Authors : Shin-Ichi Kawakami, Tomoya Yamada, Naoto Nakanishi, Yimin Cai and Hiroshi Ishizaki
Abstract: Calves are frequently affected by diarrhea in their early stage of lactation period which would be caused by immaturity of immune system of young animals. The previous reports showed that addition of two selected strains Lactobacillus plantarum Chikuso-1 and Candida sp. CO119 to milk replacer significantly suppressed diarrhea in Holstein calves. It remains unknown, however, whether Chikuso-1 and CO119 could improve immune function of calves. In the present study, changes with day and effects of the microbe feeding on leukocyte phagocytic activities of Holstein calves were examined. Blood samples were collected on day 0 (a day before beginning of the microbe feeding), 9 and 16 from 6.3±1.5 days old control and microbe-fed calves and phagocytic activities of granulocytes and monocytes were determined by flow cytometer. Phagocytic activities were significantly increased with day but the effect of microbe treatment was non-significant. These suggest that calf diarrhea in the early lactation period would be caused partly due to immaturity of leukocyte innate immunity and the effect of Chikuso-1 and CO119 on suppression of calf diarrhea is not likely to be mediated by the system.
Shin-Ichi Kawakami, Tomoya Yamada, Naoto Nakanishi, Yimin Cai and Hiroshi Ishizaki, 2010. Leukocyte Phagocytic Activity with or Without Probiotics in Holstein Calves. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 13-16.