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Sala G, Bronzo V, Boccardo A, Gazzonis AL, Moretti P, Ferrulli V, Belloli AG, Filippone Pavesi L, Pesenti Rossi G, Pravettoni D. Assessing failure of transfer of passive immunity by gamma-glutamyl-transferase activity and serum refractometry in holstein-friesian calves affected by neonatal diarrhea. Vet Res Commun 2023; 47:2315-2321. [PMID: 37314566 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10149-3] [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: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hardly published data are available to diagnose the failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in calves affected by neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD). This study evaluated the diagnostic performance and differences among optical serum total protein (STP) concentration and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) activity for assessing FTPI in diarrheic Holstein Friesian calves. 72 diarrheic and 19 healthy Holstein Friesian calves aged 1 to 10 days were enrolled. Each calf underwent a complete clinical examination and dehydration assessment. The effect of dehydration status and age on the correlation between the two methods under study (STP and GGT) and the gold standard (Immunoglobulin G [IgG] measured with RID) was investigated with Spearman's correlation index R for ranks. Serum total protein concentration and GGT activity were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to identify the optimal cut-off point to distinguish between diarrheic calves with or without FTPI, also considering the effects of dehydration and age. The results show that GGT activity was affected by the age of calves, while STP was influenced by dehydration. The cut-offs to distinguish calves with IgG < 10 g/L were < 52 g/L of STP in normohydrated calves, < 58 g/L of STP in dehydrated calves, and < 124 IU/L of GGT in calves with aged between 3 and 10 days. In nondehydrated diarrheic calves, the STP refractometer showed better diagnostic accuracy.In dehydrated calves aged between 3 and 10 days, however, its accuracy drops, and it is advisable to use GGT activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Sala
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
| | - Valerio Bronzo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
| | - Antonio Boccardo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy.
| | - Alessia Libera Gazzonis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Moretti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Ferrulli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
| | - Angelo Giovanni Belloli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
| | - Laura Filippone Pavesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
| | - Gaia Pesenti Rossi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
| | - Davide Pravettoni
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy
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Probo M, Veronesi MC. Clinical Scoring Systems in the Newborn Calf: An Overview. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12213013. [PMID: 36359137 PMCID: PMC9658896 DOI: 10.3390/ani12213013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Clinical scores are gaining increasing popularity in veterinary medicine thanks to their multiple advantages, which include quickness, ease, and convenience of use. This review discusses the applications of some already-known clinical scores in newborn calf management at birth and during the first weeks of age. Clinical scores are employed to assess newborn calf viability and to diagnose and monitor neonatal calf diarrhea and respiratory diseases, helping the clinician promptly recognize calves needing medical assistance. This review discusses limitations pertaining to their use and encourages efforts towards a greater consistency in definition and validation. Abstract A scoring system is an instrument that enables the scorers, including farmers, technicians, and veterinarians, to adopt a systematic approach for diagnosis or monitoring, as it decreases bias and confounding and increases objectivity. Practically, it is a number assigned to a patient that correlates with a probability that a diagnosis can be confirmed or that a specific outcome will follow. This article examines the clinical scores designed or adapted to bovine medicine that aim to assess newborn calf viability and to diagnose and monitor neonatal calf diarrhea and respiratory diseases, helping the clinician promptly recognize calves needing medical assistance. Despite the large number of clinical scores described in the literature, these are still barely used in farm animal practice; possibly, the complexity of the scores and missing recommendations for intervention are reasons for their lack of popularity as well as the crosswise lack of consistency among scores designed for the same purpose. Further research is needed in this regard to increase scores validation and encourage their application in bovine calf neonatology.
