Effects of Transportation Stress on Complete Blood Count, Blood Chemistry, and Cytokine Gene Expression in Heifers

Veterinary Sciences

René Alvarado-Avila¹  Moisés A. Franco-Molina²  Juan J. Zárate-Ramos³  Diana E. Zamora-Avila³  Yareellys Ramos-Zayas³  Héctor Fimbres-Durazo³  Benito Avila-Jaime³  Jorge R. Kawas³ 

[1] MNA de México, Avenida Acapulco 770, Colonia La Fe, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León CP 66477, Mexico;Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Inmunología y Virología, Unidad C, Ave. Universidad S/N, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León CP 66455, Mexico;Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Posgrado Conjunto Agronomiîa-Veterinaria, Avenida Francisco Villa S/N, Colonia Ex-Hacienda El Canadá, Escobedo, Nuevo León CP 66050, Mexico;

关键词: transport stress;    heifers;    blood analysis;    cortisol;    cytokines;    animal welfare;   

DOI  :  10.3390/vetsci8100231

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Blood samples were obtained from 16 high-risk heifers; eight were newly arrived from a 40 h road trip (0 days post-arrival (DPA)), whereas the other eight heifers had been in the feedlot at 25 DPA. Both groups were transported from the southeast tropical region of Mexico to a feedlot in the northeast and were sampled on the same day. The complete blood count, blood chemistry, and cytokine gene expression were analyzed. Gene expression was analyzed using specific primers to amplify and quantify the cDNA reverse transcribed from the mRNA transcripts for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-2. Higher values for hematocrit (p = 0.029), hemoglobin (p = 0.002), eosinophils (0.029), albumin (p = 0.014), alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.004), bilirubin (p = 0.003), cholesterol (p = 0.014), and cortisol (p = 0.051) were observed in the 0 DPA group than the 25 DPA group. In the electrophoresis of TNF-α amplification products, two non-specific bands were observed in the 0 DPA group. These bands were sequenced, and BLAST analysis suggested that they corresponded to bovine lymphotoxin and have not been reported previously related to stress. The TNF-α expression level was higher (p = 0.001) in the 25 DPA group than the 0 DPA group according to the semi-quantitative expression analysis. This may indicate a persistent inflammatory process that could be related to trauma and disease, which can negatively impact their subsequent health and growth performance. In conclusion, homeostatic disruption was apparent in the 0 DPA heifers, which showed higher cortisol and reductions in TNF-α levels and stress-induced bovine lymphotoxin (SIBL) co-expression.

【 授权许可】

Unknown