Effects of B vitamin injections on plasma B vitamin concentrations of feed-restricted beef calves infected with bovine herpesvirus-1.

For nonruminants, stress and disease greatly increase requirements for vitamin B6, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and ascorbate. The effects of feed restriction, virus infection, and vitamin injections on plasma concentrations of B vitamins critical to the immune response were evaluated. Twelve beef steer calves, 6 to 8 mo of age, were fed below maintenance for 17 d and deprived of food for 3 d during a 20-d period after weaning. They then were inoculated intranasally with live attenuated bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1). Six calves received saline injections and six received injections of a B vitamin mixture and ascorbate every 48 h for 14 d before and 14 d after inoculation. A mild respiratory infection developed in all calves 4 to 5 d after inoculation. In control calves, restricted intake and food deprivation decreased plasma vitamin B6 and pantothenate and increased vitamin B12 but did not affect folic acid and ascorbate concentrations. Vitamin injections increased plasma concentrations of vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, and ascorbate (P < .002). Plasma concentrations of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, and ascorbate, but not folic acid, were markedly reduced in all calves during the BHV-1 infection (P = .001). The vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, vitamin B12, and ascorbate status of stressed calves may affect their immune response to vaccination or infection.