Research Article
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Serum IgG threshold values associated with increased risk of diseases in preweaned lambs

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 17 - 25, 30.04.2025

Erhan Gökçe , Onur Atakisi , Pınar Cihan , Ali Haydar Kırmızıgül , Hidayet Metin Erdoğan

Abstract

Serum IgG cut-off points associated with increased risk of septicemia, fatigue anorexi syndrome (FAS), diarrhea and pneumonia in preweaned lambs was investigated in this study. The study involved 347 Akkaraman crossbred lambs born on two farms in Kars, Turkey. Blood samples were collected 24±1 h after birth and serum IgG concentration was measured by ELISA assay and cut-off values for each disease were determined. Neonatal lambs with diarrhea, FAS and septicaemia had statistically significantly lower IgG concentrations compared to healthy lambs (P<0.05). Critical SIgGC-24 cut-off values for increased risk of diarrhea, FAS and septicaemia in neonatal lambs were <800, <1000 and <200 mg/dl. In post-neonatal period, SIgGC-24 (mg/dL) was lower in only lambs with pneumonia compared to healthy lambs (P<0.05). The risk of developing septicaemia (IgG<200 mg/dL vs IgG>200 mg/dL), diarrhoe (IgG<800 mg/ dL vs IgG>800 mg/dL), FAS (IgG<1000 mg/dL vs IgG>1000 mg/dL) and pneumonia ((IgG<1000 mg/dL vs IgG>1000 mg/dL) was 203, 6, 18 and 12 times higher, respectively. A threshold vaule of IgG<998 mg/dL and IgG<193 mg/ dL were determined for neonatal morbidity and mortality, respectively. An appropriate colostrum management may help to maintain the health of pre-weaning lambs, thereby improving the productivity and profitability of sheep farms.

Keywords

IgG cut-offs lamb health passive immunity colostrum

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation and Use (Protocol number:2008-23).

Supporting Institution

This project was supported byThe Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (project no.: 108 O 847).

Project Number

TUBITAK TOVAG. project no.: 108 O 84

Thanks

We sincerely thank to The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey as a study team for providing financial support.

