An innovative hyperimmune bovine plasma for prophylaxis and therapy of neonatal dairy calf diarrhea - a clinical trial

Plasma has been recommended empirically as a prophylactic tool in bovine neonatology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of a new hyperimmune bovine plasma in neonatal bovine diarrhea under commercial dairy conditions. Unlike in other studies, we have purposely imported four healthy Holstein cows from Denmark (classified as a class A country) so that there were no contacts with other cattle belonging to class B countries to produce the plasma. 263 newborn calves were enrolled. The animals were randomly divided in 2 groups: group A (treated), group B (control). The serum total protein concentrations (TP) were checked at 24-30 hours after birth and 24 h post-transfusion, in order to investigate the eventual TP and IgG increase. Group A (n=102) received 300 ml IV of hyperimmune bovine plasma; group B (n=161) were the control group and received a placebo. Both groups showed a TP and IgG serum increase, but for Group A with the lowest first mean values, the increase was higher. 173 calves showed diarrhea: 86 received an antibiotic association, 87 were treated with 300 ml of hyperimmune bovine plasma. The results obtained in the present study showed that the administration of adequately prepared hyperimmune plasma is advisable for the prophylaxis and treatment of neonatal calf diarrhea and it is able to reduce the use of antibiotics.