DISEASE RESISTANCE POTENTIALS OF
INDIGENOUS COWS
(Bos indicus) AND UTILITY OF
THEIR BY PRODUCTS
RS Chauhan
Centre for
Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis
Indian
Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar–243 122 (UP)
Email:
jdcadrad@rediffmail.com
Different hereditary characteristics of breeds and even
types within a breed have resulted in difference in reactions to environmental
stimuli. These reactions are intimately associated with
anatomical-physiological characteristics, which have developed as the result of
natural selection. Indigenous breeds, as the name suggests, have been
identified with a particular area or people from time immemorial and are thus
considered to be adapted to some of the environmental stresses. The degree of
successful adaptation of such animals is accurately reflected in their ability
to grow, to reproduce regularly and in their production.
Indian breeds of cows are also developed in thousands of
years of evolution process and are well adapted in diverse geoclimatic
conditions of the country. As a result these breeds are able to survive even in
harsh dry and hot environment of Rajasthan on one side and in wet and cold
climate of hilly areas of Uttarakhand without much management requirements. In
order to understand the resistance of indigenous cattle breeds, it is better to
have an idea of immunity/ resistance in animals.
Immunity is the resistance of body against extraneous
etiological factors of disease, which is afforded by the interaction of
chemical, humoral and cellular reactions in body. This is an integral part of
the body without, which one cannot think of life. During the process of
evolution, nature has provided this defence mechanism in body of all living
creatures particularly of higher animals and man that protects them from
physical, chemical and biological insults. It can be classified as natural or
paraspecific and acquired or specific immunity.
Natural/ paraspecific
immunity
There
are some species resistant for a particular disease due to presence of natural resistance
against them e.g. Horse, pig, cat are resistant to canine distemper
virus; dogs are resistant to feline panleucopenia virus, chickens are resistant
to anthrax. Even within species, there is natural resistance that protects some
individuals while others are susceptible e.g. Indian Deshi (Zebu) cattle
(Bos indicus) is quite resistant to piroplasmosis in comparison to Bos
taurus. Besides, there are the mechanisms or barriers in body provided by
nature, which are:
·
Skin and mucous membrane prevent organisms from gaining entrance in body
·
Mucous prevents
from infections by trapping and keep them away.
·
Saliva, gastric juice and intestinal enzymes kill bacteria
·
Tears, nasal and GI tract secretions are bactericidal due to presence of
lysozymes.
·
Phagocytic cells such as neutrophils and macrophages kill bacteria through phagocytosis.
·
Natural antibodies acts
as opsonins and helps in phagocytosis.
·
Interferons have antimicrobial properties. They are host/species specific and
arrest the viral replication.
·
Interleukins, cytotoxins and growth factors stimulate the immune reactions and
inflammation
·
Natural killer cells kill
targets coated with IgG.
Acquired/specific Immunity
Acquired immunity develop in body as a result of prior
stimulation through antigen. It is specific to a particular antigen against
which it was developed. It can be restimulated on second or subsequent exposure
with antigen and thus, it has memory for a particular antigen. It differs from
natural immunity in respect of prior stimulation, specificity and memory. It
can be classified as humoral and cell mediated immunity. The immunity present
in fluids of body mainly in blood. There are antibodies in serum of blood,
which protect body from diseases. It is specific to particular antigen. Antibodies
are formed in blood as a result of exposure of the foreign substances including
bacteria, virus, parasite and other substances.
Antigen is foreign substance, which is able to stimulate
the production of antibodies in body. They may be of high molecular weight
protein, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids. Simple chemicals of low molecular
weight are not able to induce immunity. However, they may be conjugated with a
large molecular weight molecules such as protein then they become antigenic and
induce antibody production, such substances are termed as haptens.
Antibodies are protein in nature present in serum and
produced as a result of antigen. Antibodies are specific to antigen. Most of
the microorganisms have several antigenic determinants and antibodies are
produced against each antigenic determinant specifically. The antibody response
to antigen can be enhanced if the antigen is released slowly in body. There are
several substances like oils, waxes, alum, aluminium hydroxide, which may be
added with antigen so that it is released slowly in body to
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Immune response
The antigen
when enters in body of animal is trapped, processed and eliminated by several
cells including macrophages, dendritic cells and B-cells. There are two types
of antigen in body i.e. exogenous and endogenous. The exogenous or extra
cellular antigens are present freely in circulation and are readily available
for antigen processing cells.
The endogenous or intracellular
antigens are not free and are always inside the cells such as viruses. But when
these viruses synthesize new viral proteins using biosynthetic process of the
host cells, these proteins also act as antigen and are termed as endogenous or
intracellular antigens.
