Immunoglobulin concentrations in serum and nasal secretions of calves at the onset of pneumonia.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations in serum and in nasal secretions were correlated with pneumonia and diarrhea during the first 12 weeks of life in 56 calves. The peak onset of pneumonia occurred between 2 and 4 weeks of age when the calves' serum IgG1, IgG2, and IgA concentrations were lowest. As IgG2 concentrations increased, fewer calves developed pneumonia. Peak onset of pneumonia was also correlated with the lowest IgG and IgA concentrations in the calves' nasal secretions. Most calves developed pneumonia when serum concentrations of IgG1 were less than 1.5 g/dl, IgG2 less than 0.3 g/dl, IgA less than 0.1 g/dl, and IgM less than 0.2 g/dl and when the combined IgG and IgA values in nasal secretions were less than 0.2 mg of Ig/mg of protein. In study A, diarrhea preceded pneumonia in 63% of 56 calves. In study B, 38% of 23 calves had diarrhea and/or hemorrhagic feces before pneumonia. Seemingly, there was a relationship between diarrhea and pneumonia. Furthermore, pneumonia occurred at or just after the time when IgG1, IgG2, and IgA concentrations in serum and the combined IgG and IgA concentrations in nasal secretions were lowest. Pneumonia is a common disease of calves between 1 and 5 months of age, a period coinciding with the usual low point in serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations due to catabolism of passively acquired antibodies. Calves that absorb less than adequate amounts of Ig may be susceptible to pneumonia at approximately 2 months of age, when serum Ig concentrations would be lowest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)