Research, Extension, and Education
Our group focuses on strategies to improve host resilience in neonatal calves and periparturient dairy cattle, the periods of increased disease risk in dairy cattle. We are particularly interested in interventions such as nutritional strategies or optimization of vaccination protocols that result in decreased antimicrobial usage on farms. The goal of our lab is to identify and test mechanisms that enhance immunity in calves and cows, thereby increasing their resistance to infectious diseases. The methods employed to achieve these goals combine mechanistic studies using cells or tissues in the laboratory with epidemiological studies in the field. Our current areas of active research include:
Dr. Abuelo serves as the Dairy Extension Veterinarian for MSU Extension. This appointment puts the lab in a unique position to continue having a close interaction with the Michigan dairy industry, communicate research findings, and identify new questions that need answers. All members of the lab participate and benefit from this interaction with Extension. Most of the research conducted in the lab takes place on commercial dairy farms, and graduate students are active participants in the extension/outreach efforts to the industry.
Similarly, our lab is committed to training the future veterinary agricultural workforce. As such, Dr. Abuelo coordinates the MSU continuing education program in Bovine Health Management, and the MSU Summer Food Systems Fellowship Program, targeting practicing veterinarians and DVM students, respectively.
- Determining the impact of oxidative stress on newborn calf vaccination responsiveness.
- Evaluating the utility of biomarkers of oxidative stress measured in the dry period to predict early lactation diseases.
- Modulation of oxidative stress via antioxidant supplementation and its impact on immunity and disease risk.
- Identifying the impact of dam late-gestation status on neonatal calf immunity.
- Optimization of vaccination protocols in calves and cattle to reduce the incidence of endemic diseases.
Dr. Abuelo serves as the Dairy Extension Veterinarian for MSU Extension. This appointment puts the lab in a unique position to continue having a close interaction with the Michigan dairy industry, communicate research findings, and identify new questions that need answers. All members of the lab participate and benefit from this interaction with Extension. Most of the research conducted in the lab takes place on commercial dairy farms, and graduate students are active participants in the extension/outreach efforts to the industry.
Similarly, our lab is committed to training the future veterinary agricultural workforce. As such, Dr. Abuelo coordinates the MSU continuing education program in Bovine Health Management, and the MSU Summer Food Systems Fellowship Program, targeting practicing veterinarians and DVM students, respectively.
Recent Publications
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Rossi et al. 2023
In this study from former MS student Renato Rossi, we compared the metabolic status of dairy cows during the last 6 wk of gestation based on colostrum volume and immunoglobulin content. Our results suggest that greater availability of antioxidants during late gestation could support the production of higher volumes of colostrum, and we are conducting new trials to investigate this extent.
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Tusa et al. 2022
In this collaboration with our small animal internal medicine colleagues, we evaluated the oxidative stress of dogs with naturally occurring acute pancreatitis. We determined that oxidant status is altered in affected dogs, but the oxidative status markers were not correlated with the duration of hospitalization or disease severity indices.
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Cuervo et al. 2021
This study demonstrated that oxidative stress can compromise some immune responses of dairy calves that are needed for an efficient response to vaccination.
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Funding
The research, extension, and education efforts of the Abuelo Lab have been generously funded by the US Department of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), the State of Michigan through the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture, the Michigan Animal Health Foundation, as well as industry partners.
List of USDA-NIFA awards (only those as PI listed):
List of USDA-NIFA awards (only those as PI listed):
- 2018-67015-28302: Impact of Oxidative Stress of Vaccine Responsiveness in Neonatal Dairy Calves.
- 2018-70024-28817: Improving Food-Animal Veterinary Service Shortage Situations in Rural Bovine Practice through Recruitment and Continuing Education of Early-Career Veterinarians.
- 2021-67037-34657: Summer Food Systems Fellowship: Developing the Skills of the Future Veterinary Agricultural Workforce through Research and Extension Internships.
- 2022-67015-36350: Identification and Modulation of Oxidative Stress in Dairy Cows for A Successful Transition into Lactation.
- 2022-68008-36354: Reducing the spread of Salmonella Dublin in dairy farms through evidence-based vaccination protocols.
- 2022-38420-38615: Strengthening Dairy Health Through Multidisciplinary Doctoral Training of Veterinary Scientists.