Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Natascia Bruni
Istituto Farmaceutico Candioli, Italy
Keynote: Effectiveness of a feed supplement to control hyperphosphatemia and metabolic acidosis in advanced stages of feline Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD))
Time : 10:00-10:40
Biography:
Natascia Bruni has completed her PhD from University of Turin and Postdoctoral studies from high synthesis school of Gargnano, Italy. She is the Director of
Research and Development in Candioli Pharma. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Introduction & Aim: When diet alone is not sufficient it is necessary to supplement the diet of CKD cats with specific substances. These are phosphate binders and alkalinizing agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a feed supplement containing a mix of substances to bind the phosphate and correct the metabolic acidosis in cats with CKD (IRIS, International Renal Interest Society, stage 3 and 4). Material & Methods: 10 cats (median BW 4 (3, 6) Kg, BCS 3/5(2, 4), 11 (9, 12) years) fed with a balanced renal diet wereInvolved in the study. Treatment consisted in oral administration of the product (Renal, Candioli Pharma) containing calciumcarbonate, calcium lactate gluconate, sodium bicarbonate and chitosan given for 60 days. The animals were evaluated at thebeginning of the study and at 15, 30, 60 days (T0, T15, T30, T60) for: BW, BCS, food intake, blood pressure and for routinelyhematochemical, biochemical and urinary parameters. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS software. Afterchecking normality data were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests. Results are expressed as median (interquartilerange). Letters show differences among rows (P<0.05).
Results & Discussion: Statistically significant reduction of serum phosphorus concentration was obtained through the study(Reduction of 59% at T60 vs. T0). Also a statistically significant increase of bicarbonate was seen (7% from T0 to T60). At T60 Was also recorded an increase of ionized calcium level, which however was in normal range. It was also detected a statistically Significant difference for the albumin/globulin ratio between day 15 and day 60.
Conclusion: Even if many studies on phosphate binders are conducted on healthy animals it is important to evaluate their efficacy also in cats with CKD. In fact the addition of a phosphorus binder may reduce food intake in azotemic cats but that Effect was not seen in the present study. The feed supplement was effective to reduce blood phosphate levels and to increase.Blood bicarbonate levels thus improving cats’ clinical conditions for the duration of the study.
Keynote Forum
Sue Hudson Duran
Auburn University, USA
Keynote: Review of programs to promote judicious use of antimicrobials in humans and animals one health
Time : 10:00-10:40
Biography:
Sue Hudson Duran has received her Doctoral degree in Pharmacological Science from Auburn University in 2003. She is a Clinical Pharmacist and was the
Supervisor of the IV Admixture Department at Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA. She has served on numerous infectious disease committees in both humans and
animals. She has worked as an Infectious Disease Pharmacy Consultant for 20 years at several hospitals and nursing homes. She has served on the antimicrobial
subcommittee for antimicrobial stewardship for the National Institute of Animal Agriculture.
Abstract:
Antimicrobials have been used for more than half century to treat human and animal diseases, leading to improved
healthcare and increased human lifespan. Over the years, however, many common bacteria have developed resistance to
antibiotics, decreasing their effectiveness. Both human and veterinary medicine have been contributors to misuse or overuse
of these important drugs and government agencies face intense public pressure to curtail their use or find mitigation strategies
for slowing the development of resistance genes in pathogens. Livestock producers for example have been singled out for
their supposed contribution to the problem. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 25 national
health organizations issued a joint policy statement that advocates conserving and replenishing antibiotic resources. The joint
statement commits to working with regulatory, veterinary and industry partners to promote the judicious use of antibiotics in
food animals. The statement also commits to reinforcing the judicious use of antibiotics in agriculture by limiting the use of
medically important human antibiotics in food animals, supporting the use of such antibiotics in animals only for those uses
that are considered necessary for assuring animal health and having veterinary oversight for such antibiotics used in animals.
New guidelines are being recommended for companion animals and particularly microbiota resistances of antibiotics from
feces of in-house pets on antibiotic therapy as well as spraying of fruit trees. There are numerous steps to accomplish this goal
in humans by decreasing excessive prescribing, prompt culture and sensitivity testing of bacterial with on-site test.
