(825.14) Comparative Assessment of the Content of Immunoglobulins in the Blood Serum of Calves Obtained From Healthy Cows and Cows with Genital Mycoplasmosis

Poster Board Number: D14

Anastasia Nikitina (Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine), Roman Vasiliev (Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine), Sergey Kovalev (Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine), Vyacheslav Trushkin (Saint-Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine)

The genital form of mycoplasmosis is a common disease among cattle in the North-West region of the Russian Federation. In the initial period of illness, cows retain reproductive function and are capable of maintaining pregnancy. It is known that any mothers illness during pregnancy affects the fetuss body, including its immune system. Based on this, it is interesting to compare the immunoglobulin composition of the blood serum of calves obtained from healthy cows and mothers with genital mycoplasmosis. For the experiment, two groups of calves were formed at the age of 7-9 days, 8 animals in each. The first group (G1) - calves obtained from cows with a positive PCR test for Mycoplasma spp. and serological identification of M. bovigenitalium, without clinical signs of vaginitis and cervicitis. The second group (G2) - calves from clinically healthy cows with negative PCR test for Mycoplasma spp. Blood was obtained from each group, serum was separated, and the content of immunoglobulins (Ig) of classes G, M, A was determined by discrete precipitation. The study results show that the total content of immunoglobulins in the blood serum in calves from G1 was 9.91 ± 0.27 g / l, and in calves from G2 - 13.8 ± 0.48 g / l, which was 39% lower (P lt;0.001). As for the classes of immunoglobulins, the level of IgG in calves from G2 was 9.55 ± 0.32 g / l, and in calves from G1, it was almost two times lower - 4.79 ± 0.17 g / l (P lt;0.001). It was found that the concentration of IgM in the blood serum in calves from G2 was 2.46 ± 0.19 g / l, and in G1, it was 13% lower (P lt;0.05). The change in the level of Ig A was different, so in calves, from G2, it was 1.79 ± 0.12 g / l, and in calves, from G1, it was significantly higher - 3.24 ± 0.15 g / l (P lt;0.001). The results of the study show that mycoplasma infection in pregnant cows affects the immunological status of calves. This is manifested by a decrease in the total content of immunoglobulins in the blood serum of calves and a redistribution of their classes:  an increase in the level of Ig A and a decrease in the concentration of Ig G and Ig M, relative to calves obtained from healthy cows.