Stimulation of immune responses to aid in prevention of bovine respiratory disease

牛呼吸道疾病是一种常见的牛病，对加拿大的牛肉产业有很大的经济影响。该病最常发生在犊牛断奶、长途运输以及与其他来源的犊牛混合时。因此，应激和病毒感染是导致牛细菌性肺炎发展的主要风险因素。本研究旨在了解应激（以糖皮质激素为模型）干扰牛呼吸道免疫反应的机制，以及如何制定干预措施以防止呼吸道免疫系统受到抑制。这种干预措施对于预防饲养场肉牛的呼吸道疾病具有价值，并可能减少牛肉生产中预防性使用抗生素的需要。

Bovine respiratory disease is a common disease of cattle with much economic impact on the Canadian beef industry. The disease most commonly occurs when calves are weaned, transported long distances, and mingled with calves from other sources. Thus, stress and viral infection are major risk factors that lead to development of bacterial pneumonia in cattle. The present research seeks to understand the mechanisms by which stress (modeled by glucocorticoids) interferes with immune responses in the respiratory tract of cattle, and how to develop interventions to prevent this suppression of the respiratory immune system. Such an intervention would be of value in preventing respiratory disease in beef cattle in feedlots, and may reduce the need for preventative use of antibiotics in beef production.