- Animal Health | Veterinary Science | Medicine
Location: Berlin Room
Chair
Natascia Bruni
Istituto Farmaceutico Candioli, Italy
Co-Chair
Sue Hudson Duran
Auburn University, USA
Session Introduction
Mahdi Saeed
Michigan State University, USA
Title: Egg-derived antibody for prevention and treatment of E. coli –induced diarrhea
Biography:
Mahdi Saeed is the Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in Michigan State University. He has completed his DVM degree in 1973 from University of Baghdad and
PhD from Washington State University
Abstract:
Antimicrobials are still the major tools for treating infectious diseases. However, the emergence of multidrug resistant bacterial
pathogens and the observation that antibiotic treatment might actually increase the production of some bacterial-derived toxins,
limit the usefulness of this approach, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains that produce heat stable enterotoxin are the
leading cause of traveler’s diarrhea and a major cause of diarrheal disease in developing countries, especially among children. They
are transmitted by contaminated food and water and cause profuse watery diarrhea which results in rapid dehydration and death
in human neonates. The objective of this project is to produce antibodies against STa that can serve as a therapeutic preparation
against diarrheal disease caused by ETEC strains. In order to produce large amounts of high avidity antibodies, a novel approach
was pursued which consists in purification of ETEC-STa, conjugation with bovine serum albumin and immunization of egg-laying
hens to produce STa-specific egg yolk-derived antibodies. Chickens were selected due to the well-known capacity of birds to generate
strong immune responses to protein antigens exceeding those generated in rabbits and other mammalian species, pooled egg-yolk
samples from 24 different birds immunized with STa were produced. These samples were transferred and characterized in terms
of levels of antibodies and antibody avidity by the Immunology Research Unit (IRU) at the University of Maryland. ELISAs to
measure STa antibody titers and avidity were set up and validated using the following reagents: Lyophilized E. coli STa, lyophilized
STa hyper-immune rabbit serum, STa-containing egg yolk extract from an immunized bird (positive control) and purified IgY. ELISA
checker board titrations assessing different experimental conditions and reagents were performed which allowed establishing the
adequate experimental conditions for measurements of STa-specific rabbit IgG and chicken IgY antibodies with good sensitivity and
reproducibility. The STa antigen purified at MSU was potent and produced very high absorbance values with low background. The
rabbit antiserum prepared at MSU was also highly reactive and yielded elevated antibody titers, above 1×100 EU/ml. The optimal
conditions for the measurement of chicken IgY STa antibodies included: Coating with STa at 1 pg/ml in PBS buffer overnight at 4
oC, washing plates after each incubation 6 times with PBS Tween 0.05%, soaking plates for 2 min in between washes; blocking plates
with PBS 0.102 Tween, incubating samples for that 37 oC, using as corlugate: HRP-conjugated AffiniPure Rabbit anti-chicken IgY, Fc
Fragment Specific diluted 1/5000. A standard curve with known concentration of IgY (a commercial reagent) was used to interpolate
absorbance values and to report antibody titers in mass per volume (concentrations). To measure avidity, an ELISA was performed
as described above adding a 10 min overlay with 6M urea after incubation with the experimental samples with the purpose of
dissociating low affinity antibodies. An avidity index was calculated for each sample as the residual titer measured in the presence vs.
absence of urea. The STa IgY titers in the 24 egg yolk samples ranged between 470 and 6182 EU/ml or 390 and 5399 ng/ml (expressed
in antibody concentrations). The range of avidity indices (AI) were between 54 and 100% with a mean AI of 77.2. The avidity of STa
IgY antibodies was higher than the avidity of the rabbit antisera despite the higher antibody levels produced in rabbits.
Akdoucche Leila
Higher National Veterinary School, Algeria
Title: Importance of yeasts in the mammary infection of the cattle in the region of SidiM’Hammed Ben Ali, Wilaya of Relizane, Algeria
Biography:
Akdouche Leila is currently a Research Scholar in Higher National Veterinary School, Algeria. Her research interest includes microbiology and antimicrobial effect study.