References

  • Agenbag, B., Swinbourne, A. M., Petrovski, K., & van Wettere, W. H. (2021). Lambs need colostrum: A review. Livestock Science, 251, 104624.
  • Altiner, A., Özpınar, A., Ulutaş, P., & Erhard, M. (2005). Effect of experimental Mannheimia haemolytica infection in sheep fed coostrum and dam or cow milk after birth on serum IgG. Bulletin Veterinary Institute of Pulawy, 49(4), 427-31.
  • Alves, A. C., Alves, N. G., Ascari, I. J., Junqueira, F. B., Coutinho, A. S., Lima, R. R., &Abreu, L. R. (2015). Colostrum composşition of Santa Inês sheep and passive transfer of immunity to lambs. Journol of Dairy Science, 98, 3706–16.
  • Andres, S., Jimenez, A., Sanchez, J., Alonso, J. M., Gomeza, L., Lopez, F., & Rey, J. (2007). Evaluation of some etiological factors predisposing to diarrhoea in lambs in “La Serena” (Southwest Spain). Small Ruminat Research, 70, 272-5.
  • Banchero, G. E, Quintans, G., Martin, G. B., Lindsay, D. R., & Milton, J. T. B. (2004). Nutrition and colostrum production in sheep. 1. Metabolic and hormonal responses to a high-energy supplement in the final stages of pregnancy. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 6(6), 633-43.
  • Berge, A.C., Hassid, G., Leibovich, H., Solomon, D., & Haines, D. M. (2018). A field trial evaluating the health and performance of lambs fed a bovine colostrum replacement. Journal of Animal Research and Nutrition, 3, 1-4.,
  • Bond C. (2020). Evaluation of lamb colostrum supplements. Veterinar Record,18(11), 100.
  • Britti, D., Massimini, G., Peli, A., Luciani, A., & Boari, A. (2005). Evaluation of serum enzyme activities as predictors of passive transfer status in lambs, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 226, 951-55.
  • Campion, F. P., Crosby, T. F., Creighton P, Fahey, A. G., & Boland, T. M. (2019). An investigation into the factors associated with ewe colostrum production. Small Ruminant Research, 178, 55–62.
  • Castro. N., Capote, J., Batista, M., Bruckmaier, R. M., & Arguello, A. (2011). Management effects on colostrogenesis in small ruminants: a review. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 39, 85–93.
  • Demis. C. H., Aydefruhim, D., Wondifra, Y., Ayele, F., Alemnew, E., & Asfaw, T. (2020). Maternal immunoglobulin in the serum of newborn lambs and its relation with neonatal mortality. Online Journal of Animal Feed Research, 10(3), 119-24.
  • Dwyer, C. M. (2008). The welfare of the neonatal lamb. Small Ruminant Research, 76, 31- 41.
  • Dwyer, C. M., Conington, J., Corbiere, F., Holmøy, H., Muri, K., Nowak, R., Rooke, J., Vipond, J., & Gautier, J. M. (2016). Invited review: improving neonatal survival in small ruminants: science into practice. Animal, 10, 449–59.
  • Fischer, A. J., Villot, C., van Niekerk, J.K., Yohe, T. T., Renaud, D. L., & Steele. M. A. (2019). Invited Review: Nutritional regulation of gut function in dairy calves: From colostrum to weaning. Applied Animal Science, (AAS), 35(5), 498–510.
  • Gokce, E., & Erdogan, H. M. (2008). Pneumonia in neonatal lambs: Frequency and some associated risk factors. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 14, 223-28.
  • Gokce, E., & Erdogan, H. M. (2009). An epidemiological study on neonatal lamb health. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 15, 225-36.
  • Gokce, E., Atakisi, O., Kirmizigul, A. H., & Erdogan, H. M. (2013a) Risk factor sassociated with passive immunity, health, birth weight and growth performance in lambs: II. Effects of passive immunity and some risk factors on growth performance during the first 12 weeks of life. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 19, 619-627.
  • Gokce, E., Kirmizigul, A. H., Erdogan, H. M., & Citil, M. (2013b). Risk factors associated with passive immunity, health, birth weight and growth performance in lambs: I. Effect of parity, dam’s health, birth weight, gender, type of birth and lamb-ing season on morbidity and mortality. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 19 (Suppl-A), 153-160.
