1
|
Ataollahi F, Friend M, McGrath S, Dutton G, Peters A, Bhanugopan M. Effect of calcium and magnesium supplementation on minerals profile, immune responses, and energy profile of ewes and their lambs. Livest Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
|
2
|
Supplementation of Merino ewes with vitamin E plus selenium increases α-tocopherol and selenium concentrations in plasma of the lamb but does not improve their immune function. Animal 2017; 12:998-1006. [PMID: 29061209 DOI: 10.1017/s1751731117002300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin E and selenium have been reported to improve immune function across a range of species. Ewes lambing on poor-quality dry pasture in autumn in Western Australia are at risk of being deficient in vitamin E and selenium at lambing thus predisposing their lambs to deficiencies and increasing the risk of infection and disease. This study tested the hypotheses that (i) supplementation of autumn-lambing ewes with vitamin E plus selenium in late gestation will increase the concentrations of vitamin E and selenium in plasma in the ewe and lamb and (ii) that the increased concentrations of vitamin E and selenium in plasma in the lambs will improve their innate and adaptive immune responses and thus survival. Pregnant Merino ewes were divided into a control group (n=58) which received no supplementation or a group supplemented with vitamin E plus selenium (n=55). On days 111, 125 and 140 of pregnancy ewes in the vitamin E plus selenium group were given 4 g all-rac-α-tocopherol acetate orally. On day 111 the ewes were also given 60 mg of selenium as barium selenate by subcutaneous injection. The concentrations of α-tocopherol and selenium were measured in ewes and/or lambs from day 111 of pregnancy to 14 weeks of age±10 days (weaning). Immune function of the lamb was assessed by analysing the numbers and phagocytic capacities of monocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes and plasma IgG and anti-tetanus toxoid antibody concentrations between birth and 14 weeks of age±10 days. Maternal supplementation with vitamin E plus selenium increased the concentration of α-tocopherol in plasma (1.13 v. 0.67 mg/l; P<0.001) and selenium in whole blood (0.12 v. 0.07 mg/l; P<0.01) of the ewes at lambing compared with controls. Supplementation also increased the concentration of α-tocopherol (0.14 v. 0.08 mg/l; P<0.001) and selenium (0.08 v. 0.05 mg/l; P<0.01) in lambs at birth compared with controls. There was no significant effect of supplementation on immune function or survival in the lambs.
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu S, Lei J, Hancock S, Scanlan V, Broomfield S, Currie A, Thompson A. Lamb survival, glutathione redox state and immune function of neonates and lambs from periparturient Merino ewes supplemented with rumen-protected methionine. Arch Anim Nutr 2016; 70:389-401. [DOI: 10.1080/1745039x.2016.1210563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
4
|
Hing S, Currie A, Broomfield S, Keatley S, Jones K, Thompson RCA, Narayan E, Godfrey SS. Host stress physiology and Trypanosoma haemoparasite infection influence innate immunity in the woylie (Bettongia penicillata). Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2016; 46:32-9. [PMID: 27260808 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Understanding immune function is critical to conserving wildlife in view of infectious disease threats, particularly in threatened species vulnerable to stress, immunocompromise and infection. However, few studies examine stress, immune function and infection in wildlife. We used a flow cytometry protocol developed for human infants to assess phagocytosis, a key component of innate immunity, in a critically endangered marsupial, the woylie (Bettongia penicillata). The effects of stress physiology and Trypanosoma infection on phagocytosis were investigated. Blood and faecal samples were collected from woylies in a captive facility over three months. Trypanosoma status was determined using PCR. Faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) were quantified by enzyme-immunoassay. Mean phagocytosis measured was >90%. An interaction between sex and FCM influenced the percentage of phagocytosing leukocytes, possibly reflecting the influence of sex hormones and glucocorticoids. An interaction between Trypanosoma status and FCM influenced phagocytosis index, suggesting that stress physiology and infection status influence innate immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Hing
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
| | - Andrew Currie
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Steven Broomfield
- Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Sarah Keatley
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Krista Jones
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Edward Narayan
- Charles Sturt University, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, Boorooma Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| |
Collapse
|