Abstract:
The mastitis is one of the principal pathologies in the dairy bovine exploitation. The majority of the cases are caused by bacteria
but there are also cases caused by fungi. The objective of our study was to evaluate the occurrence of these fungi in mammary
glands of 39 cows (mastitic cows and clinically healthy cows) belonging to two types of farms (4 exploitations using manual milking
and 3 exploitations with milking machine) in the area of SidiM’Hammed Ben Ali, Wilaya of Relizane and to assess some risk factors
(the tubes of drug, animal excretions, goblets-milkers, the milker hands and the litter). For this purpose, 150 sample of milk and 94
swabs were carried out. Our results revealed the presence of a heavy load of fungi cells in healthy and in the mastitis milks with a
strong frequency of the Trichosporon sp. (43, 58%) followed by the Candida sp. (30.76%). The same yeasts were isolated from swabs.
Ahasan Mohammad Shamim
James Cook University, Australia
Title: Detection and antibiotic resistance of Gram negative enteric isolates from green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Biography:
Mohammad Shamim Ahasan is currently pursuing his PhD at James Cook University, Australia. He has completed his MS in Tropical Animal Health from Institute of Tropical
Medicine, Belgium. He is working as an Assistant Professor (in deputation) in the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences under Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and
Technology University, Bangladesh. He has published more than 15 articles in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Gastrointestinal disorders are one of the identified threats for mortality of endangered green turtle populations in rehabilitation
centres. In most cases, accurate diagnosis is difficult and broad-spectrum antibiotics are used for treatment. This study identified
and measured the antibiotic resistance of intestinal Enterobacteriaceae that were isolated from green sea turtles in northern Great
Barrier Reef, Australia. Deep cloacal swabs were taken aseptically from 76 green turtles ranging from juvenile to adult from different
locations including rehabilitation centers between June 2015 and January 2016. A total of 173 out of 371 Gram negative bacterial
isolates were identified as Enterobacteriaceae using culture dependent phenotypic, biochemical and molecular techniques. The
resistance against 12 antimicrobial agents belonging to 5 different antibiotic classes was determined using the broth microdilution
inhibition (MIC) technique. 18 different species were identified that represent 13 different genera of Enterobacteriaceae. The dominant
isolates were Citrobacter (18.5%), Edwardsiella (17.92%) and Escherichia (13.29%). The other Enterobacteriaceae members include
Salmonella, Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Morganella, Providencia, Pantoea, Cronobacter and Raoultella. The isolates
showed highest resistance to beta lactam antibiotics (86.13%) followed by quinolone derivatives (49.13%), aminoglycosides (47.98%),
chloramphenicol (18.50%) and potentiated sulphonamides (7.51%) respectively. 27.17% isolates were identified exhibited multidrug
resistance. These included Escherichia, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Proteus. Isolates obtained from rehabilitation centers were
significantly resistant (p<0.05) to the antibiotics except gentamicin, streptomycin and potentiated sulfonamides. The environmental
isolates recovered from the turtles of Cockle Bay and Ollera Beach showed significant (P<0.05) resistance to ceftiofur. The findings of
this study demonstrate that enteric bacterial flora of green sea turtles is composed of a wide spectrum of Enterobacteriaceae including
several potential zoonotic pathogens with multiple drug resistance. These findings indicate that in the future, it may be important to
investigate ways to reduce the level of multi-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in rehabilitated turtles before they are released back into the
Ocean.
