Skip to main content
PMC home page
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica logoLink to Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
. 1992 Jun 1;33(2):117–127. doi: 10.1186/BF03547318

The Role of Endotoxins in Induced Ruminal Acidosis in Calves

Betydelse av endotoxiner? I. Vid inducerad våmacidos hos kalv.

S Aiumlamai 1, H Kindahl 1,✉, G Fredriksson 1, L-E Edqvist 1, L Kulander 1, Ö Eriksson 1
PMCID: PMC8117862  PMID: 1502995

Abstract

Experimentally induced ruminal acidosis was carried out in 4 calves to investigate the possibility of resorption of endotoxins from Gram negative bacteria originating from the gastro-intestinal tract. The ruminal acidosis was induced by overfeeding of oats and the effect was evaluated by clinical and blood biochemical changes. Blood samples were collected every 2 h for 60 h before and after experimental feeding. The animals showed signs of ruminal acidosis and also the clinical and blood biochemical changes were similar to those seen after experimental endotoxaemia. However, although being less dramatic the changes in many relevant parameters such as an increase in prostaglandin F metabolite levels, body temperature, endotoxins and a decrease in iron indicate that an endotoxaemic state had occurred. The results of the present study show that ruminal acidosis/stasis is linked to resorption of endotoxins from the gastro-intestinal tract causing endotoxaemia/endotoxicosis.

Keywords: overfeeding, prostaglandin, blood biochemical parameters, calf

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.6 MB).

