Innate immunity response during dry period in pluriparous Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with health disorders in the first week after parturition

In buffaloes in healthy condition during dry-period (DP), levels of haptoglobin which has been identified as the parameter most sensitive to stress in the buffalo, were found to be up to 8 times higher than the mean value (1). The aim of the study was to evaluate by means of a retrospective analysis the state of innate immunity of pluriparous buffaloes during the DP between healthy buffaloes vs buffaloes with health disorders in the first week after delivery. The study was conducted on 15 buffaloes in healthy clinical status whit a partum-conception period of 52.40 ± 8.80 days, milk yield of 2433.50 ± 231.60 kg in 291.80 ± 3.46 days. Weekly blood samples were taken starting from the 14th day after the beginning of the DP to 7 days after parturition. The samples were centrifuged and the serum was stocked at -80°C until analytical tests were carried out. Samples were tested for: hemolytic complement (2), lysozyme (3), bactericidal activity (4), haptoglobin, uric acid, amylase, bilirubine, ALP, CK-NAC total, cholesterol, creatinine, γGT, glucose, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, Mg, P, triglycerides and urea. By retrospectively analyses data recovered were compared between animal with (Group NH, n=6) and without (Group H, n=9) healthy disorders in the first week after parturition. Statistical analysis were performed by Student's t-test. No differences ware observed between two groups in, milk yield, length of dry period, metabolic parameters and hemolytic complement, lysozyme, bactericidal activity values. Haptoglobin value showed a higher value in group NH starting to 21 days before calving to 7 days after parturition (fig.1) Analysis of data suggests that during dry period, haptoglobin could be used as predictive index for healthy disorders risk. Further studies are required to improve the understanding of the timing of these indexes and their correlation with different healthy postpartum disorders.