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Effect of levamisole on the number of intestinal goblet cells in weaned pigs experimentally vaccinated against colibacillosis

Hrvoje Valpotić ; Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Gordana Lacković ; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Andrea Tomljenović ; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Frane Božić ; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Popović ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Nada Vijtiuk ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Kovšca Janjatović ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Gordana Gračner Gregurić ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivica Valpotić ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Sažetak

Postweaning colibacillosis (PWC) is an etiologically complex disease commonly induced by porcine F4ac+ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) for which no effective vaccine is available. The objective of this study was to determine the nonspecific immunomodulatory effect of levamisole in combination with specific intragastric immunization of weaned pigs with a candidate F4ac+ non-ETEC oral vaccine on the population of intestinal goblet cells (GC). The pigs were immunized with F4ac+ non-ETEC strain, in combination with
or without levamisole. Seven days after immunization the pigs were challenged with F4ac+ ETEC strain and 14 days following immunization they were euthanatized for sampling of specimens of the small intestine for immunohistochemistry and morphometric analyses. Samples of the ileum were tested for the presence of acidic and neutral carbohydrates, components of mucus produced and secreted by the intestinal goblet cells (GC).
The volume density (VV) of the PAS+ and AB+/PAS+ GC was determined using the stereological point-counting method. The Vv of the ileal PAS+ GC was lowest (0.130 ± 0.075 mm3) in the pigs that were immunized with the vaccine candidate F4ac+ non-ETEC strain. Interestingly, AB+/PAS+ GC Vv were found to be highest (0.262 ± 0.091 mm3) in this group of pigs. The Vv of PAS+ GC was the largest (0.201 ± 0.064 mm3) in the negative
control group of pigs. Pigs from the levamisole pretreated group were shown to have the lowest Vv (0.166 ± 0.051 mm3) of AB+/PAS+ GC. According to the data presented, there was no significant influence of nonspecific/specific immunization on the nonimmune defence mechanism of the intestinal mucosa, as measured by GC Vv in weaned pigs. Hence, it is likely that the production of mucus was not affected and that nonspecific protection of porcine intestines provided by mucus layer was not compromised following peroral immunization against PWC. Also, presumably the anti-inflammatory effect of levamisole was observed as the population of ileal mast cells was not considerably affected by non-specific/specific immunization and challenge infection.

Ključne riječi

goblet cells; intestine; specific/non-specific immunization; colibacillosis; pigs

Hrčak ID:

48221

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/48221

Datum izdavanja:

18.12.2009.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 1.439 *