Integrated evaluation of immune response, inflammatory biomarkers, clinical features and hemato-biochemical changes in bovine ephemeral fever-affected cattle

BACKGROUND: Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) is an arthropod-borne viral disease that infects cattle and buffaloes, leading to widespread illness and notable economic losses in warm and subtropical areas, particularly in Egypt. Although the disease is self-limiting, its clinical manifestations are accompanied by profound immune, inflammatory, and metabolic disturbances. However, integrated studies linking immune response, inflammatory biomarkers, and hemato-biochemical alterations in naturally infected cattle are limited. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate immune responses, inflammatory biomarkers, and hemato-biochemical changes in cattle naturally infected with BEF virus (BEFV), and to assess their relationships with clinical severity. METHODS: A total of 78 lactating cows in their 2nd to 3rd parity, 90-120 days in milk were selected for the current work. Cattle showing clinical suspicion of BEF were assessed during a naturally occurring outbreak that was identified using RT-PCR. Samples of blood were drawn from 57 infected animals and 21 clinically healthy controls. Hematological analyses including complete blood count (CBC) picture and blood indices were performed. Serum total protein, albumin, enzyme activities, total bilirubin, BUN, creatinine, cortisol, selenium and vitamin E were estimated. Gene expression of cytokines (IL2 and IL6) and immune related gene (TLR2), were analyzed. RESULTS: Hematological analysis of infected cows demonstrated leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and lymphopenia, while erythrogram showed no significant alterations. Biochemical findings included increased ALT, ALP, total bilirubin, BUN, creatinine, and cortisol together with decreased total protein, albumin, globulin, selenium and vitamin E. Significant upregulation in cytokines genes (IL2 and IL6) and immune related gene (TLR2) in infected (The magnitude of cytokine, immune- related gene, cortisol and serum proteins responses correlated positively with disease severity and biochemical disturbances). Healthy control cows showed parameters within the normal levels. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the role of systemic inflammation and metabolic imbalance in BEF pathogenesis and suggest that inflammatory biomarkers, in combination with hemato-biochemical indices, may serve as valuable diagnostic and prognostic tools for disease monitoring in endemic regions.