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Pisello L, Sala G, Rueca F, Passamonti F, Pravettoni D, Ranciati S, Boccardo A, Bergero D, Forte C. An exploratory cross-sectional study of the impact of farm characteristics and calf management practices on morbidity and passive transfer of immunity in 202 Chianina beef-suckler calves. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2021.1948806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pisello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulia Sala
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Rueca
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Davide Pravettoni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
| | - Saverio Ranciati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Statistiche Paolo Fortunati, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Boccardo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
| | - Domenico Bergero
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Claudio Forte
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
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Penati M, Sala G, Biscarini F, Boccardo A, Bronzo V, Castiglioni B, Cremonesi P, Moroni P, Pravettoni D, Addis MF. Feeding Pre-weaned Calves With Waste Milk Containing Antibiotic Residues Is Related to a Higher Incidence of Diarrhea and Alterations in the Fecal Microbiota. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:650150. [PMID: 34307516 PMCID: PMC8298036 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.650150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The cows receiving antibiotics for intra-mammary infection (IMI) produce milk that cannot be marketed. This is considered waste milk (WM), and a convenient option for farmers is using it as calf food. However, adding to the risk of selecting resistant bacteria, residual antibiotics might interfere with the gut microbiome development and influence gastrointestinal health. We assessed the longitudinal effect of unpasteurized WM containing residual cefalexin on calf intestinal health and fecal microbiota in an 8-week trial. After 3 days of colostrum, six calves received WM and six calves received bulk tank milk (BM) for 2 weeks. For the following 6 weeks, all 12 calves received milk substitute and starter feed. Every week for the first 2 weeks and every 2 weeks for the remaining 6 weeks, we subjected all calves to clinical examination and collected rectal swabs for investigating the fecal microbiota composition. Most WM calves had diarrhea episodes in the first 2 weeks of the trial (5/6 WM and 1/6 BM), and their body weight was significantly lower than that of BM calves. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, WM calves had a lower fecal microbiota alpha diversity than that in BM calves, with the lowest p-value at Wk4 (p < 0.02), 2 weeks after exposure to WM. The fecal microbiota beta diversity of the two calf groups was also significantly different at Wk4 (p < 0.05). Numerous significant differences were present in the fecal microbiota taxonomy of WM and BM calves in terms of relative normalized operational taxonomic unit (OTU) levels, affecting five phyla, seven classes, eight orders, 19 families, and 47 genera. At the end of the trial, when 6 weeks had passed since exposure to WM, the phyla Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Saccharibacteria were lower, while Chlamydiae were higher in WM calves. Notably, WM calves showed a decrease in beneficial taxa such as Faecalibacterium, with a concomitant increase in potential pathogens such as Campylobacter, Pseudomonas, and Chlamydophila spp. In conclusion, feeding pre-weaned calves with unpasteurized WM containing antibiotics is related to a higher incidence of neonatal diarrhea and leads to significant changes in the fecal microbiota composition, further discouraging this practice in spite of its short-term economic advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Penati
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Giulia Sala
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Filippo Biscarini
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Boccardo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Valerio Bronzo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Bianca Castiglioni
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Cremonesi
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Moroni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Davide Pravettoni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Maria Filippa Addis
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
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Boccardo A, Sala G, Ferrulli V, Pravettoni D. Cut-off values for predictors associated with outcome in dairy calves suffering from neonatal calf diarrhea. A retrospective study of 605 cases. Livest Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Boccardo A, Sala G, Coppoletta E, Bronzo V, Proserpio M, Belloli AG, Pravettoni D. Frequency and severity of neonatal calf diarrhea cases treated with a standard veterinary hospital protocol do not affect heifer reproduction performance and first lactation production. Livest Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Sala G, Boccardo A, Fantinato E, Coppoletta E, Bronzo V, Riccaboni P, Belloli AG, Pravettoni D. Retrospective analysis of iatrogenic diseases in cattle requiring admission to a veterinary hospital. Vet Rec Open 2019; 6:e000254. [PMID: 30997111 PMCID: PMC6446213 DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2017-000254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Iatrogenic diseases in veterinary medicine are often related to malpractice or lack of skill. For this retrospective study, 4262 clinical records of cattle admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital of the University of Milan between 2005 and 2017 were analysed, and 121 cases (2.8 per cent), referred for an iatrogenic-related disease, were selected. The findings showed that iatrogenic diseases were more often caused by farmers (92.6per cent) than by bovine practitioners (7.4 per cent). Iatrogenic diseases were caused mainly by the improper administration of drugs (43.0 per cent), forced extraction during calving (19.8 per cent), forced milk or colostrum feeding, which was often performed by awkward administration using a nipple bottle (14.9 per cent) or by oral oesophageal tubing (15.7 per cent). Moreover, farmers often performed medical, nursing and zootechnical procedures without adequate training. The role of the practitioner is fundamental in farmer education. Clinicians, especially in some professional branches such as neonatology, should not delegate medical procedures to untrained farmers. Effective tutoring and good communication with farmers play a key role in dairy herd health and consequently in public health. This then can lead to a decrease in improper drug administration, the prevention of antibiotic resistance and the reduction of treatment costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Sala
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Antonio Boccardo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Eleonora Fantinato
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Eleonora Coppoletta
- Centro Clinico-Veterinario e Zootecnico-Sperimentale, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Lombardy, Italy
| | - Valerio Bronzo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Pietro Riccaboni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | | | - Davide Pravettoni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
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