Prevention of mixed respiratory infections in young cattle

The possibility of use of phytomedicine in conjunction with hyperimmune serum of animal donors to enhance the preventive effectiveness at mixed respiratory infections in calves was studied. In a farm in Nizhny Novgorod region with unfavorable in terms of mixed respiratory infections of viral and bacterial etiology a high level of morbidity (80%) and mortality (26%) was revealed. Before use of medicines in clinically healthy calves aged 20-30 days mild immunodeficiency was found characterizing by decrease in relative T-cell content by 20.0%, functional activity of blood neutrophils in spontaneous and induced tests by 19.0%, lysozyme activity by 29.0% when compared with minimum value of the physiological norm for this age period. On the background of the immunological imbalance drastically decreases the effectiveness of traditional therapies. Use of Maxophyt in conjunction with hyperimmune serum of donor animals promoted statistically significant rise in initially reduced immunological parameters and intense specific immunity in clinically healthy calves: absolute and relative T- and B-cell content increased by 36.0%, 38.0% and 50.0%, 67.0% respectively, functional activity of blood neutrophils in spontaneous and induced tests by 18.0% and 32.0%, IgG and IgM levels by 46.0% and 53.0% respectively, lysozyme activity of blood serum by 60.0%. Subcutenous injection of hyperimmune serum of donor animals in conjunction with aerosol treatment with phytomedicine Maxophyt enhanced the preventive effectiveness at mixed respiratory infections of viral and bacterial etiology to 96.2% which was 21.2% higher when compared with the control and average daily body weight gain to 890.0 ± 22.8 g which was 26.0% higher when compared with the control. Combination of medicines provided the 100% safety of calves in experimental groups which was 8.3% higher when compared with the control. The course of disease in experimental calves was mild.

calves, mixed respiratory infections, immune status, hyperimmune serum, Maxophyt, prevention