Stress and inflammatory response of cows and their calves during peripartum and early neonatal period

Stress, inflammatory response, and their relationship were investigated in Simmental cows during the transition period (N = 8; 5 multiparous and 3 primiparous) and in their calves (N = 8; 5 heifers and 3 bulls). From cows, blood was collected at days-21 (+/- 4), 0, +1, +7, and +21 days relative to calving. From calves, blood was collected after birth before colostrum intake (0) and then at 1, 7, and 15 days of age. Cortisol, Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and haptoglobin concentration was assessed by ELISA technique; white blood cells (WBC) were assessed using an ADVIA 2120 Hematology System machine. One-way ANOVA showed an effect of time for all the investigated parameters (P < 0.001) except for lymphocytes in peripartal cows. At calving and 1 d after, cortisol concentration was negatively correlated with levels of IL-6, WBC, and monocytes, whereas levels of IL-6 were positively correlated with WBC, neutrophils, and monocytes count. Cortisol, IL-6, haptoglobin, WBC and all leukocyte populations were affected by the age of neonatal calves (P < 0.001) except for neutrophils. A negative correlation between cortisol and IL-6, neutrophils, monocytes and haptoglobin was found at 15 days of age. A positive correlation between IL-6 and haptoglobin at day 15 of age, and with neutrophils and monocytes at days 7 and 15 of age was found. A positive correlation was obtained between cortisol levels measured in cows around calving and those obtained in calves after birth before colostrum intake (r = 0.83), and between IL-6 concentrations obtained from cows at calving and 1 d after and those obtained in calves at day 1 of age, after the colostrum intake (r = 0.93 and 0.79, respectively). The study suggests that immune function of peripartal cows is in an active state and that, in addition to other well-known factors driving the changes of pa-rameters herein investigated, cortisol could have a role in the immune-modulatory adjustment during peripartum in cows. Furthermore, it can be hypothesized that cortisol is transferred from the cow to newborn calf through the placenta only and not through colostrum, whereas IL-6 levels in calves during the 24 h after birth seem to be influenced by IL-6 values measured in cows around calving due to its transfer through colostrum. (c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigated the stress, inflammatory response, and their relationship in Simmental cows and their calves during the transition period. The results showed significant changes in cortisol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), haptoglobin, and white blood cell (WBC) counts over time. Cortisol concentration was negatively correlated with IL-6, WBC, and monocytes, while IL-6 was positively correlated with WBC, neutrophils, and monocytes. The age of neonatal calves also significantly affected cortisol, IL-6, haptoglobin, WBC, and leukocyte populations. The study suggests that cortisol may play a role in immune modulation during the peripartum period in cows, and IL-6 levels in calves may be influenced by their mothers' IL-6 values. (c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.