  • Gokce, E., Atakisi, O., Kirmizigul, A. H., & Erdogan, H. M. (2014). Passive immunity in lambs: Serum lactoferrin concentrations as a predictor of IgG concentration and its relation to health status from birth to 12 weeks of life. Small Ruminant Research, 116(2-3), 219-28.
  • Gokce, E., Atakişi, O., Kırmızıgul, A.H., & Erdogan, H.M. (2019). Interrelationships of serum and colostral IgG (passive immunity) with total protein concentrations and health in lam bs. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 25(3), 387-396.
  • Gokce, E., Kirmizigul, A. H., Atakisi, O., Kuru, M., & Erdogan, H. M. (2021). Passive immunity in lambs: Colostral and serum γ-gutlamyltransferase as a predictor of IgG concentration and related to the diseases from birth to 12 weeks of life. Veterinary Medicine – Czech, , 66, 45–57.
  • Gokce, E., Ayvazoğlu, C., Cihan, P., Atakisi, O., Kirmizigul, A. H., & Erdogan, H. M. (2024). Relationship between growth performance, passive immunity and health in preweaned lambs. Erciyes Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 21(2), 117-122.
  • Herndon, C. N., Shanthalingam, S., Knowles, D. P., Call, D. R., & Srikumaran, S. (2011). Comparison of passively transferred antibodies in bighorn and domestic lambs reveals one factor in differential susceptibility of these species to Mannheimia haemolytica-induced pneumonia. Clinical and vaccine immunology, 18(7), 1133-38.
  • Kessler, E. C., Bruckmaier, R. M., & Gross, J. J. (2019). Immunoglobulin G content and colostrum composition of different goat and sheep breeds in Switzerland and Germany. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(60), 5542-5549.
  • Kumar, A., Tikoo, S. K., Malik, P., & Kumar, A. T. (2014). Respiratory diseases of small ruminant. Veterinary Medicine International, 73642.
  • Lora, I., Gottardo, F., Contiero, B., Ava, B. D., Bonfanti, L., Stefani, A., & Barberio, A. (2018). Association between passive immunity and health status of dairy calves under 30 days of age. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 152,12-15.
  • Massimini, G., Peli, A., Boari, A., & Britti, D. (2006). Evaluation of assay procedures for prediction of passive transfer status in lambs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 6, 593-598.
  • Pardon, B., Alliët, J., Boone, R., Roelandt, S., Valgaeren, B., & Deprez, P. (2015). Prediction of respiratory disease and diarrhea in veal calves based on immunoglobulin levels and the serostatus for respiratory pathogens measured at arrival. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 20(2), 169-176.
  • Pesca, C., Forti, K., Felici, A., Scoccia, E., Forte, C., Antenucci, P., & Crotti S. (2020). Enzootic pneumonia in sheep: ewe and lamb immune response after Mannheimia haemolytica vaccine administration under field condition in Italy. Large Animal Review, 26(2), 73-76.
  • Sawyer, M., Willadsen, C. H., Osburn, B. I., & McGuire, T. C. (1977). Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins from ewe to lamb and its influence on neonatal lamb mortality. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 12, 1255-59.
  • Simundic, A. M. (2019). Measures of diagnostic accuracy: Basic definitions. The Electronic Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 19(4), 203-11.
  • Smith, W. D, Wells, P. W., Burrells, C., Dawson, A., & Me, L. (1976). Maternal immunoglobulins and parainfluenza 3 virus inhibitors in nasal and lachrymal secretions and serum of newborn lambs. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 23(3), 544-553.
  • Turquino, C. F., Flaiban, K. K. M., & Lisbôa, J. A. N. (2011). Transferência de imunidade passiva em cordeiros de corte manejados extensivamente em clima tropical. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 1, 199–205.
  • Virtala, A. M., Mechor, G. D., Grohn, Y. T., & Erb, H. N. (1996). The effect of calfhood diseases on growth of female dairy calves during the first 3 months of life in New York State. Journal of Dairy Science, 79(6), 1040-49.

