2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

We conclude that the algorithm in the Precision Xtra Ã’ meter that calculates [glucose] p from [glucose] b is optimized for use in human blood and cannot be accurately applied to bovine blood. We therefore recommend using plasma as the analyte instead of blood, and calculation of the [glucose] p in mg/dL using the following equation: [glucose] p = 0.65 9 [glucose] p-PrecisionXtra +14. If blood is measured using the Precision Xtra Ã’ , then we recommend using the following equation: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is expressed by intraepithelial lymphocytes of calves following infection with Cryptosporidium parvum but its role in the pathogenesis of diarrhea is unknown. Studies have shown that IL-10 knockout mice become resistant to C. parvum infection. Oral administration of chicken egg yolk antibodies as a means of controlling enteric disease in calves is of significant interest to the dairy industry. Egg yolk IL-10 antibodies have been shown to survive gastrointestinal transit, are accessible in the intestinal lumen and remain locally active, without interference of natural immunity or persistence of systemic residues. A double-blinded, randomized, prospective clinical trial was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding IL-10 antibodies on calf health, C. parvum oocyst shedding, days of diarrhea, fecal pH, antibiotic use and average daily gain in dairy calves. The study included 134 calves randomly assigned into a treatment group (fed 0.96 g egg yolk powder with IL-10 antibody per day for 11 days) or a control group (fed 0.96 g of egg yolk powder without IL-10 antibody per day for 11 days). Each calf received a health score based on attitude, appetite, temperature, ocular and nasal discharge, cough, ear position, navel and joint assessment daily for 14 days. Hydration status, fecal pH, and fecal pathogen (C. parvum, Coronavirus, Rotavirus, and Salmonella) testing were conducted two or three times in the first 14 days and growth, respiratory health and antibiotic use were assessed at the conclusion of the trial on day 56. Results showed 8% of calves in the treatment group had respiratory disease compared to 21% of calves in the control group at day 56 (P < 0.04). In addition, 11.1% of calves in the treatment group were administered antibiotics by farm personnel compared to 25.8% of control calves (P < 0.03). Fecal pH was significantly increased in the treatment group on day 14 compared to enrollment day (P < 0.0001). The average of the days of diarrhea was not significantly different between the two groups except during the first 4 days. The treatment group had 0.49 days of diarrhea compared to the control group that had 0.36 days of diarrhea (P < 0.02). There was no difference between groups in fecal shedding of C. parvum at day 5 or day 14 (as measured by RT-PCR CT values). Although, no significant difference in average daily gain was noted between groups, the hipometer estimated weight at day 56 was significantly greater for calves in the treatment group compared to the control group (P < 0.02). We suggest that the increased fecal pH in the treatment group may be an indication of improved gastrointestinal health. Using the common mucosal immune hypothesis, we surmise that enhanced mucosal immunity and host defenses in the gastrointestinal tract resulted in less respiratory disease in treated calves. Future directions include dose response and duration of treatment studies with more detailed focus on parameters of gastrointestinal and res