- Zoonosis|Clinical veterinary and Infection Control
Location: Berlin Room
Chair
Sue Hudson Duran
Auburn University, USA
Co-Chair
Natascia Bruni
Istituto Farmaceutico Candioli, Italy
Session Introduction
Natascia Bruni
Istituto Farmaceutico Candioli, Italy
Title: In vitro bactericidal activity of lactoferricin and other enzymes on bacteria selected from dogs with pyoderma
Biography:
Natascia Bruni has completed her PhD from University of Turin and Postdoctoral studies from High Synthesis School of Gargnano, Italy. She is the Director of Research
and Development in Candioli Pharma. She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Lactoferricin (LFcin) is a peptide with antimicrobial activity against microorganisms such as Gram negative and positive bacteria,
including some antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Others enzymes like dextrozyme, alcalase and amylase may be associated to the
LFcin to enhance its antimicrobial action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of LFcin associations with
dextrozyme (LFD), alkalase (LFL) and amylase (LFM) against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from dogs with pyoderma. The evaluation was performed using minimum inhibitory
concentrations with a microtiter plate dilution method starting by an LFcin/enzymes solution at 11%. The bacterial inoculums in
log-phase growth were prepared in brain heart infusion broth (BHI) with a turbidity of 0.5 McFarland, corresponding to 102 to 103
cells/ml. Dilutions in BHI at 2:1 (7.5%), 1:1 (5.5%), 1:2 (3.7%) and 1:5 (1.8%) were used for each bacteria. Negative and positive
controls were included. All the wells were incubated 10 μl on blood agar at 37 °C for 48 hours to confirm the bacterial inhibition. The
associations LFD and LFM showed bactericidal activity against all the isolates at 7.3%, at 5.5%, only for S. pseudintermedius at 3.7%.
The LFL showed inhibition at 3.7% for all strains and resistance at 1.8%. These results suggest that the associations of LFcin with other
enzymes improve its antimicrobial activity. The LFL exhibits in vitro bactericidal activity even against a strain of multidrug resistant
P. aeruginosa at low concentrations. LFcin and its associations should be a new topical treatment of skin infections.
Eugene
University of Calgary, Canada
Title: he changing clinical manifestations and pathological processes Histophilus somni infections in cattle
Biography:
Eugene has received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 1972 from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He has spent three
years practicing in northeastern Alberta before returning to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine on Alberta-sponsored fellowship to complete Post-graduate degree.
He has received MVS degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1977. In 1977, he accepted a position with the Ambulatory Clinic at the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and has spent his time working with a general interest in beef cattle medicine. He became associated with Feedlot Health
Management Services in 2003.
Abstract:
Histophilus somni, a small, pleomorphic, Gram-negative bacteria, causes an infection commonly referred to as “Histophilosis”,
implying that the infection is systemic even though the clinical manifestation may be specific to an organ system. It was first
identified in 1960 as the cause of infectious thromboembolic meningoencephalitis (ITEME) in cattle fed in confinement and this
encephalitic form of the infection was recognized to be the main manifestation. More recently, this manifestation is diagnosed less
commonly and infection with H. somni has been shown to be an important cause of sporadic “sudden death” in groups of recently
weaned, confined cattle and associated with diverse pathological processes involving the heart, thoracic space and lungs. Modern
microbiology has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate characteristics of the organism that contribute significantly to its’
virulence but may not be present in all isolates. Pathogenic and commensal strains have been shown to exist. The diagnosis of
Histophilosis historically was made by isolating the pathogen microbiologically which was often difficult because of prior treatment
with antimicrobials. However, confirmation currently is made using molecular techniques like immunohistochemical (IHC) staining
of H&E fixed tissues or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of fresh swabs taken from the lesions. In vitro examination of the organism
suggests it is sensitive to most antibiotics, although the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) needed to prevent growth of H.
somni has apparently increased in recent years. The various clinical and pathological manifestations will be discussed with emphasis
on diagnosis and complications of clinical management.
Zeaur Rahim
International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh
Title: Mycobacterium orygis: Emerging causative agent of tuberculosis in cattle in Bangladesh
Biography:
Zeaur Rahim is a citizen of Bangladesh. He is a Microbiologist. After completion of Master degree in Biological Science, he became affiliated with icddr,b as Research Trainee for a period of three years since the year 1981. During his long career at icddr,b Dr. Rahim obtained training in the field of Water Bacteriology, Diarrhoeal Disease and finally Tuberculosis. In the year 2001, Dr. Rahim established Tuberculosis Laboratory at icddr,b to set up conventional culture and susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis. Dr. Rahim published 75 papers in peer reviewed bio-medical journals and associated with different journals as reviewers manuscript.
