Original scientific paper

The influence of levamisole on cortisol concentration and peripheral blood in artificially stressed pigs

Nina Bilandžić orcid.org/0000-0002-0009-5367 ; Laboratory for Residue Control, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Branimir Šimić ; Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Svjetlana Terzić ; Laboratory for Analysis of Veterinary Medicinal Products, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Marijan Žurić ; Laboratory for General Pathology, Department of Pathological Morphology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of levamisole (LEV) application in pigs stressed by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) injection on the total and differential leukocyte count, blood erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration and cortisol level during and for 16 days after the treatment. Swedish Landrace boars aged 6 to 7 months were divided into three groups. Group 1 received levamisole 2.5 mg/kg/body mass/day intramuscularly over 3 days and ACTH 10 μg/kg/body mass/day intravenously for 3
days. Group 2 received ACTH 10 μg/kg/body mass/day intravenously for the next 3 days and group 3 received saline intramuscularly for 6 days (control group). Cortisol concentration was increased in both ACTH treated groups during all three days of administration and the day after the last ACTH treatment. A significantly increase in total leukocyte count and a decrease in lymphocyte percentages was recorded during ACTH treatment. Use of levamisole before stress induction caused an increase in total leukocyte count in the 16 day period after cessation of ACTH treatment and also a lymphocyte increase in stressed animals on the first day of ACTH injection. Pigs that received levamisol and ACTH did not show eosinophilia in contrast to pigs that received ACTH only. In both groups of stressed animals, an elevated percentage of neutrophilic granulocytes was recorded on days 2 and 3 of ACTH treatment. However, administration of levamisole led to faster normalization of neutrophils and prevented neutropenia one week after termination of stress. According to the data presented, levamisole can influence pig immunity during and after stress induction by ACTH administration.

Keywords

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

Hrčak ID:

58462

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/58462

Publication date:

28.7.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 1.758 *