Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate if the immunosuppression typically observed during the immediate periparturient period (3 weeks before and after calving) in dairy cows influences the effectiveness of diagnostic tests for the detection of Johne's disease; and, if providing additional energy to the cows during this period would minimize any immunosuppressive effects. Twelve dairy cows naturally infected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis were fitted with rumen cannulas in late gestation and assigned to treatment groups: control, n = 6; or stuffed, n = 6. Cows in the control group were allowed to consume feed ad libitum. Cows assigned to the stuffed treatment group were also fed ad libitum but received additional total mixed ration by manually stuffing their rumens with refused feed to maintain a dry matter intake of 2% body weight/day before calving and 2.5% body weight/day after calving. Parturition had a significant impact on immune function with significant reductions in M. paratuberculosis-specific antibodies detected in the serum and milk regardless of treatment group. Similarly, in vitro immunoglobulin production was decreased at calving for both treatment groups. In addition, stuffing cows modulated cell-mediated immune function by reducing antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation and interferon-γ production after calving. Shedding of M. paratuberculosis in the milk was apparent in 58% (7/12) of cows after parturition with no difference noted between control and stuffed animals. Parturition had no major effect on fecal shedding of cows regardless of treatment. These data suggest that parturition had a significant effect on immune function parameters including diagnostic tests for paratuberculosis. Furthermore, providing additional energy to cows with Johne's disease did not preclude immunosuppressive effects during the periparturient period.