Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025
14:45
Enumeration of Major Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Populations for Multicenter Clinical Trials Using a Whole Blood Phenotyping Assay
Published on: September 16, 2012
15.1K
Flow cytometry panels for immunophenotyping dairy cattle peripheral blood leukocytes
S Casaro1, M G Marrero2, D M C Madrid2
1Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
|April 12, 2022
Summary
Bovine leukocyte subsets differ between calves and cows, impacting dairy cattle health. Understanding these immune differences is key to addressing cattle diseases.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Immunology
- Dairy Cattle Health
- Leukocyte Phenotyping
Background:
- The bovine immune system's complexity hinders dairy cow health management.
- Characterizing leukocyte subpopulations is crucial for understanding immune responses in cattle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To phenotype leukocyte subpopulations in Holstein calves and cows using flow cytometry.
- To identify differences in immune cell profiles between young and mature dairy cattle.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of two flow cytometry panels with specific antibody markers (CD8α, CD4, TCR-δ, CD172α, CD14, MHCII, CD21, CD62L, CD11b).
- Analysis of peripheral blood leukocytes from 30-day-old calves and cows at 260 days of gestation and calving.
Main Results:
- Calf leukocytes showed higher proportions of CD3+ lymphocytes, γδ T-cells, CD8+ γδ T-cells, and monocytes compared to cows.
- Cow lymphocytes had a greater proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, and B-cells than calves.
- Differences in CD62L, CD11b, and MHCII expression were observed between calf and cow leukocyte subsets.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences exist in peripheral blood leukocyte profiles between Holstein calves and cows.
- These findings provide a foundational resource for understanding bovine immunity and developing strategies against dairy cattle diseases.
