Abstract
Immunosuppression as a consequence of acute and chronic stress can increase the susceptibility of cattle to a range of infectious diseases. In order to develop a panel of immune function assays for investigating the effects of potential stressors on immune competence in cattle, the effect of treatment with short- and long-acting preparations of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone was examined. Short-acting dexamethasone (dexamethasone sodium phosphate 0.08 mg/kg) followed 37 h later by long-acting dexamethasone (dexamethasone-21 isonicotinate 0.25 mg/kg) was injected intramuscularly and blood was collected to assess immune functions at intervals over the subsequent 11 days from 6 treated and 6 control Hereford steers. Dexamethasone induced leukocytosis (neutrophilia, eosinopenia, lymphopenia, monocytosis), an increased neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, an elevated percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes, a decreased total CD8+ lymphocyte count, decreased total and percentage WC1+ lymphocytes, an elevated percentage of IL-2 receptor alpha (IL-2Rα)+ lymphocytes, and an elevated percentage of B lymphocytes. In vitro chemotaxis of peripheral blood neutrophils to human C5a and ovine IL-8 was increased by dexamethasone treatment. Lymphocyte proliferation in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin, and serum concentrations of IgM, but not IgA or IgG1, were suppressed by dexamethasone treatment, whereas mitogen-induced production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), neutrophil expression of CD18, neutrophil myeloperoxidase activity and natural killer (NK) cell activity were not influenced by dexamethasone treatment. The results indicate the potential for haematology and immune function assays to reflect elevated activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis in cattle. Immunological parameters may thus provide a useful adjunct to cortisol and behavioural observations for assessing the impact of stress on the welfare of cattle.
Similar content being viewed by others
Reference
Amadori, M., Archetti, I.L., Frasnelli, M., Bagni, M., Olzi, E., Caronna, G. and Lanteri, M., 1997. An immunological approach to the evaluation of welfare in Holstein Friesian cattle. Journal of Veterinary Medicine B, 44, 321–327
Burton, J.L. and Kehrli, M.E., 1996. Effects of dexamethasone on bovine circulating T lymphocyte populations. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 59, 90–99
Burton, J.L., Kehrli, M.E., Kapil, S. and Horst, R.L., 1995. Regulation of L-selectin and CD18 on bovine neutrophils by glucocorticoids: Effects of cortisol and dexamethasone. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 57, 317–325
Clarke, C.R., Lauer, A.K., Barron, S.I. and Wycko¡, J.H., 1994. The role of eicosanoids in the chemotactic response to Pasteurella haemolytica infection. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series B, 41, 483–491
Cohen, J.J., 1992. Glucocorticoids. In: I.M. Roitt and P.J. Delves (eds), Encyclopedia of Immunology, (Academic Press, London), 616–617
Cook, C.J. and Splitter, G.A., 1989. Characterisation of bovine mononuclear cell populations with natural cytolytic activity against bovine herpesvirus 1-infected cells. Cellular Immunology, 120, 240–249
Cook, C.K., Letchworth, G.J. and Splitter, G.A., 1989. Bovine naturally cytolytic cell activation against bovine herpes virus type 1-infected cells does not require late viral glycoproteins. Immunology, 66, 565–569
Detilleux, J.C., Kehrli, M.E., Stabel, J.R., Freeman, A.E. and Kelley, D.H., 1995. Study of immunological dysfunction in periparturient Holstein cattle selected for high and average milk production. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 44, 251–267
Hails, M.R., 1978. Transport stress in animals: a review. Animal Regulation Studies, 1, 289–343
Hseuh, C.M., Rogers, C., Hiramoto, R.N. and Ghanta, V.K., 1994. E¡ect of dexamethasone on conditioned enhancement of natural killer cell activity. Neuroimmunomodulation, 1, 370–376
Ilott, M.C., Salt, J.S., Gaskell, R.M. and Kitching, R.P., 1997. Dexamethasone inhibits virus production and the secretary IgA response in oesophageal-pharyngeal fluid in cattle persistently infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus. Immunology and Cell Biology, 72, 398–405
Jayappa, H.G. and Loken, K.I., 1983. E¡ect of antibacterial agents and corticosteroids on bovine polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis. American Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 44, 2155–2159
Jonsdottir, I.H., Ho¡mann, P. and Thoren, P., 1997. Physical exercise, endogenous opioids and immune functions. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 161, 47–50
Lan, H.C., Reddy, P.G., Chambers, M.A., Walker, G., Srivastava, K.K. and Ferguson, J.A., 1998. E¡ect of stress on interleukin-2 receptor expression by bovine mononuclear leukocytes. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 49, 241–249
Mulder, K. and Colditz, I.G., 1993. Migratory responses of ovine neutrophils to inflammatory mediators in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 53, 273–278
Murata, H., Takahashi, H. and Matsumoto, H., 1985. The nitro-blue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing activity of peripheral blood phagocytes from untreated and stress-exposed calves. Bulletin of the National Institute of Animal Health, 88, 17–24
Nonnecke, B.J., Burton, J.L. and Kehrli, M.E., 1997. Associations between functions and composition of blood mononuclear leukocyte populations from Holstein bulls treated with dexamethasone. Journal of Dairy Science, 80, 2403–2410
Paape, M.J., Gwazdauskas, F.C., Guidry, A.J. and Weinland, B.T., 1981. Concentrations of corticoster-oids, leukocytes, and immunoglobulins in blood and milk after administration of ACTH to lactating dairy cattle: Effects on phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 42, 2081–2087
Roth, J.A. and Kaeberle, M.L., 1981. Evaluation of bovine polymorphonuclear function. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 2, 157–174
Rothel, J.S., Jones, S.L., Corner, L.A., Cox, J.C. and Wood, P.R., 1990. A sandwich enzyme immunoassay for bovine interferon-g and its use for detection of tuberculosis in cattle. Australian Veterinary Journal, 67, 134–137
Seow, H., Yoshimura, T., Wood, P.R. and Colditz, I.G., 1994. Cloning, sequencing, expression and inflammatory activity in skin of ovine interleukin-8. Immunology and Cell Biology, 72, 398–405
Van Kampen, C. and Mallard, B., 1998. Effects of peripartum stress and health on circulating bovine lymphocyte subsets. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 59, 79–91
Zwahlen, R.D. and Roth, D.R., 1990. Chemotactic competence of neutrophils from neonatal calves: functional comparison with neutrophils from adult cattle. Inflammation, 14, 109–123
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Anderson, B., Watson, D. & Colditz, I. The Effect of Dexamethasone on Some Immunological Parameters in Cattle. Vet Res Commun 23, 399–413 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006365324335
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006365324335