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 17 - 25, 30.04.2025

Erhan Gökçe , Onur Atakisi , Pınar Cihan , Ali Haydar Kırmızıgül , Hidayet Metin Erdoğan

Abstract

Project Number

TUBITAK TOVAG. project no.: 108 O 84

References

  • Agenbag, B., Swinbourne, A. M., Petrovski, K., & van Wettere, W. H. (2021). Lambs need colostrum: A review. Livestock Science, 251, 104624.
  • Altiner, A., Özpınar, A., Ulutaş, P., & Erhard, M. (2005). Effect of experimental Mannheimia haemolytica infection in sheep fed coostrum and dam or cow milk after birth on serum IgG. Bulletin Veterinary Institute of Pulawy, 49(4), 427-31.
  • Alves, A. C., Alves, N. G., Ascari, I. J., Junqueira, F. B., Coutinho, A. S., Lima, R. R., &Abreu, L. R. (2015). Colostrum composşition of Santa Inês sheep and passive transfer of immunity to lambs. Journol of Dairy Science, 98, 3706–16.
  • Andres, S., Jimenez, A., Sanchez, J., Alonso, J. M., Gomeza, L., Lopez, F., & Rey, J. (2007). Evaluation of some etiological factors predisposing to diarrhoea in lambs in “La Serena” (Southwest Spain). Small Ruminat Research, 70, 272-5.
  • Banchero, G. E, Quintans, G., Martin, G. B., Lindsay, D. R., & Milton, J. T. B. (2004). Nutrition and colostrum production in sheep. 1. Metabolic and hormonal responses to a high-energy supplement in the final stages of pregnancy. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 6(6), 633-43.
  • Berge, A.C., Hassid, G., Leibovich, H., Solomon, D., & Haines, D. M. (2018). A field trial evaluating the health and performance of lambs fed a bovine colostrum replacement. Journal of Animal Research and Nutrition, 3, 1-4.,
  • Bond C. (2020). Evaluation of lamb colostrum supplements. Veterinar Record,18(11), 100.
  • Britti, D., Massimini, G., Peli, A., Luciani, A., & Boari, A. (2005). Evaluation of serum enzyme activities as predictors of passive transfer status in lambs, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 226, 951-55.
  • Campion, F. P., Crosby, T. F., Creighton P, Fahey, A. G., & Boland, T. M. (2019). An investigation into the factors associated with ewe colostrum production. Small Ruminant Research, 178, 55–62.
  • Castro. N., Capote, J., Batista, M., Bruckmaier, R. M., & Arguello, A. (2011). Management effects on colostrogenesis in small ruminants: a review. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 39, 85–93.
  • Demis. C. H., Aydefruhim, D., Wondifra, Y., Ayele, F., Alemnew, E., & Asfaw, T. (2020). Maternal immunoglobulin in the serum of newborn lambs and its relation with neonatal mortality. Online Journal of Animal Feed Research, 10(3), 119-24.
  • Dwyer, C. M. (2008). The welfare of the neonatal lamb. Small Ruminant Research, 76, 31- 41.
  • Dwyer, C. M., Conington, J., Corbiere, F., Holmøy, H., Muri, K., Nowak, R., Rooke, J., Vipond, J., & Gautier, J. M. (2016). Invited review: improving neonatal survival in small ruminants: science into practice. Animal, 10, 449–59.
  • Fischer, A. J., Villot, C., van Niekerk, J.K., Yohe, T. T., Renaud, D. L., & Steele. M. A. (2019). Invited Review: Nutritional regulation of gut function in dairy calves: From colostrum to weaning. Applied Animal Science, (AAS), 35(5), 498–510.
  • Gokce, E., & Erdogan, H. M. (2008). Pneumonia in neonatal lambs: Frequency and some associated risk factors. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 14, 223-28.
  • Gokce, E., & Erdogan, H. M. (2009). An epidemiological study on neonatal lamb health. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 15, 225-36.
  • Gokce, E., Atakisi, O., Kirmizigul, A. H., & Erdogan, H. M. (2013a) Risk factor sassociated with passive immunity, health, birth weight and growth performance in lambs: II. Effects of passive immunity and some risk factors on growth performance during the first 12 weeks of life. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 19, 619-627.
  • Gokce, E., Kirmizigul, A. H., Erdogan, H. M., & Citil, M. (2013b). Risk factors associated with passive immunity, health, birth weight and growth performance in lambs: I. Effect of parity, dam’s health, birth weight, gender, type of birth and lamb-ing season on morbidity and mortality. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 19 (Suppl-A), 153-160.
  • Gokce, E., Atakisi, O., Kirmizigul, A. H., & Erdogan, H. M. (2014). Passive immunity in lambs: Serum lactoferrin concentrations as a predictor of IgG concentration and its relation to health status from birth to 12 weeks of life. Small Ruminant Research, 116(2-3), 219-28.
