The impact of environmental factors on the immunohematological parameters of pregnant cows

The aim was to monitor the immunohematological parametersof cow blood at different stages of pregnancy (n = 697 Black-mottled Holstein, milk yield/year 8540 ± 121.64 kg) in environmentallyunfavorable conditions (elevated Pb, Cd, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr)of the Sverdlovsk region for the period 2012–2018.This region iswell-knownfor its intensive heavy metal Industry. Hematologicalparameters were analyzed on an Abacus junior Vet analyzer, andimmunological parameters were determined according to generallyaccepted methods. Anemia was observed in varying degrees of severity,accentuated in the second half of pregnancy: the hemoglobinconcentration was 83.50 ± 3.41 g/L. Concerning composition of leukocytes,a shift to an increase in stab neutrophils by 23%, eosinophilsand monocytes by 5%, and a shift in segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes to the upper limit of the physiological norm [1].The number of phagocytic cells amounted to 52.05 ± 5.04%. The relative content of T-lymphocytes decreased to 39.50 ± 4.15%, B-lymphocytes to 25.05 ± 2.14%. T and B lymphocytes were determinedby flow cytometry (FacsCanto II, «Becton Dickinson»). The leukocyte-T- lymphocytic index in pregnant cows was in the range of 4.80–7.04units, which corresponds to the normoergic state and indicates the absence of autoimmune and immunodeficiency states. ьThe recorded changes in red and white blood cells reflect a high level of adaptive reactions to adverse environmental factors during pregnancy. [1] Vasiliev et al., Vet Clin Hematol: A training Manual, 2015