The
processing of antigen by macrophages is comparatively less efficient as most of
the antigen is destroyed by the lysosomal proteases. An alternate pathway of
antigen processing involves antigen uptake by a specialized population of
mononuclear cells known as dendritic cells located throughout the
body specially in lymphoid organs. Such dendritic cells have many long
filamentous cytoplasmic processes called dendrits and lobulated nuclei with
clear cytoplasm containing characteristic granules.
Antigen
presenting cells process the exogenous antigen and convert into fragments to
bind with MHC class II molecules. Such processed antigen along with MHC class
II molecule and certain cytokines such as IL-1 is presented to antigen
recognizing cells (T-helper cells). Macrophages also regulate the dose of
antigen to prevent inappropriate development of tolerance and provide a small
dose of antigen to T- helper cells. However, if the antigen is presented to
T-Cells without MHC class II molecule, the T cells are turned off resulting
into tolerance. On an average, an antigen presenting cell possesses about 2x105
MHC class II molecules. A T-cell require activation by 200-300 peptide- MHC
class II molecules to trigger an immune response. Thus, it is estimated that an
antigen-presenting cell may present several epitopes simultaneously to T-helper
cells. A counterpart of T- helper cells also exists and known as suppressor T-cells
(Ts cell) which suppresses the immune response. The viral encoded
proteins, endogenous antigens are handled in a different manner from exogenous
antigens. Such antigens are bound to MHC class Ia molecules and transported to
the cell surface. Such antigen and MHC class Ia molecule complex triggers a
lymphocytic response i.e. T-cytotoxic cells (Tc-cells). These cytotoxic
T-cells recognize and destroy virus infected cells. However, there is some
cross priming leading to cell mediated immune response by exogenous antigens
and humoral immune response by endogenous antigens. Some lymphocytes also
function as memory cells to initiate secondary immune response. On antigen
exposure, there is a latent period of about four to six days and only after
that serum antibodies are detectable. The peak of antibody titre is estimated
around 2 weeks after exposure to antigen and then declines after about 3 weeks.
During this primary immune response, majority antibodies are of IgM type where
as in secondary immune response, it is always predominated by IgG.Disease resistance in Indian cattle
In the world, India is the only nation in which
most of the natural environmental conditions are available within the same
region. The Indian cattle breeds developed and adapted themselves under various
natural circumstances. In the past, the agricultural activities were good but
there was huge taxation on the farmers due to which they could not rise
properly and didn't maintain themselves. Under such circumstances, the cattle
could avail coolers and air conditioners in the summer or heater in the cold. There
was pressure on the cattle to work in the natural geoclimatic conditions.
That's why the Indian cattle breeds develop resistance against diseases,
natural calamities as well as the variable environmental conditions.
Some of the disease resistance features reported in
literature or experienced by author are summarized in the following Table.
Name of disease
|
Disease Resistance in the Cattle
|
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Cross bred/ Exotic breeds
|
Indian Cattle
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1.
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Tick resistance
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36.5%
|
73.8%
|
2.
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Theileriosis
|
Highly susceptible
|
97.84%, Resistant
|
3.
|
Rinderpest
|
Highly susceptible
|
Low susceptibility
|
4.
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Anaplasmosis
|
Highly susceptible
|
Resistant
|
5.
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Piroplasmosis
|
Highly susceptible
|
Resistant
|
6.
|
Heat Resistance
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36°C
|
More resistant, till 40.5°C
|
7.
|
Cold resistance
|
Susceptible to diseases in freezing temperature
|
Resistant upto freezing point
|
8.
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Solar Radiation Resistant
|
Highly susceptible
|
Highly resistant
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9.
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Cancer Eye
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Susceptible
|
Resistant
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10.
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Trypanosomosis
|
Less resistant
|
More resistant
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11.
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Hot tropical humid and sub tropical dry conditions
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Less resistant
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More resistant
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12.
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Abortion (Brucellosis)
|
Frequent
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Rare
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13.
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Black Quarter
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Less Resistant
|
More Resistant
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14.
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Foot and Mouth Disease
|
Less Resistant
|
More Resistant
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15.
|
Haemorrhagic Septicaemia
|
Highly susceptible
|
More Resistant
|
16.
|
Gastro intestinal parasites
|
Less Resistant
|
More Resistant
|
17.
