The Greater Good
Over 40 calves are killed every semester under experiments run on the Iowa State University campus, but the overseer of these experiments urges it’s for the greater good.
Jodi McGill, the assistant professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine at Iowa State University, is in charge of conducting research on a respiratory disease. The study focuses on the virus known as Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) which can be found in cattle. It attacks the respiratory system of the cow, damaging the lungs. The overall goal of the experiment is to find a stable preventative for this virus. “Shipping fever, or respiratory disease is a big problem, especially in beef cows.” McGill said. She explains that the way cattle are handled creates a higher stress experience which can compromise their immune systems. This allows the virus to enter the system easier. “About 40% of the animals have to be pulled for antibiotics.” McGill said. The problem is widespread within the beef industry, and the research being conducted aims to help combat that. There is a supplement that claims to prevent the virus, and the study is testing whether or not the claims are true.
The cattle are brought into the laboratories at one day of age. They are then separated into two groups, ones that are untreated and those that are treated with the supplements. When the study is complete, all of the cattle are killed. “The animals are euthanized with barbiturates,” McGill said. She said that this is similar to the process used to put down dogs at a clinic, “and then we do a necropsy, so that means we pull out their lungs and look for gross pathology.” This is the process of looking for marks that indicate an unhealthy lung, or other indications of the BRSV strain.
While the cows are kept in the facility, they are raised by the lab workers. Zachary Oslem, an undergrad student at ISU, has worked closely with the cows over the fall 2019 semester thus far. “It was kind of scary at first, honestly,” Olsem said, “but I know that I’m gaining valuable lab skills.” Throughout his time in the study he claims to have bonded with many of the cows, especially “the little brown one,” as he said. Student workers like Olsem bottle feed the cattle at least two times a day. They also make sure every cow is comfortable and happy during their time. McGill said that their time here is far less stressful than it would have been had they been put into the beef industry.
Jamison Slate is a graduate student at Iowa State who has worked in the research both with the calves and inside the laboratory. He explains that it can be hard working with the babies, knowing they are inevitably going to die. Slate said that it’s hard not to get attached when you first start. The calves are cute and goofy, and it makes them endearing, he says. “I have to take a step back,” Slate said when explaining the euthanization.“You’re holding the animal, you’re supporting it, and it just sort of drifts off….It’s definitely an emotional thing, but it does change over time.”
Slate stresses the importance of the research. “You think of the long term of your project, and what you want to get out of it, and, you know, why their sacrifice is important.” Slate refers to the cow’s deaths as sacrifices. He knows that through the experiments, they are learning valuable information that could benefit other’s lives moving forward. McGill agrees with this sentiment.“I do definitely think the research that we do is of benefit,” she said. McGill points out that this research is to help benefit others moving forward. The most recent experiment has shown compelling evidence that an up and coming supplement durrasically impacts the response to the BRSV strain.
There is another element to add to this research, though. The BRSV strain can be connected to human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV). Both strains are a form of pneumovirus that normally attacks young cattle and infants. While the research being done by McGill focuses on the aspect of cows, she explains that this could open doors for treatments in humans as well. “Yes, they are linked, so theoretically, we can use our findings to help treat HRSV as well.” she said.
Much like BRSV, the human strain attacks the lungs of the host. While this particular virus is deadly on average, there are plenty of cases of severe reactions and even death. In addition to this, RSV has lasting effects on the human body. Sejal Saglani leads the Paediatric Severe Asthma Group at the Royal Brompton Hospital. She has done extensive research on what happens to the body after RSV, specifically what happens when someone gets it in infancy. “There is strong evidence that RSV can lead to childhood asthma.” Saglani said. There is other research pointing to other long term effects of RSV, but the strongest data points to the development of asthma. Most of Saglani’s research focuses on those infected within the first year or so of their lives, and little research is done on those infected later on. “We can assume the data can also speak for an older population, but we don’t have concrete numbers for those groups,” she said.
William Schaffner is a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. Schaffner has done extensive research on the topic of RSV and the ramifications of the desiese. “Recognizing and defining the impact of RSV in older adults is important in order to evaluate the impact of new prevention and treatment options that will likely be available in the US soon,” he said. Schaffner cites that roughly 11 thousand deaths can be linked to RSV a year, with 78% of those being over 65-years-old. He said that drug production for RSV has slowed due to a common misconception that RSV does not impact the adult population. “It is acknowledged in infants, but treated like it doesn’t affect the older population, which isn’t true.” Shaffner said. This has caused a pause in preventative measures, only leaving treatments for when RSV is already attacking the body.
With studies aimed at the human strain slowing, the study done at Iowa State for cows poses good progress for both sides. While the preventative drug is made for calves, it would be easy to alter for human usage if it’s proven effective. McGill sums up the overall project by saying, “some small study in Iowa with cows can make a difference through the whole country.”