Effects of ivermectin on cytokine and immunoglobulin levels in sheep

Background: Ivermectin may affect the levels of cytokines and immunoglobulins in sheep, considering that avermectins have an effect on the immune system. Objective: To determine whether ivermectin has an effect on cytokines and immunoglobulins in sheep. Methods: After administration of ivermectin to 10 healthy sheep, sheep-specific interferon-α, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, and immunoglobulin E levels were measured with an ELISA reader. Results: Significant (p<0.05) fluctuations were detected in interleukin-2 and interleukin-10 levels. Transient increases (p<0.05) were measured in tumor necrosis factor-α and immunoglobulin E levels (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ivermectin may affect immune system parameters in healthy sheep; however, the effects of ivermectin administration on infected sheep should be investigated.Antecedentes: A ivermectina pode alterar os níveis de citocinas e imunoglobulinas em ovinos, visto que as avermectinas afetam o sistema imunológico. Objetivo: Determinar o efeito da ivermectina nas citocinas e imunoglobulinas em ovinos. Métodos: Após a administração de ivermectina a 10 ovelhas saudáveis, interferon-α específico de ovelha, fator de necrose tumoral-α, interleucina-2, interleucina-6 e interleucina-10, os níveis de imunoglobulina G, imunoglobulina M e imunoglobulina E foram medidos com Leitor de ELISA. Resultados: Flutuações estatisticamente significativas (p<0,05) foram detectadas nos níveis de interkeukin-2 e interkeukin-10. Aumentos transitórios (p<0,05) foram medidos nos níveis de fator de necrose tumoral-α e imunoglobulina E (p<0,05). Conclusão: A ivermectina pode afetar parâmetros do sistema imunológico em ovinos saudáveis, entretanto, os efeitos da administração de ivermectina em ovinos infectados devem ser investigados.Antecedentes: La ivermectina puede alterar los niveles de citocinas e inmunoglobulinas en ovinos, dado que las avermectinas afectan el sistema inmunológico. Objetivo: Determinar si la ivermectina tiene algun efecto sobre las citocinas e inmunoglobulinas en ovinos. Métodos: Después de la administración de ivermectina a 10 ovejas sanas los niveles de interferón-α específico de oveja, factor de necrosis tumoral-α, interleucina-2, interleucina-6, interleucina-10, inmunoglobulina G, inmunoglobulina M, e inmunoglobulina E se midieron con un lector ELISA. Resultados: Se detectaron fluctuaciones significativas (p<0,05) en los niveles de interleucina-2 e interleucina-10. Tambien se encontraron aumentos transitorios (p<0,05) en los niveles de factor de necrosis tumoral-α e inmunoglobulina E (p<0,05). Conclusión: la ivermectina puede afectar los parámetros del sistema inmunitario en ovejas sanas

Subclinical Pregnancy Toxemia Affects Blood Parameters of Ewes and Impairs Postnatal Growth and Development of Lambs

ABSTRACT Pregnancy toxemia (PT) is a common metabolic disorder that occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy. This study aimed to detect the effects of subclinical PT (SPT) on serum biochemical parameters of ewes and postnatal growth and development of lambs in Romanov sheep. A total of 40 ewes and 69 lambs were included in the study. Blood samples of ewes were collected at the time of parturition to evaluate serum beta‐hydroxybutyric acid (βHBA), serum nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), cholesterol, and triglyceride. Live weight and body measurements of lambs were recorded at birth (0th day), 30th day, and 60th (weaning) day. In the diagnosis of SPT serum βHBA concentrations were taken into account. A cut‐off value of 0.8 mmol/L for βHBA was a critical concentration and ewes with 0.8–1.6 mmol/L βHBA were evaluated as SPT. There were no ewes with ΒHBA value higher than 1.6 mmol/L (clinical PT) in the study. There was no significant difference in serum βHBA, NEFA and cholesterol concentrations between ewes regarding birth type (single, twin, and triplet). However, triglyceride concentrations were higher (p < 0.001) in ewes giving birth to triplets compared to ewes giving birth to single lamb. Serum βHBA and triglyceride concentrations were higher (p < 0.01) in ewes with SPT (n = 14) compared to healthy ewes (n = 26). There was no significant difference between ewes with SPT and healthy ewes in serum NEFA and cholesterol. Repeated measures ANOVA results indicated that SPT negatively affected 0th, 30th, and 60th body weights of twin (p < 0.01) and triplet born lambs (p < 0.05). The effect of time on body weights was also found to be significant (p < 0.001). Similarly, most of the body measurements of twin and triplet born lambs were lower (p < 0.05) in the SPT group compared to healthy group. Overall results indicate that SPT may negatively affect postnatal growth and development in Romanov lambs. Because a decline in growth performance has many negative outcomes affecting production traits in sheep, these findings may be valuable for the veterinary field

Preoperative serum leptin levels in patients with breast cancer

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived protein and plays an important role in the control of body weight by acting as a neurohormone regulating energy balance and food intake in the hypothalamus. The high serum leptin levels and the overexpression of leptin receptors have been documented in breast cancer patients, but the levels never checked preoperatively. In the present study, the relationship between preoperative serum leptin levels of the breast cancer patients and the healthy controls were evaluated. The serum leptin levels in 30 breast cancer patients were compared to 30 healthy female volunteers. In addition, the association of serum leptin levels and the various well-known risk factors were studied. Serum leptin levels of patients with breast cancer (28.55 + 19.7 ng/ml) were tended to be higher than those of controls (26.43 + 19.4 ng/ml), but it did not reach statistical difference (P = 0.712). There was significant correlation between the expression of ER, PR, and serum leptin levels (P = 0.018 and 0.037, respectively), but not with the HER-2/neu receptor expression (P = 0.067). Also association was not found between the tumor size, lymph node involvement, and the levels of serum leptin (P = 0.235, 0.34, and 0.86, respectively). The serum leptin level was also found to be similar in premenopausal (24.85 +/- A 18.14 ng/ml) and postmenopausal (30.49 +/- A 17.19 ng/ml) patients (P = 0.235). The preoperative serum leptin levels in breast cancer patients were similar to healthy controls. In subset analysis, the significant correlation between the leptin level and hormonal status was noted, but association with HER-2/neu was not detected. These findings should be confirmed with larger studies