1. Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology of Large and Small Animals with an Ambulatory Service of the Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany M Herr, H Bostedt Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows This research project is promoted by the Schaumann Stiftung

2. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows In dairy cows, diseases arise within the periparturient period with a higher incidence than in other farm animals (Lewis, 1997; McDougall, 2001; Diez-Fraile et al., 2003; Lamote et al., 2006). In dairy cows, diseases arise within the periparturient period with a higher incidence than in other farm animals (Lewis, 1997; McDougall, 2001; Diez-Fraile et al., 2003; Lamote et al., 2006). On the majority there occure cases of mastitis a.p. and directly p.p., retained fetal membranes, puerperal toxicaemia, puerperal septicaemia and chronic endometritis. On the majority there occure cases of mastitis a.p. and directly p.p., retained fetal membranes, puerperal toxicaemia, puerperal septicaemia and chronic endometritis.

3. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Detilleux et al. (1995) as well as Franklin et al. (2005) describe an abartement of IgG 1 until the birth. Additionally, there is present a study, that shows a coincidence between the occurrence of retained placenta (RP) and a degraded colostral content of immunoglobulins. Partus Colostral Ig-content without RP 15,13 ± 8,56 g/l with RP 7,58 ± 6,72 g/l Source: Lona, V.; Romero, C. (2001); J. Dairy Sci. 84: 389-391

4. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Following questions should be answered by this study: Following questions should be answered by this study: What are the concentrations of humoral immunoglobulins (IgG/IgM) in the periparturient period ? What are the concentrations of humoral immunoglobulins (IgG/IgM) in the periparturient period ? Are there relations between the severity of birth as well as disturbances in the postpartal period to the humoral concentrations of immunoglobulins ? Are there relations between the severity of birth as well as disturbances in the postpartal period to the humoral concentrations of immunoglobulins ?

5. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Survey design : Survey design : Tested subjects: n = 57 dairy cows (HF SB, HF RB), Tested subjects: n = 57 dairy cows (HF SB, HF RB), aged between 3 and 5 years aged between 3 and 5 years Eutocia:n = 21 Eutocia:n = 21 with postpartal intricacies :n = 3 with postpartal intricacies :n = 3 without postpartal intricacies :n = 18 without postpartal intricacies :n = 18 (control group) Dystocia:n = 36 Dystocia:n = 36 with postpartal intricacies :n = 18 with postpartal intricacies :n = 18 without postpartal intricacies :n = 18 without postpartal intricacies :n = 18

6. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Method: Method: the humorale IgG- and IgM-titer were determined by using new developed and evaluated competitive ELISA's the humorale IgG- and IgM-titer were determined by using new developed and evaluated competitive ELISA's (Stengel, K.-H. (1998); Bender, P. (2004))

7. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Results: Results: rapid decrease of IgG from the 8 th week a.p. to parturition (p<0,001) rapid decrease of IgG from the 8 th week a.p. to parturition (p<0,001) reconciliation up to the 4 th week p.p. reconciliation up to the 4 th week p.p.

8. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Results: Results: decline of IgM between the 4 th and 2 nd week a.p. decline of IgM between the 4 th and 2 nd week a.p. enhancement 2 weeks a.p. to partus enhancement 2 weeks a.p. to partus (p < 0,001) decrease i.p.; up to the 4 th week p.p. on degraded level (p > 0,05) decrease i.p.; up to the 4 th week p.p. on degraded level (p > 0,05)

9. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Results: Results: relatively constant between the 8 th week a.p. until 1 day a.p. relatively constant between the 8 th week a.p. until 1 day a.p. precipitous increase i.p. precipitous increase i.p. (p < 0,001) 24 hours p.p. again on base level (p < 0,01) 24 hours p.p. again on base level (p < 0,01)

10. Eutocia with undisturbed postpartal period n = 18 Eutocia with undisturbed postpartal period n = 18 Eutocia with disturbed postpartal period n = 3 Eutocia with disturbed postpartal period n = 3 IgG IgM

11. Tested subjects: Tested subjects: Dystocia with undisturbed postpartal period n = 8 Dystocia with disturbed postpartal period n = 8 p (IgG i.p.) = 0,02 p (IgG group) = 0,02 p (IgM i.p.) > 0,05 p (IgM group) > 0,05

12. Tested subjects: Tested subjects: Dystocia with undisturbed postpartal period n = 10 Dystocia with disturbed postpartal period n = 10 p (IgG i.p.) = 0,02 p (IgG group) = 0,02 p (IgM i.p.) > 0,05 p (IgM group) > 0,05

13. Tested subjects: Tested subjects: Dystocia with undisturbed postpartal period n = 18 Dystocia with disturbed postpartal period n = 18 p (group) = 0,02 p (time) < 0,001

14. Tested subjects: Tested subjects: Dystocia with undisturbed postpartal period n = 18 Dystocia with disturbed postpartal period n = 18 p (group) > 0,05 p (time) > 0,05

15. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Summary I: Summary I: The decline of the IgG concentrations in dairy cattle with eutocia from the 7 th month a.p. up to parturition, as well as the degraded IgG- and IgM-concentrations p.p. are the expression of a decreased immunocompetence during periparturient period. The decline of the IgG concentrations in dairy cattle with eutocia from the 7 th month a.p. up to parturition, as well as the degraded IgG- and IgM-concentrations p.p. are the expression of a decreased immunocompetence during periparturient period. A dystocia, particulary in association with a disturbed postpartal period, correspond with differently strong depressions within the immune system, which are slowly compensated during aftermath. A dystocia, particulary in association with a disturbed postpartal period, correspond with differently strong depressions within the immune system, which are slowly compensated during aftermath.

16. Influence of peripartal disturbances on the humoral immunity in dairy cows Summary II: Summary II: The phase of the immunosuppression post partum, which persists depending upon process of the birth and the postpartale period at least four weeks, is an tentative explanation for increased disease susceptibility in the periparturient period. The phase of the immunosuppression post partum, which persists depending upon process of the birth and the postpartale period at least four weeks, is an tentative explanation for increased disease susceptibility in the periparturient period.

17. Thank you for your attention