engleski

Influence of levamisole on cortisol concentration and peripheral blood changes in artificially stressed pigs

The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of levamisole (LEV) application in animals stressed by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) injection on total and differential leukocyte count, blood erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration and cortisol level during and for 16 days after the treatment. The animals, Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6 to 7 months, were divided into three treatment groups: group 1 – levamisole 2.5 mg/kg/body weight/day intramuscularly for 3 days plus ACTH 10  g/kg/body weight/day intravenously for 3 days ; group 2 – ACTH 10  g/kg/body weight/day intravenously for 3 days ; and group 3 – saline intramuscularly throughout 6 days (control group). In both ACTH treated groups, ACTH induced an increase in serum cortisol levels on all three days of administration and on the day after the last ACTH dosage. A significant increase in total leukocyte count and decrease in lymphocyte percentages was recorded during ACTH treatment. Usage of levamisole before stress induction influenced increase in total leukocyte count in the period of 16 days after cessation of ACTH treatment and also lymphocyte increase in stressed animals on the first day of ACTH injection. AlsoThe administration of levamisole before stress prevented the increase in eosinophils during a ACTH application. In both groups of stressed animals, an elevated percentage of neutrophilic granulocytes were recorded on days 2 and 3 of ACTH treatment. Also, use of levamisole led to faster normalization of neutrophils and prevented neutropenia in the week after termination of stress. Accordingly, study results suggested the administration of levamisole may influence on immunity during and after artificially stress caused by ACTH injection as well as in natural stressed pigs.

levamisole; adrenocorticotropic hormone; stress; immunomodulation; boars; leukocytes

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