Abstract:
Bangladesh is one of the tuberculosis (TB) endemic countries of the world. National TB control program has proper attention on
human TB, but TB in cattle is neglected. In this study, vital organs of the dead cows were analyzed after postmortem to isolate
and identify Mycobacterium from the vital organs of the dead cows, perform drug susceptibility testing and genotyping of isolates.
After post-mortem, part of the tissue samples from vital organs was processed for histopathological examination. For culture, tissue
homogenate samples were inoculated on Lowenstein-Jensen slants. Characteristic colonies were confirmed Mycobacterium by acidfast
staining and colony morphology. Anti-TB drug sensitivity testing was performed following proportion method. For molecular
characterization, DNA was extracted from the culture of Mycobacterium for RD analysis, single nucleotide polymorphism for genes like;
gyrB, mmlp6, TbD1 and PPE55 genes. Genotyping was performed by standard spoligo and VNTR-MIRU typing. Histopathological
examination, demonstrated prominent granuloma, caseous necrosis and calcification as proof of TB. Mycobacterium grew from the
vital organs of 18 out 21 dead cattle. AFB staining, sensitivity to PNB indicated that the strains belong to M. tuberculosis complex.
Molecular characterization indicated that these strains belong to new species M. orygis. Isolated strains were sensitive to all first line
anti-TB drugs. M. orygis is an emerging species of Mycobacterium causing cattle TB. Detailed epidemiological study of M. orygis
needs to be conducted to control this disease. Sensitivity to all first line anti-TB drugs indicated that human infection with this TBbacillus
could be successfully treated with anti-TB drugs.
Indira T Kudva
United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, USA
Title: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and recto anal junction persistence in ruminants: A study of bacterial-epithelial interactions
Biography:
Indira T Kudva is a Research Microbiologist and Lead Scientist at the National Animal Disease Center, USDA, Ames, Iowa. She has received her BSc in Zoology and
MSc in Medical Microbiology from India, PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Idaho and trained as a Postdoctoral Fellow at
the University of Idaho, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of microbiology, molecular biology
and infectious diseases. She has 29 peer-reviewed publications, 3 invited reviews, 27 meeting abstracts, 18 invited talks, 8 funded grants and novel inventions (4 patent
applications). She is also an adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, the Executive Editor for the “Virulence Mechanisms
of Bacterial Pathogens” book, 5th Edition, ASM press and is on the Editorial Boards of the Applied and Environmental Microbiology (ASM press) and the SRL Proteomics
and Bioinformatics (Sci Res Literature) journals.
Abstract:
Escherichia coli O157:H7 (O157) was the first Shiga toxin-producing E. coli serotype to be associated with bloody diarrhea or
hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. It has since been implicated in several outbreaks
in the U.S. and globally. Non-O157 STEC have not been associated with major outbreaks but still cause 64% of all STEC infections
in the U.S. Cattle are well documented ruminant reservoirs of STEC and the primary site of STEC persistence in these animals is the
rectoanal junction (RAJ). To investigate this persistence at the RAJ we have analyzed O157 adherence at a histological level, developed
a novel adherence assay using squamous epithelial cells at the RAJ, evaluated role of well characterized STEC adherence proteins,
in STEC attachment to the RAJ and explored the similarities in RAJ-STEC interactions with another ruminant animal. STEC show
distinct adherence patterns on the columnar epithelial and squamous epithelial (RSE) cells at the RAJ. The novel RSE cell adhesion
assay provides a convenient means of directly evaluating bacterial interactions with host-specific cells. We have determined that
proteins other than LEE and intimin-γ proteins are involved in STEC adherence to RSE cells. Such proteins with adhesin potential
have been shortlisted using proteomics for development of efficacious anti-adhesion modalities. We have also found that bison and
cattle RAJ share similar distribution of epithelial cell markers and O157 adheres to RSE cells from both animals in similar patterns,
supporting bison as likely ‘wildlife’ reservoirs for O157.
Beatriz Quinones
United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, USA
Title: Virulence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 recovered from domestic farm animals in rural communities in Northwestern Mexico
Biography:
Beatriz Quinones has completed her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology and Postdoctoral studies in Plant and Microbial Biology from the University of California at Berkeley.
