Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb
Abstract
C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be an important part of acute phase reaction in domestic mammals. We investigated the presence of CRP in Slovenian sheep in order to obtain a better understanding of the distribution of CRP in ovine species. The reference sample comprised fifty-two clinically healthy female sheep (14 Solča breed and 38 Bovško breed, aged between six months and four years). Assay for CRP was carried out in blood serum using a turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) with rabbit polyclonal antibodies against human CRP molecule. Values for CRP ranged between 0.000 and 13.600 mg/l, while concentration of CRP (overall mean±s.e.m.) was 6.280±0.429 mg/l. Sample reference limits (95% confidence interval) were between 0.086 and 12.474 mg/l. Mean CRP concentrations for both breeds were 5.235±0.429 for Bovško sheep and 9.115±0.647 mg/l for Solča sheep, respectively (P<0.001). It can be concluded that CRP serum levels represent the result of compromised metabolic and immunological activity. This study was thought to be helpful in distinguishing between normal and pathological serum values for CRP in sheep.C reaktivni protein (CRP) spada među važnije komponente akutne upalne reakcije u domaćih sisavaca. U ovom radu smo istraživali prisutnost CRP u slovenskih ovaca radi boljeg poznavanja njegove raspodjele. Kao referentni uzorak su poslužile 52 ovce (14 solčavske i 38 bovške pasmine) klinički zdrave, u dobi između šest mjeseci i četiri godine. Vrijednost CRP smo utvrđivali u krvnom serumu pomoću turbidimetrijskog imuno testa (TIA) s poliklonskim protutijelima kunića za humani CRP. Sve vrijednosti CRP su bile između 0,000 i 13,600 mg/l dok je prosječna koncentracija bila 6,280±0,429 mg/l. Referentne vrijednosti CRP (na razini 95% značajnosti) za uzorak smo ocijenili između 0,086 i 12,474 mg/l. Prosječne vrijednosti CRP za pojedine pasmine su bile 5,235±0,429 za bovšku i 9,115±0,647 mg/l za solčavsku ovcu (P<0,001). Ocjenjujemo da su vrijednosti CRP rezultat zajedničkog djelovanja metaboličkog i imunosnog sustava. Ovo istraživanje je vrijedno kao pomoć u razlikovanju fizioloških i patoloških vrijednosti CRP u ovaca