Jin B The effects of delivery mode on the gut microbiota and health: state of art. Front Microbiol. 2021; 12 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.724449

Zhu H, Yang M, Loor JJ Analysis of cow-calf microbiome transfer routes and microbiome diversity in the newborn holstein dairy calf hindgut. Front Nutr. 2021; 8 https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.736270

Bovine neonatal enteric immunity: a key consideration in the prevention of calf diarrhoea

02 March 2024
12 mins read
Volume 29 · Issue 2
Figure 2. Example of the reciprocal relationship between the gastrointestinal epithelial cells and the microbiota.
Figure 2. Example of the reciprocal relationship between the gastrointestinal epithelial cells and the microbiota.

Abstract

The mucosa is the largest component of the immune system, providing a first line of defence against most pathogens encountered. Although the mucosa is located in all areas where there are mucosal surfaces (such as the respiratory and urogenital tracts), the clinical importance of diarrhoea in calf veterinary practice means the gastrointestinal mucosa is of particular interest. Taking steps to promote good health of the gastrointestinal mucosa can enhance gastrointestinal mucosal immunity and aid prevention of calf diarrhoea, the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in calves under 1 month old.

The clinical importance of diarrhoea in calves means that the gastrointestinal mucosa is of particular interest to veterinarians. This article looks at the structure and function of the gastrointestinal mucosa and the development of the gastrointestinal microbiota, followed by strategies for optimising gastrointestinal mucosal immunity, including the use of colostrum, enhancing enteropathogen-specific antibodies and supporting the microbiota.

The mucosa is the largest component of the immune system, providing a first line of defence against encountered pathogens. The gastrointestinal mucosa is highly specialised and, uniquely, needs to balance immune and digestive functions. It comprises three primary layers: a mucus barrier, an epithelial cell layer and the lamina propria (Figure 1). Together, these layers form an effective defence against enteropathogens termed the ‘mucosal firewall’ (Chase and Kaushik, 2019).

The inner layer of the mucus barrier is made up of a dense proteoglycan gel created by the combination of mucin and mucus produced by goblet cells (specialised epithelial cells). Antimicrobial peptides and antibodies, such as secretory IgA, are concentrated here, generating effective protection against pathogen incursion. Collectively this layer (comprising mucus and antimicrobial compounds) is termed the ‘kill zone’ (Chase and Kaushik, 2019).

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting UK-VET Companion Animal and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.