Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry Approach

Objectives: This study investigated metabolic changes associated with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection in dairy cows, focusing on pre-parturition alterations. Methods: Metabolite identification in serum and urine samples was performed using a targeted metabolomics method, employing the TMIC Pri...

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Main Authors: Dawid Tobolski, Grzegorz Zwierzchowski, Roman Wójcik, Klevis Haxhiaj, David S. Wishart, Burim N. Ametaj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Metabolites
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/624
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author Dawid Tobolski
Grzegorz Zwierzchowski
Roman Wójcik
Klevis Haxhiaj
David S. Wishart
Burim N. Ametaj
author_facet Dawid Tobolski
Grzegorz Zwierzchowski
Roman Wójcik
Klevis Haxhiaj
David S. Wishart
Burim N. Ametaj
author_sort Dawid Tobolski
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: This study investigated metabolic changes associated with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection in dairy cows, focusing on pre-parturition alterations. Methods: Metabolite identification in serum and urine samples was performed using a targeted metabolomics method, employing the TMIC Prime kit in combination with flow injection analysis and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Of 145 cows examined, 42 (28.9%) were BLV-seropositive. Around 38% of infected cows showed high somatic cell counts indicative of subclinical mastitis, with 15 experiencing additional health issues such as ketosis, milk fever, and lameness. Despite these conditions, no significant differences in milk yield or composition were observed between the infected and control groups. Metabolomic analysis conducted at −8 and −4 weeks prepartum revealed significant metabolic differences between BLV-infected and healthy cows. At −8 weeks, 30 serum metabolites were altered, including sphingomyelins, lysophosphatidylcholines, amino acids, and acylcarnitines, suggesting disruptions in membrane integrity, energy metabolism, and immune function indicative of early neoplastic transformations. By −4 weeks, the number of altered metabolites decreased to 17, continuing to reflect metabolic disruptions in cows with leukemia. Multivariate analysis highlighted distinct metabolic profiles between infected and control cows, identifying key discriminating metabolites such as choline, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and arginine. Urine metabolomics revealed significant prepartum shifts in metabolites related to glucose, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and pyruvic acid, among others. Conclusions: The research confirmed metabolomics’ efficacy in defining a BLV infection metabolic profile, elucidating leukosis-associated metabolic disruptions. This approach facilitates the identification of BLV-infected cows and enhances understanding of infection pathophysiology, providing a foundation for advanced management and intervention strategies in dairy herds. The study underscores the profound impact of leukosis on metabolic processes and highlights urine metabolomics’ utility in non-invasively detecting BLV infection, offering the potential for improved herd health management.
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spelling doaj-art-d119b7b1a09d44a181d56f248461033a2024-11-26T18:13:12ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892024-11-01141162410.3390/metabo14110624Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry ApproachDawid Tobolski0Grzegorz Zwierzchowski1Roman Wójcik2Klevis Haxhiaj3David S. Wishart4Burim N. Ametaj5Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, CanadaFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, 1a Oczapowskiego Str., 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, CanadaDepartments of Biological and Computer Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, CanadaDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, CanadaObjectives: This study investigated metabolic changes associated with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection in dairy cows, focusing on pre-parturition alterations. Methods: Metabolite identification in serum and urine samples was performed using a targeted metabolomics method, employing the TMIC Prime kit in combination with flow injection analysis and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Of 145 cows examined, 42 (28.9%) were BLV-seropositive. Around 38% of infected cows showed high somatic cell counts indicative of subclinical mastitis, with 15 experiencing additional health issues such as ketosis, milk fever, and lameness. Despite these conditions, no significant differences in milk yield or composition were observed between the infected and control groups. Metabolomic analysis conducted at −8 and −4 weeks prepartum revealed significant metabolic differences between BLV-infected and healthy cows. At −8 weeks, 30 serum metabolites were altered, including sphingomyelins, lysophosphatidylcholines, amino acids, and acylcarnitines, suggesting disruptions in membrane integrity, energy metabolism, and immune function indicative of early neoplastic transformations. By −4 weeks, the number of altered metabolites decreased to 17, continuing to reflect metabolic disruptions in cows with leukemia. Multivariate analysis highlighted distinct metabolic profiles between infected and control cows, identifying key discriminating metabolites such as choline, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and arginine. Urine metabolomics revealed significant prepartum shifts in metabolites related to glucose, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and pyruvic acid, among others. Conclusions: The research confirmed metabolomics’ efficacy in defining a BLV infection metabolic profile, elucidating leukosis-associated metabolic disruptions. This approach facilitates the identification of BLV-infected cows and enhances understanding of infection pathophysiology, providing a foundation for advanced management and intervention strategies in dairy herds. The study underscores the profound impact of leukosis on metabolic processes and highlights urine metabolomics’ utility in non-invasively detecting BLV infection, offering the potential for improved herd health management.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/624dairy cowbovine leukemia virusmetabolomicsserumurineDI/LC-MS/M
spellingShingle Dawid Tobolski
Grzegorz Zwierzchowski
Roman Wójcik
Klevis Haxhiaj
David S. Wishart
Burim N. Ametaj
Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry Approach
Metabolites
dairy cow
bovine leukemia virus
metabolomics
serum
urine
DI/LC-MS/M
title Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry Approach
title_full Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry Approach
title_fullStr Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry Approach
title_full_unstemmed Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry Approach
title_short Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry Approach
title_sort metabolic fingerprinting of blood and urine of dairy cows affected by bovine leukemia virus a mass spectrometry approach
topic dairy cow
bovine leukemia virus
metabolomics
serum
urine
DI/LC-MS/M
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/624
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