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Babesiosis
|
Susceptible
|
More Resistant
|
18.
|
Insect resistance
|
Susceptible
|
More Resistant
|
19.
|
Survival Rate under Indian conditions
|
40%
|
80-90%
|
20.
|
Resistance to BHV-1 Infection (IBR)
|
27.3%
|
78.6%
|
21.
|
Resistance to Post Parturient Diseases
|
71.4%
|
94.1%
|
22.
|
Resistance to rotavirus infection in calves
|
Highly susceptible
|
Highly resistant
|
23.
|
Retention of Placenta
|
63.3%
|
76.7%
|
24.
|
Horn Cancer in Bullocks
|
Susceptible
|
Susceptible
|
During their evolution Indian cattle (Bos indicus)
have acquired genes that confer thermo-tolerance at the physiological and
cellular levels. Indian cattle breeds are better able to regulate body
temperature in response to heat stress than are cattle from a variety of B.
taurus breeds of European origin. Moreover, exposure to elevated
temperature has less deleterious effects on cells from zebu cattle than on
cells from European breeds. Superior ability for regulation of body temperature
during heat stress is the result of lower metabolic rates as well as increased
capacity for heat loss. As compared to European breeds, tissue resistance to
heat flow from the body core to the skin is lower in zebu cattle while sweat
glands are larger. Properties of the hair coat in zebu cattle enhance
conductive and convective heat loss and reduce absorption of solar radiation.
At the cellular level, genetic adaptations to resist deleterious effects of
elevated temperature result in pre-implantation embryos from zebu being less
likely to be inhibited in development by elevated temperature than are embryos
from European breeds. Besides, all the above properties, there are some of the
common qualities in our pure breeds. Their skin is having sweat and sebacious
glands which secrete an oily fluid act as repellent to the insects and
mosquitoes. It also decreases the rate of infections. In case of chlamydial
abortion, Johne’s disease, babesiosis, tuberculosis, mycoplasma, leptospira,
brucella pneumonia and diarrhoea, our native breeds show better resistance. The
globulins level in the blood of pure Indian breeds is more while creatinine
level is less than that of the cross or exotic breeds.
The antibiotics and/or vaccines show their positive
actions. However, if the animal is immunodeficient either due to genetic makeup
or as a result of environmental factors, antibacterial drugs do not give full
results. As most of the antibacterial drugs are bacteriostatic in nature, they
do not kill the bacteria rather they check their growth and bacteria have to be
killed by macrophages through phagocyotosis. Similarly, vaccines do not mount
protective immune response in immunologically weak animals and thus, disease
outbreaks occur inspite of vaccination. As such, even if we have therapeutics
and preventables to protect animals from various diseases, the primary
requirement of disease prevention remains on the ability of animal’s immunity.
Utilities of
biproducts
Medicinal
use of cow urine has been in practice since time immemorial in India.
The panchgavya principle of Ayurveda consists of cow urine besides other
products like milk, ghee, butter milk (matha), dung as its main ingredients.
The preliminary studies on immunomodulation with cow urine generated interest
among the scientists. The cow urine distillate (Kamdhenu Ark)
was found to increase immunity in mice. It also increases the phagocyte
activity of macrophages and secretion of interleukin 1 and 2. Recently, the cow
urine has also been granted US Patent for its synergistic properties with
antibiotics and as bioenhancer. It provided the base for further research and
detailed studies on immuno-modulatory properties of indigenous cow urine and
its comparison with the urine of cross bred and exotic cows, buffaloes and goat
using modern biotechnological tools. As per an estimate made by WHO by the year
2020, the antibiotics will no more be wonder drug. Then in such situation,
Panchgavya (cowpathy) will play a major role in prevention and control of
infections in man and animals. It is an established fact that most of the
antibiotic drugs have lost their capacity by way of increased resistance in
bacteria.
The phagocytic activity of macrophages was enhanced by
104% in mice treated with cow urine in comparison to controls. Cow urine given
to the poultry birds in water as an alternative to antibiotics demonstrated
excellent immunomodulatory properties in addition to the increase in the egg
production and egg quality of the layer birds. In another important study
effect of cow urine on the lymphocytes damaged by pesticides was observed. It
was found that the cow urine decreases the apoptosis caused by the heavy metals
in avian lymphocytes. Thus, corroborating to some extent with the findings that
cow urine helps in repair of broken DNA. The antioxidant properties of cow
urine distillate protects DNA and repairs it rapidly. The cow urine distillate
protected the chromosomal aberrations caused by mitomycin-C in human leucocyte
culture. Similarly, cow urine was found to be a very good antioxidant. Cow
urine has a high antioxidant status as indicated by its ability to destroy the
free radicals. If we look into the fact
of apoptosis, it starts with fragmentation of nucleic acid (DNA) into
oligonucleotides of 200-300 bp. Several studies are suggestive of its properties
to repair damaged DNA and thereby protecting cells from suicidal activity
enhanced due to pesticide/any other chemical residues. Cow urine has immense
potential of being used as an immunomodulator particularly alongwith
antibiotics and/or vaccines in order to enhance their activity.
Indigenous cows show resistance to many diseases and
under field conditions they are quite refractory to several infectious
diseases. On the other hand besides milk, they also provide “Panchgavya” which
is utilized as immunomodulator and thus they are much more useful than any
other animal under Indian conditions particularly for organic farming.
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