During lactation the ewe is subject to intense variations of the metabolic and immune status but the relative studies in sheep are limited, especially in meat-type breed. This investigation aimed at studying the changes of some haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters in Zerasca ewes during this period. The study, that represent a first step of a larger project, was carried out on fifteen adult and clinically healthy Zerasca sheep, an indigenous meat-type breed. The farm was located in Zeri (MS) at an altitude of 900 meters a.s.l. Two blood samples were collected from the jugular vein using Vacutainer® test tubes; the first within four weeks from lambing and the second two months later. The blood samples were analysed for RBC, WBC, Hgb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PCV, ALT, AST, BUN, cholesterol, total proteins, glucose, triglycerides, creatinine, NEFA, BPI, cortisol, lysozyme, CD4+, and CD8+. ANOVA was performed to test the overall significance of the differences between mean values. The postpartum phase resulted in exerting a significant effect upon the following parameters: ALT, cholesterol, glucose, NEFA, creatinine, lymphocyte and lysozyme (P<0.001), BUN and CD8 (P<0.05). Among these parameters, some of them exceeded the normal range at the second sampling: ALT, lysozyme and CD8+. NEFA decreased below the normal range limit, probably in consequence of the lactation which evidently represents a state of excessive catabolism. Lysozyme level was higher in lactating ewes indicating a momentary enhancement of the innate immunity. It can be noticed that the haematological results showed no alteration and was not influenced by the physiological state. The few available data do not allow to make conclusive assessments but it is possible to assert that no considerable changes in blood count, metabolic and immune systems of Zerasca sheep at this stage were observed.
Influence of post partum on some haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters in Zerasca sheep
GIULIOTTI, LORELLA;BENVENUTI, MARIA NOVELLA
2011-01-01
Abstract
During lactation the ewe is subject to intense variations of the metabolic and immune status but the relative studies in sheep are limited, especially in meat-type breed. This investigation aimed at studying the changes of some haematological, biochemical and immunological parameters in Zerasca ewes during this period. The study, that represent a first step of a larger project, was carried out on fifteen adult and clinically healthy Zerasca sheep, an indigenous meat-type breed. The farm was located in Zeri (MS) at an altitude of 900 meters a.s.l. Two blood samples were collected from the jugular vein using Vacutainer® test tubes; the first within four weeks from lambing and the second two months later. The blood samples were analysed for RBC, WBC, Hgb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PCV, ALT, AST, BUN, cholesterol, total proteins, glucose, triglycerides, creatinine, NEFA, BPI, cortisol, lysozyme, CD4+, and CD8+. ANOVA was performed to test the overall significance of the differences between mean values. The postpartum phase resulted in exerting a significant effect upon the following parameters: ALT, cholesterol, glucose, NEFA, creatinine, lymphocyte and lysozyme (P<0.001), BUN and CD8 (P<0.05). Among these parameters, some of them exceeded the normal range at the second sampling: ALT, lysozyme and CD8+. NEFA decreased below the normal range limit, probably in consequence of the lactation which evidently represents a state of excessive catabolism. Lysozyme level was higher in lactating ewes indicating a momentary enhancement of the innate immunity. It can be noticed that the haematological results showed no alteration and was not influenced by the physiological state. The few available data do not allow to make conclusive assessments but it is possible to assert that no considerable changes in blood count, metabolic and immune systems of Zerasca sheep at this stage were observed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
