Assessment of Selected Immunological Parameters in Dairy Cows with Naturally Occurring Mycotoxicosis before and after the Application of a Mycotoxin Deactivator.

Introduction: Mycotoxins in dairy cows can cause many non-specific symptoms often resulting from immune system overreaction. The study assessed the concentration of selected cytokines and acute phase proteins (APP) in cows with natural mycotoxicosis before and after using a mycotoxin neutraliser. The cytokines were tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10), and the APP were serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp). Material and Methods: The research was carried out on an experimental group (Exp) of 10 herdmate Holstein-Friesian cows with mycotoxicosis. The control group (Con) was 10 healthy cows of the same breed from a different herd. Cows in the Exp group were administered the mycotoxin deactivator Mycofix for three months. Blood was drawn from Exp cows once before administering Mycofix and a second time after three months of its use. Blood was also drawn from Con cows at the same times. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, SAA and Hp were assessed using ELISA. Results: The concentrations of all cytokines and Hp in Exp cows were higher before treatment (P < 0.001) than those in Con cows. After three months of administering Mycofix, the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly lower than their pre-treatment levels (P < 0.001). The concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, and Hp were still significantly higher than those in the Con group (P < 0.001). In cows with mycotoxicosis, simultaneous stimulation of antagonistic processes was noted: a pro-inflammatory process in the upregulation of TNF-α and IL-6, and an anti-inflammatory one in the upregulation of IL-10. Conclusion: Despite the absorbent's use and the resolution of clinical symptoms in Exp cows, high levels of IL-10 and Hp and IL-6 were maintained. Assessment of the level of cytokines and APP appears to be a useful and precise tool for the evaluation and application of the appropriate dose of the mycotoxin absorbent or the evaluation of its effectiveness.

Comparative evaluation of cytokine and acute-phase protein concentrations in sera of dairy cows with subclinical and clinical ketosis as a different view of the causes of the disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Ketosis is a common disease occurring during the first stage of lactation in highly productive dairy cows. The aim of the present study was the comparative assessment of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines (including tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α] and interleukin 6 [IL-6]), anti-inflammatory cytokines (including IL-10), and acute-phase proteins (APPs) (including haptoglobin [Hp] and serum amyloid A [SAA]), in the sera of cows with subclinical ketosis (SCK), in those with clinical ketosis (CK), and in healthy cows. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty dairy cows of Holstein-Friesian breed were investigated. The cows were divided into three groups depending on the serum ß-hydroxybutyric acid (ßHBA) level. The control, SCK, and CK groups included healthy cows, cows with SCK, and cows with CK, respectively. BHBA concentration in blood serum was determined using colorimetric method. The blood serum was used for proper tests. Cytokine (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) and APPs (SAA and Hp) concentrations in the investigated samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The SCK group had significantly higher TNF-α, IL-6; IL-10, and SAA values than had the CK group (p<0.01). The SCK group had a lower Hp concentration than had the CK group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the inflammation intensity is higher in the initial phase of the disease and decreases during the advancement, probably due to active anti-inflammatory mechanisms (an increase of IL-10 concentration), which protect animal organism from self-destruction. On the basis of our study, it can be assumed that ketosis development in dairy cows was preceded by the systemic inflammation that may influence the progress of this disease.

Inflammatory cytokine and acute phase protein concentrations in the peripheral blood and uterine washings of cows with subclinical endometritis in the late postpartum period.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), and acute phase proteins (APPs)--haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in serum and uterine washings of cows with subclinical endometritis, and compare them to healthy animals. The study was performed on 24 cows on day 60 after delivery. The cows were divided into two groups based on the results of cytological tests: 12 cows with subclinical endometritis and 12 healthy cows. Experimental material consisted of blood serum and uterine washings. The levels of the following cytokines in the study material were determined with ELISA: TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and APPs - Hp and SAA. The results show that the levels of TNF-α (p < 0.01), IL-6, IL-10 as well as SAA and Hp were significantly higher in the serum of cows with subclinical endometritis compared to the controls (p < 0.001). Uterine washings had significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-10, and Hp in the experimental cows compared to the controls (p < 0.001). The demonstrated differences in the concentration of cytokines and APP between cows with subclinical endometritis and healthy cows, in both the serum and uterine washings, may suggest the usefulness of these parameters in the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in cows in the late postpartum period.