References

  1. Aiumlamai S, Fredriksson G, Kindahl H, Edqvist LE, Kulander L, Eriksson Ö. Endotoxin concentrations in the blood following intravenous injection and effect on prostaglandin F2α release, calcium and bile acids in goats. Res. vet. Sci. 1990;48:190–195. doi: 10.1016/S0034-5288(18)30989-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Aiumlamai S, Kindahl H. Clinical and blood biochemical changes during induction of endotoxaemia in heifers. Acta vet. scand. 1990;31:501–504. doi: 10.1186/BF03547535. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Andersen PH, Jarløv N. Investigation of the possible role of endotoxin, TXA2, PGI2, and PGE2 in experimentally induced rumen acidosis in cattle. Acta vet. scand. 1990;31:27–38. doi: 10.1186/BF03547574. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Andersson BE: Temperature regulation and environmental physiology. In: Swenson MJ (ed.): Dukes’ Physiology of Domestic Animals.10th ed. 1984, pp. 720–727.
  5. Bertók L. Role of bile in detoxification of lipopolysaccharide. Microbiology. 1980;123:91–93. [Google Scholar]
  6. Blood DC, Radostits OM: Acute carbohydrate engorgement of ruminants (rumen overload). In: Veterinary Medicine 7th ed., 1989, 246–253.
  7. Dinarello CA. Molecular mechanisms in endotoxin fever. Agents Actions. 1983;13:470–486. doi: 10.1007/BF02176419. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dirksen G: Acidosis. In: Phillipson AT (ed.): Physiology and Metabolism in the Ruminant 1970, pp. 612–629.
  9. Dougherty RW, Coburn KS, Cook HM, Allison MJ: Preliminary study of appearance of endotoxin in circulatory system of sheep and cattle after induced grain engorgement. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1975a, 36, 831–832. [PubMed]
  10. Dougherty RW, Riley JL, Baetz AL, Cook HM, Coburn KS: Physiologic studies of experimentally grain-engorged cattle and sheep. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1975b, 36, 833–835. [PubMed]
  11. Eisenwiener H-G, Rietz P, Schläpfer P: Die Bestimmung des Eisens mit der Guanidiniumchlorid/-Ferrozin-Methode. (Estimation of iron by Guanidinium chloride/Ferrozin method). J. clin. chem. clin. Biochem. 1979, 17, 149.
  12. Elin J, Robinson RA, Levine AS, Wolff SM. Lack of clinical usefulness of the Limulus test in the diagnosis of endotoxemia. N. Engl. J. Med. 1975;292:521–524. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197509112931102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Fessler JF, Bottoms GD, Coppoc GL, Gimarc S, Latshaw HS, Noble JK: Plasma endotoxin concentrations in experimental and clinical equine subjects. Equine vet. J. 1989, Suppl. 7, 24–28. [DOI] [PubMed]
  14. Fredriksson G. Some reproductive and clinical aspects of endotoxins in cows with special emphasis on the role of prostaglandins. Acta vet. scand. 1984;25:365–377. doi: 10.1186/BF03547251. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Fredriksson G, Kindahl H, Edqvist L-E. Endotoxin-induced prostaglandin release and corpus luteum function in goats. Anim. reprod. Sci. 1985;8:109–121. doi: 10.1016/0378-4320(85)90077-6. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  16. Friberger P: The design of a reliable endotoxin test. In: ten Cate JW, Büller HR, Sturk A, Levin J, (eds.): Bacterial Endotoxins: Structure, biomedical significance, and detection with the Limulus amebocyte lysate test. Alan R Liss, 1985, pp. 139–149.
  17. Gans H, Matsumoto K. Are enteric endotoxins able to escape from the intestine? Proc. Soc. Exp. Bio. Med. 1974;147:736–739. doi: 10.3181/00379727-147-38428. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Granström E, Kindahl H. Radioimmunoassay of the major plasma metabolite of PGF2α, 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α. Methods Enzymol. 1982;86:320–339. doi: 10.1016/0076-6879(82)86204-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hungate RE, Dougherty RW, Bryant MP, Cello R M. Microbiological and physiological changes associated with acute indigestion in sheep. Cornell Vet. 1952;42:423–449. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Jónasson H, Basu S, Andersson B, Kindahl H. Renal excretion of prostaglandin metabolites, arginine vasopressin, and sodium during endotoxin and endogenous pyrogen induced fever in the goat. Acta physiol. scand. 1984;120:529–536. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1984.tb07417.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Kay M, Fell BF, Boyne R. The relationship between the acidity of the rumen contents and rumenitis, in calves fed on barley. Res. vet. Sci. 1969;10:181–187. doi: 10.1016/S0034-5288(18)34468-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kindahl H, Edqvist L-E, Granström E, Bane A. The release of prostaglandin F2α as reflected by 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2α in the peripheral circulation during normal luteolysis in heifers. Prostaglandins. 1976;11:871–878. doi: 10.1016/0090-6980(76)90194-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Kindahl H, Odensvik K, Fredriksson G, Cort N, Daels P, Hughes J, Stabenfeldt GH: Effects of endotoxins on prostaglandin biosynthesis and reproductive function in farm animals. Proc. 4th Congr. Eur. Ass. Vet. Pharmacol. & Toxicol, Budapest, Aug. 28-Sept. 2, 1988, Simon F, Lees P, Semjén G, (eds.), 1990, pp. 205–212.
  24. Kocsár LT, Bertók L, Varterész V: Function of bile acids in the intestinal absorption of endotoxin in rats. Annal. Immunol. Hung. 1973, Suppl. 17, 49–51. [PubMed]
  25. Lindgren S, Bromander A, Pettersson K. Evaluation of silage additives using scale-model silos. Swedish J. agri. Res. 1988;18:41–49. [Google Scholar]
  26. Lohuis JACM, Verheijden JHM, Burvenich C, van Miert ASJPAM. Pathophysiological effects of endotoxins in ruminants. Vet. Quart. 1988;10:117–125. doi: 10.1080/01652176.1988.9694158. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Luthman J, Kindahl H, Jacobsson S-O. The influence of flunixin on the response to Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin in calves. Acta vet. scand. 1990;31:295–300. doi: 10.1186/BF03548034. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Mashige F, Tanaka N, Maki A, Kamei S, Yamanaka M. Direct spectrophotometry of total bile acids in serum. Clin. Chem. 1981;27:1352–1356. doi: 10.1093/clinchem/27.8.1352. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. McManus WR, Lee GJ, Robinson VNE. Microlesions on rumen papillae of sheep fed diets of wheat grain. Res. vet. Sci. 1977;22:135–137. doi: 10.1016/S0034-5288(18)33276-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Milton AS. Prostaglandins and fever. Trends in Pharmacol. Sci. 1982;3:490–492. doi: 10.1016/0165-6147(82)91250-0. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  31. Mullen PA. The diagnosis of liver dysfunction in farm animals and horses. Vet. Rec. 1976;99:330–334. doi: 10.1136/vr.99.17.330. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Morrison DC, Ryan JL. Endotoxins and disease mechanisms. Ann. Rev. Med. 1987;38:417–432. doi: 10.1146/annurev.me.38.020187.002221. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Nagaraja TG, Bartley EE, Fina LR, Anthony HD: Relationship of rumen Gram-negative bacteria and free endotoxin to lactic acidosis in cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 1978a, 47, 1329–1337. [DOI] [PubMed]
  34. Nagaraja TG, Bartley EE, Fina LR, Anthony HD, Dennis SM, Bechtle RM: Quantitation of endotoxin in cell-free rumen fluid of cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 1978b, 46, 1759–1766. [DOI] [PubMed]
  35. Nagaraja TG, Bartley EE, Anthony HD, Leipold HW, Fina LR. Endotoxin shock in calves from intravenous injection of rumen bacterial endotoxin. J. Anim. Sci. 1979;49:567–582. doi: 10.2527/jas1979.492567x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Olsson T: Serum bile acids in hypocalcaemic dairy cows. 6th Int. Conf. Product Dis. Farm Animals, 1986, Belfast, 20–23.
  37. Parker MM, Humoller FL, Mahler DJ. Determination of copper and zinc in biological material. Clin. Chem. 1967;13:40–48. doi: 10.1093/clinchem/13.1.40. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Ruff WL. Sodium and potassium. Faulker WR, Mites S (eds.): Selected methods for the small clinical chemistry laboratory. 1982;9:341–345. [Google Scholar]
  39. Smith BP. Understanding the role of endotoxins in Gram-negative septicemia. Vet. Med. 1986;81:1148–1161. [Google Scholar]
  40. Sturk A, Janssen ME, Muylaert FR, Joop K, Thomas LLM, ten Cate JW: Endotoxin testing in blood. In: Watson S W, Levin J, Novitsky T J. (eds.): Detection of Bacterial Endotoxins with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Test. Alan R Liss, 1987, pp. 371–385.
  41. Trudeau DL, Freier EF. Determination of calcium in urine and serum by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) Clin. Chem. 1967;13:101–114. doi: 10.1093/clinchem/13.2.101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. van Miert ASJPAM. Fever and associated clinical haematologic and blood biochemical changes in the goat and other animal species. Vet. Quart. 1985;7:200–216. doi: 10.1080/01652176.1985.9693984. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. van Miert ASJPAM. Fever, anorexia and forestomach hypomotility in ruminants. Vet. Res. Comm. 1987;11:407–422. doi: 10.1007/BF00380625. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Yagoda CR, Bylund-Fellenius A-C, Kindahl H: Some effects of Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin and its importance as a contaminator of biological preparations. Acta vet. scand. 1990a 31, 193–206. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  45. Yagoda CR, Bylund-Fellenius AC, Adner N, Kindahl H: Biological responses of sheep treated with endotoxin-contaminated superoxide dismutase and endotoxin preparations. Acta vet. scand. 1990b, 57, 207–217. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]

Articles from Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES