Immune-Stimulatory Effects of a Bacteria-Based Probiotic on PeripheralLeukocyte Subpopulations and Cytokine mRNA Expression Levels in Scouring HolsteinCalves

[摘要] References(39)Cited-By(2)Subpopulations of peripheral leukocytes and cytokine mRNA expression levelswere evaluated in scouring and healthy Holstein calves (age 10 ± 5 days; n=42) treatedwith a probiotic consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum,Enterococcus faecium and Clostridium butyricum. Thecalves were assigned to the scouring or healthy group and then subdivided intopathogen-positive treated (n=8), pathogen-positive control (n=8), pathogen-negativetreated (n=6), pathogen-negative control (n=6), healthy treated (n=6) and healthy control(n=8) groups. A single dose of the probiotic (3.0 g/100 kg body weight) was given to eachcalf in the treatment groups for 5 days. Blood samples were collected on the first day ofscour occurrence (day 0) and on day 7. In the scouring calves, smaller peripheralleukocyte subpopulations and cytokine mRNA expression levels were noted on day 0. Thenumbers of CD3+ T cells; CD4+, CD8+ and WC1+γδ T cell subsets; and CD14+, CD21+ and CD282+ (TLR2)cells were significantly increased in the scouring and healthy treated calves on day 7.Furthermore, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma mRNAexpression was elevated in the peripheral leukocytes of the scouring and healthy treatedcalves on day 7. The scouring calves given the probiotic recovered on day 7. Asignificantly smaller number of peripheral leukocytes and lower cytokine mRNA expressionlevel might be induced by scouring in calves. Repeated probiotic administration mightstimulate cellular immunity and encourage recovery from scouring in pre-weaning Holsteincalves.

[学科分类] 兽医学

[关键词] cytokine;leukocyte;probiotic;scouring calf;toll-like receptor 2