Serum Haptoglobin Concentrations in Water Buffalo Heifers: Impacts of the Vaccination and Animal Handling

Effects of animal handling procedures on animal physiology should be considered. Haptoglobin (Hp) is known as an acute phase protein and its level may increases during stressful and acute conditions (e.g., disease, infection, injury, stress). The objective was to evaluate the serum Hp concentrations at determined time points of 18 water buffaloes heifers (Bubalus bubalis; 19 ±1.53 mo of age; 403 ±36 kg BW). Heifers were randomly assigned by BW and divided into two treatments: vaccinated (VAC; n=9) or not (CON; n=9). Animals were maintained on pasture (Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés; 3.36 ha) provided with natural shade, water trough and mineral feeder. Heifers from VAC treatment received vaccination against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), parainfluenza 3 (PI3) virus, and Leptospira spp. (5 mL sc; CattleMaster Gold FP 5/L5; Zoetis) on day 0. Rectal temperatures (RT) and blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days from heifers of both treatments. Serum Hp concentrations were determined using commercial kit ("PHASE" Haptoglobin Assay, Tridelta Development Limited). Data were analyzed with MIXED procedure (SAS) with the term day used for repeated measures. Treatment x day interaction was detected for serum Hp (P <0.01). VAC heifers had greater (P ≤0.02) Hp concentrations from d 1 to 7, and tended (P =0.10) to have greater Hp concentration on d 10 compared to CON heifers. Hp concentration of CON heifers also increased during the study probably caused by handling used. Treatment x day interaction was also detected for RT (P =0.02). VAC heifers had greater (P≤0.02) RT on day 1 than CON treatment. In conclusion, the handling procedures impact serum haptoglobin concentrations suggesting that the animal management should be carried out with the aim of reducing stress and possible undesirable effects that may cause on production of water buffaloes heifers.

Day	Haptoglobin, mg/ml		SE	Rectal temperature, °C		SE	P
							Treatment x day
	VAC	CON		VAC	CON		Hp	RT
0	0.285	0.330	0.24	38.75	38.80	0.12	0.86	0.67
1	1.250	0.514	0.23	39.22	38.78	0.11	<0.01	<0.01
2	1.762	0.665	0.24	38.68	38.69	0.11	<0.01	0.96
3	1.639	0.821	0.24	38.63	38.54	0.12	<0.01	0.44
5	1.560	0.836	0.24	38.28	38.41	0.11	<0.01	0.25
7	1.539	0.981	0.23	38.57	38.60	0.11	0.02	0.76
10	1.113	0.717	0.24	38.39	38.35	0.12	0.10	0.76
14	0.423	0.381	0.24	38.78	38.66	0.12	0.86	0.32