Immunology of Bovine Pregnancy

Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases

Authors

  • J. F. Evermann Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University

Keywords:

immune response, pregnancy, immunosuppression, infectious diseases, infectious microorganism, shedding, increased vulnerability

Abstract

Pregnancy results in a period of immunosuppression as the fetus develops. The extent of this immunosuppression has been the subject of active investigation as it relates to conception, maintenance of early pregnancy, and fetal survival to term. The immunosuppression that allows for fetal survival may, in some circumstances, allow for infectious microorganisms to cause a systemic infection in the pregnant cow and may even invade the fetus, resulting in abortion, stillbirth or calves born with congenital defects. The purposes of this paper are to focus in on answering three questions pertaining to the immune response during bovine pregnancy and during the perinatal period. The questions are: why is the pregnant cow more susceptible to infectious diseases; why do pregnant cows shed more infectious microorganisms than nonpregnant cows; and, how can we realistically manage against increased vulnerability to infectious diseases during pregnancy and increased shedding of infectious microorganisms in the environment?

Cover image of the 26th Conference Proceedings: A photo of the Albuquerque skyline during midday. In the foreground are skyscrapers, the scene is dotted with trees and scrub land, and a mountain rises behind the city. Yellow background.

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Published

1993-09-16

Issue

1993

Section

Cow-Calf Sessions