  • Gokce, E., Atakişi, O., Kırmızıgul, A.H., & Erdogan, H.M. (2019). Interrelationships of serum and colostral IgG (passive immunity) with total protein concentrations and health in lam bs. Kafkas Universitesi Veteteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 25(3), 387-396.
  • Gokce, E., Kirmizigul, A. H., Atakisi, O., Kuru, M., & Erdogan, H. M. (2021). Passive immunity in lambs: Colostral and serum γ-gutlamyltransferase as a predictor of IgG concentration and related to the diseases from birth to 12 weeks of life. Veterinary Medicine – Czech, , 66, 45–57.
  • Gokce, E., Ayvazoğlu, C., Cihan, P., Atakisi, O., Kirmizigul, A. H., & Erdogan, H. M. (2024). Relationship between growth performance, passive immunity and health in preweaned lambs. Erciyes Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 21(2), 117-122.
  • Herndon, C. N., Shanthalingam, S., Knowles, D. P., Call, D. R., & Srikumaran, S. (2011). Comparison of passively transferred antibodies in bighorn and domestic lambs reveals one factor in differential susceptibility of these species to Mannheimia haemolytica-induced pneumonia. Clinical and vaccine immunology, 18(7), 1133-38.
  • Kessler, E. C., Bruckmaier, R. M., & Gross, J. J. (2019). Immunoglobulin G content and colostrum composition of different goat and sheep breeds in Switzerland and Germany. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(60), 5542-5549.
  • Kumar, A., Tikoo, S. K., Malik, P., & Kumar, A. T. (2014). Respiratory diseases of small ruminant. Veterinary Medicine International, 73642.
  • Lora, I., Gottardo, F., Contiero, B., Ava, B. D., Bonfanti, L., Stefani, A., & Barberio, A. (2018). Association between passive immunity and health status of dairy calves under 30 days of age. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 152,12-15.
  • Massimini, G., Peli, A., Boari, A., & Britti, D. (2006). Evaluation of assay procedures for prediction of passive transfer status in lambs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 6, 593-598.
  • Pardon, B., Alliët, J., Boone, R., Roelandt, S., Valgaeren, B., & Deprez, P. (2015). Prediction of respiratory disease and diarrhea in veal calves based on immunoglobulin levels and the serostatus for respiratory pathogens measured at arrival. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 20(2), 169-176.
  • Pesca, C., Forti, K., Felici, A., Scoccia, E., Forte, C., Antenucci, P., & Crotti S. (2020). Enzootic pneumonia in sheep: ewe and lamb immune response after Mannheimia haemolytica vaccine administration under field condition in Italy. Large Animal Review, 26(2), 73-76.
  • Sawyer, M., Willadsen, C. H., Osburn, B. I., & McGuire, T. C. (1977). Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins from ewe to lamb and its influence on neonatal lamb mortality. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 12, 1255-59.
  • Simundic, A. M. (2019). Measures of diagnostic accuracy: Basic definitions. The Electronic Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 19(4), 203-11.
  • Smith, W. D, Wells, P. W., Burrells, C., Dawson, A., & Me, L. (1976). Maternal immunoglobulins and parainfluenza 3 virus inhibitors in nasal and lachrymal secretions and serum of newborn lambs. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 23(3), 544-553.
  • Turquino, C. F., Flaiban, K. K. M., & Lisbôa, J. A. N. (2011). Transferência de imunidade passiva em cordeiros de corte manejados extensivamente em clima tropical. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 1, 199–205.
  • Virtala, A. M., Mechor, G. D., Grohn, Y. T., & Erb, H. N. (1996). The effect of calfhood diseases on growth of female dairy calves during the first 3 months of life in New York State. Journal of Dairy Science, 79(6), 1040-49.
There are 34 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Veterinary Sciences (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Erhan Gökçe 0000-0003-2674-1010

Onur Atakisi 0000-0003-1183-6076

Pınar Cihan 0000-0001-7958-7251

Ali Haydar Kırmızıgül 0000-0002-6660-2149

Hidayet Metin Erdoğan 0000-0003-1261-4352

Project Number TUBITAK TOVAG. project no.: 108 O 84
Publication Date April 30, 2025
Submission Date October 25, 2024
Acceptance Date December 13, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 10 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Gökçe, E., Atakisi, O., Cihan, P., Kırmızıgül, A. H., et al. (2025). Serum IgG threshold values associated with increased risk of diseases in preweaned lambs. Journal of Advances in VetBio Science and Techniques, 10(1), 17-25.
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