Transition cow: non-specific immune response

The immune system consists of cells and their products, whose prime function is the protection of the host against pathogens and it can also acts as an accommodation device to facilitate the development of relatively peaceful associations with foreign organisms which, in some instances and especially in ruminants, could be or could become symbiotic. The immune system during pregnancy and the exchange of immunity from mother to newborn are unique events in immunological physiology. The peripartum hormonal changes contribute to impaired immune function. The physical and metabolic stresses of pregnancy, calving and lactation contribute to the decrease of host resistance and the subsequent increase in disease incidence. Pregnancy and peripartum period result in nonspecific immunosuppression of the dairy cow. The magnitude and timing of this reduction depend on many factors such as not adequate hygienic and sanitary management, not appropriate feed and housing and genetic differences. In this paper we deal with the evaluation of some parameters of non-specific immunity in dairy cattle in order to depict important features of the immune reactivity during the transition period and to make possible a preventive treatment. Lysozime concentration, serum bactericidal activity, serum proteins elettrophoretic profile, aptoglobin and complement with further analysis of non specific cellular immunological parameters could determine the effects of pregnancy, parturition and lactation on non-specific immune response especially during the peripartum period and may suggest the presence of not adequate hygienic and sanitary condition of the herd and/or not appropriate feed and management approach.