Silva Flávio G, Lamy Elsa, Infante Paulo, Conceição Cristina, Cerqueira Joaquim L, Ramalho Joana M, González-Cabrera Marta, Caetano Pedro, Martins Luís, Silva Severiano R, Pereira Alfredo, Hernández-Castellano Lorenzo E
Veterinary and Animal Research Centre & Al4AnimalS, Department of Animal Science, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, and CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Jul 28;15(15):2224. doi: 10.3390/ani15152224.
The transfer of passive immunity (TPI) is vital for newborn calf health and is typically assessed through blood sampling to measure serum or plasma IgG or total protein levels. Saliva offers a less invasive alternative. This study evaluated the potential of saliva for assessing TPI. Saliva and serum samples were collected from 20 calves at birth and on days 1, 2, and 7 of life to measure IgG, IgA, IgM, and total protein concentrations. Colostrum fed to the calves was also analyzed for gross composition and immunoglobulin content. Colostrum intake and composition were associated with saliva IgG (R = 0.48; = 0.019), saliva IgM (R = 0.73; = 0.02), and saliva total protein (R = 0.41; = 0.043). Serum IgG and IgA levels were predicted by saliva IgG ( < 0.001; R = 0.33) and IgA ( < 0.001; R = 0.13), respectively, though predictive accuracy varied by calf age (IgG: < 0.001; R = 0.40; IgA: < 0.001; R = 0.91). In conclusion, the results suggest that both saliva IgG and IgA concentrations could be used to predict IgG and IgA serum concentrations. Nevertheless, further studies are still needed to clarify the best time for sample collection.
被动免疫转移（TPI）对新生犊牛的健康至关重要，通常通过采集血液样本以测量血清或血浆中的IgG或总蛋白水平来评估。唾液提供了一种侵入性较小的替代方法。本研究评估了唾液用于评估TPI的潜力。在出生时以及出生后第1、2和7天从20头犊牛采集唾液和血清样本，以测量IgG、IgA、IgM和总蛋白浓度。还对犊牛所喂初乳的总体成分和免疫球蛋白含量进行了分析。初乳摄入量和成分与唾液IgG（R = 0.48；P = 0.019）、唾液IgM（R = 0.73；P = 0.02）和唾液总蛋白（R = 0.41；P = 0.043）相关。血清IgG和IgA水平分别由唾液IgG（P < 0.001；R = 0.33）和IgA（P < 0.001；R = 0.13）预测，不过预测准确性因犊牛年龄而异（IgG：P < 0.001；R = 0.40；IgA：P < 0.001；R = 0.91）。总之，结果表明唾液IgG和IgA浓度均可用于预测血清IgG和IgA浓度。然而，仍需要进一步研究以明确最佳样本采集时间。
