Logo image
Back
FROM BIRTH TO PARLOR: A MOLECULAR AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF PREWEANING DISEASE AND TRANSITION COW HEALTH
Dissertation

FROM BIRTH TO PARLOR: A MOLECULAR AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF PREWEANING DISEASE AND TRANSITION COW HEALTH

Lindsey Christine Makratzakis
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
2026
pdf
Makratzakis_Dissertation_FinalDownloadView
Open Access

Abstract

Evaluation of disease within the livestock industry is often viewed through a frequentist lens rooted in treatment records. This perspective facilitates underreporting and underestimations of true disease burden and overall population health. To optimize animal health, welfare, and production outcomes, it is critical to have a deeper understanding of disease prevalence and the associated impacts related to disease sequalae later in life. The objective of this research was to conduct a molecular and epidemiological investigation of preweaning disease and its associations with downstream transition cow health in 230 neonatal Holstein heifer calves enrolled within one week of life and followed through first lactation. The peripheral leukocyte transcriptome was interrogated for differences in leukocytes signatures associated with respiratory disease progression (i.e., disease onset to chronicity or resolution) in our preweaning calves. This laid the foundation for the evaluation of the peripheral leukocyte transcriptome of healthy periparturient cows, commonly referred to as transition cows. This research served two purposes 1) define what a healthy transition period looks like and 2) explore differences in the healthy transcriptome relative to a preweaned health history or chronic respiratory disease defined by lung consolidation diagnosis. Our findings suggest that persistent transcriptomic changes occur resulting in differences in immunometabolic regulation. With these findings in mind, we sought to explore differences in molecular signatures in cows diagnosed with metritis, a common postpartum uterine disease. These findings suggest that on the day of diagnosis, the trajectory for disease regulation can be detected. Taken together, the findings presented in this study highlight underlying health dynamics driving success and overall survival. Moreover, these findings can be applied practically by producers and clinicians to develop and improve animal health oversight programs to optimize animal health and welfare for a more robust animal.

Metrics

1 Record Views

Details

Logo image