The effect of pregnancy and lactation on blood biochemical and immunological values in ewes after enterotoxaemia vaccination

Abstract EN

The current study was conducted on sixteen ewes at the average age of 2years ±1.2month and the average weight of 33.01±2.4 kg.

Animals were divided into two groups: Group A, eight pregnant ewes, and Group B, eight lactating ewes.

The group A were subdivided into two groups: pregnant group (P) including 4 ewes and control group (C) including 4 ewes non-pregnant, also group B were subdivided into two groups: lactating group (L) and control group (C) non lactating.

The ewes were vaccinated against enterotoxaemia before parturition (about one month).

The blood samples were withdrawn from group (A) before one week from parturition and one week after parturition in group B.

IgG and IgM proteins concentrations were determined by radial immunodiffusion plate.

Plasma levels of urea, ALT, GGT, K and creatinine were determined using Reflatron apparatus.

The results revealed non-significant differences in values of urea between pregnant (0.59±0.05) and control group (0.81±0.15), as well as, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between pregnant group (0.59±0.05) and lactating group (0.5±0).

The values of K+, GGT and ALT didn't appear any significant differences (P>0.05) between pregnant group and control group, while there was significant difference (P≤ 0.05) between levels of K +, GGT and ALT of pregnant group (7.58 ± 1.7, 4.26 ± 0.61 and 55.93 ± 0.7) and lactating group (5.91 ± 0.47, 9.61 ± 0.81 and 63.18 ± 0.72) respectively.

The levels of bilirubin in pregnant group (3.05 ± 0.12) appear significant differences (P≤ 0.05) as compared with control group (0.74 ± 0.03), as well as no significant difference between pregnant and lactating group (3.05 ± 0.12 and 3.05 ± 0.12) respectively.

Serum IgG and IgM concentrations in pregnant was significantly increased (695.073±0.64mg/dl, 786.005±0.46mg/dl) respectively while in lactating group was (541.013±0.32mg/dl, 786.005±0.46mg/dl) respectively