She is currently a Research Molecular Biologist in the Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit at the USDA/ARS-Western Regional Research Center. Her research
projects are aimed at the detection and genotyping of bacterial and viral food borne pathogens and have resulted in the publication of more than 35 papers in peer-reviewed
journals. Her ongoing collaborations with academic institutions in Mexico are focused on the detection of food borne pathogens in agricultural regions for export produce
Abstract:
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are zoonotic enteric pathogens associated with human gastroenteritis worldwide.
Our study characterized the genotypic diversity and virulence profiles of O157 and non-O157 STEC strains, recovered from
domestic animals in the agricultural Culiacan Valley in Northwestern Mexico. By using a selective enrichment and isolation protocol,
serotype O157:H7 isolates were identified in 40% (26/65) of the recovered isolates from cattle, sheep and chicken feces. The clinicallyrelevant
non-O157 serotypes O8:H19, O75:H8, O111:H8 and O146:H21 represented 35.4% (23/65) of the isolates, mostly from sheep.
Analysis of the allelic diversity indicated that the O157:H7 isolates were highly related but a greater genotypic diversity was observed
in the non-O157 isolates. Genotyping assays revealed the presence of virulence genes coding for adhesins, cytotoxins, effectors and
Shiga toxin (Stx) subtypes in the tested strains. To examine the relative toxicities of the STEC strains, a fluorescent Vero cell based
assay was employed to measure the inhibition of protein synthesis by Stx. Non-O157 strains with serotypes O8:H19 O75:H8 and
O146:H8 were found to have an enhanced ability to inhibit protein synthesis in Vero cells while a reduced cytotoxicity was observed
for all O157:H7 strains. The STEC strains exhibited antimicrobial resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins and
penicillin which are commonly used in Mexico. In conclusion, zoonotic STEC with virulent genotypes are present in animals on
small farms in the Culiacan Valley and these findings emphasize the need for the development of control measures and surveillance
of antimicrobial resistance in an important agricultural region in Northwestern Mexico.
Eben Oosthuysen
New Mexico State University, USA
Title: Blood gas analysis as diagnostic tool for early detection of respiratory disease in cattle
Biography:
Eben Oosthuysen is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree in Ruminant Nutrition at New Mexico State University, USA. His research focus on alternative management
practices to improve feedlot receiving calf health in preparation for the soon anticipated restriction on antibiotic use in food producing animals. He has published his research
findings as proceedings and abstracts in more than 17 occasions.
Abstract:
Bovine respiratory disease is the most significant health problem facing in the U.S. beef industry. Blood oximetry is used in human
medicine to diagnose respiratory disease and has been correlated to arterial hypoxia in cattle. Therefore, we evaluated the possible
correlation between blood parameters and health and performance of immune-stimulated and hay-supplemented calves. Crossbred
heifers (n=705; 179±0.58 kg) were assigned to 48 pens and 4 treatments in a randomized complete block design. No metaphylaxis
(antibiotic) was used and calves received a corn gluten feed based ration (Ramp). Treatments were a factorial arrangement
of supplemental hay (+HAY vs. –HAY) and immune stimulation (+IMMUN vs. –IMMUN). Calves assigned to +HAY received
supplemental alfalfa hay for the first 14 days and +IMMUN calves received a DNA immunostimulant (Zelnate) on day 0. Calf average
daily gain was greater (P<0.01) for +HAY than –HAY during the first 14 days but lower from day 14 to 28. Immune stimulated calves
had lower (P<0.01) average daily gains from day 28 to 56 and from day 0 to 56. Treatments did not affect (P≥0.18) calf morbidity,
mortality or blood parameters (pH, glucose, lactate, sO2). Blood sO2 correlated (P<0.05) with mortality (R2=0.08) and blood glucose
correlated with first (R2=-0.22) and second (R2=-0.13) medical treatment. Lactate correlated (P<0.05) with first medical treatment
(R2=-0.12) and mortality (R2=-0.12). These correlations suggest possible application of blood parameters as diagnostic tool.