Abstract
The first months in the life of mammals are marked by many challenges, such as acquisition of maternal antibodies, immunological maturity, environmental exposure and food adaptation. These challenges may lead to changes in the concentration of inflammatory markers, as the acute phase proteins (APPs) and leukocytes. The better understanding of these markers behavior in physiological conditions is fundamental for diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis of diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the changes in the APPs and leukogram profile in Dorper lambs from birth until the sixth month of life. Samples were collected from 12 clinically healthy lambs at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours and then at 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days of age. All lambs were born with a low concentration of haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin. Significant increases occurred in the 48th hour and on the 7th day of life (P<0.05), respectively. The highest APPs concentration was observed on the 90th day. All leukogram cells varied throughout the experimental period. It was possible to characterize the changes in APPs and leukogram profile from birth to six months of life in Dorper lambs. This study offers new perspectives on the use of APPs in lambs during the first months of life.
Highlights
acute phase proteins (APPs) are blood proteins that can be used as biomarkers, because their concentrations in blood changes in response to various conditions, such as inflammation, infection, stress, and neoplasia (ECKERSALL; BELL, 2010)
Changes in the concentration of APPs in lambs occur as a result of diseases such as interdigital dermatitis (CARVALHO et al, 2012), scab caused by Psoroptes ovis (WELLS et al, 2013), and infection by Haemonchus contortus (ZHONG et al, 2014)
Significant variations over time were observed for haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, total leukocytes, segmented neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils (P < 0.001)
Summary
APPs are blood proteins that can be used as biomarkers, because their concentrations in blood changes in response to various conditions, such as inflammation, infection, stress, and neoplasia (ECKERSALL; BELL, 2010). Measurement of blood concentration of APPs can aid diagnosis and prognosis of disease due to its correlation with severity and extent of tissue damage (MARTÍNEZ-SUBIELA et al, 2001). Changes in the concentration of APPs in lambs occur as a result of diseases such as interdigital dermatitis (CARVALHO et al, 2012), scab caused by Psoroptes ovis (WELLS et al, 2013), and infection by Haemonchus contortus (ZHONG et al, 2014). It occurs during stressful conditions including animal transport (PICCIONE et al, 2012)
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