Original scientific paper

Plasma cortisol concentrations in gilts treated with immunomodulator during early gravidity

Dalibor Potočnjak ; Clinic of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Željko Pavičić ; Department of Animal Environment and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Ljiljana Bedrica ; Clinic of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Boris Krsnik ; Department of Animal Environment and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Anamaria Ekert Kabalin ; Department for Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Marin Torti ; Clinic of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Damir Žubčić ; Clinic of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The goal of this research was to ascertain if multiple immunomodulation can decrease stress consequences of gilt relocation from the service station to the prefarrowing unit during the early gravidity phase. Three groups of pregnant Swedish Landrace gilts, 8 to 9 months of age, were encompassed by the research. Each group consisted of 30 pregnant gilts, and each researched group was treated differently. The animals in group A were given the immunomodulator intramuscularly in doses of 2 ml (Baypamun®, Bayer Pharma, Leverkusen, Germany) on the 6th, 4th and 2nd days before the relocation from the service station to the prefarrowing unit. It was also administered to the animals in group B intramuscularly in doses of 2 ml on the 5th, 3rd and 1st days before the relocation from the service station to the prefarrowing unit. Group C was not treated. Blood was sampled from the aforementioned gilts on the 2nd, 4th and 6th days, during their stay at the prefarrowing unit. During the research period statistically significant differences in plasma cortisol concentration were established (P<0.01) between the treated (groups A and B) and not-treated groups (group C). The mean plasma cortisol concentration was the lowest in group A, whereat values determined on the 4th and 6th days of stay in the prefarrowing unit were significantly lower in comparison to values in group B (P<0.01). The mean plasma cortisol concentration in group C was higher than the reference values for pigs. In all three gilt groups an increase in plasma cortisol concentration was noted during their stay in the prefarrowing unit, so that mean values on day 6 were significantly lower (P<0.01) in comparison to values determined on the 2nd day of stay in the prefarrowing unit. The aforementioned results demonstrate that immunomodulation alleviates hormonal changes that occur as a response to a stressful situation and refer to the positive effects of immunomodulator after the reduction of stress susceptibility.

Keywords

plasma cortisol; gilts; gravidity; immunomodulation; stress

Hrčak ID:

31695

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/31695

Publication date:

18.12.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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