Influence of antepartum administration of immunopotentiators on reproductive efficacy of buffalo and viability of their newborn

The authors determine the efficacy of prepartum immunopotentiators administered during late gestation on postpartum fertility, IgG levels and calf viability. Fifty buffalo were divided into five groups (10 animals in each group). Group I was the control group. Each animal in Group II received 30 ml intramuscularly of viteselen (1.7 mg sodium selenium and 150 mg vitamin E/ml). Each animal in Group III received a subcutaneous injection of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) at 0.5 ml. In Group IV, each animal received 12.5 ml of levamisole hydrochloride intramuscularly, while those in Group V received 10 ml of ultra-corn subcutaneously. The immunopotentiators were administered according to each group 60 days prior to the anticipated date of parturition. Postpartum fertility was assessed by close observation and rectal examination after parturition. Colostrum from the dams and sera from the newborn were collected to estimate the level of immunoglobulin (IgG). Body weight, growth rate and viability of the calves were recorded after parturition. Prepartum treatment with viteselen reduced the period of foetal membrane expulsion by 2 h compared to the other groups. Concomitantly, the uterine involution period was significantly shorter in animals treated with viteselen and ultra-corn than in the other groups. Injection of viteselen, BCG or ultra-corn significantly reduced the calving to the first oestrus interval and length of postpartum service period (by 57, 54, 48 days and 67, 57, 44 days, respectively) than the levamisole group. The IgG level was significantly higher in both the colostrum of the dam and in newborn serum after administration of immunopotentiating agents. Furthermore, the viteselen injection resulted in a significantly higher level of IgG in both dam colostrum (at parturition) and calf serum in comparison to the other groups. The calves from viteselen and ultra-corn treated dams showed a higher growth rate and better health condition than the controls. Prepartum administration of immunopotentiators appears to be beneficial, promising and offer improvements to postpartum reproductive performance and calf viability in Egyptian buffalo. Finally, additional work involving a larger number of animals is suggested.