Association between beta defensin gene polymorphism and alterations in acute phase proteins and leukogram in dairy cows with endometritis

Uterine beta defensin plays an important role in innate immunity of dairy cows’ in order to clear the infection and resolve the inflammation and helps for a normal uterine involution after calving. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different beta defensin genotypes on acute phase proteins and leukogram alterations before and after treatment in dairy cows suffering endometritis, in order to identify the best genotype. Fifty one Iranian dairy Holstein cows with clinical endometritis were chosen at cleaning test time (30-40 days after parturition). Cows were taken usual herd treatment and examined again two weeks after. Blood samples including whole blood (containing anticoagulant) and blood without anticoagulant (in order to separate serum) were taken from cows with clinical endometritis at both times (n=102). Hematological tests and genotyping with RFLP PCR (on the basis of beta defensin gene) were done. Based on a SNP (C/T) at position 2239, three different genotype patterns CC, CT and TT were observed. Alterations of serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations before and after treatment were significantly different between cows with and without Allele T (P = 0.04). Cows with Allele T significantly showed increased SAA concentrations compare to cows without Allele T. Other factors showed no significant differences between different genotypes.