Cytokines level changes in goats infected with

Abstract

To study the changes of IL-2 and TNF-? in serum and the IL-2 secreted by peripheral blood lymphocytes of goats infected with Fasciola hepatica, thirty six clinically healthy white goats were randomly divided into groups coded as I, II, III, every 12 goats. Goats in group I and II were inoculated with a single oral dose of 200 and 500 encysted Fasciola hepatica metacercaria, respectively, while those in group III were untreated controls. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein once a week for 11 weeks. Changes in the serum levels of IL-2 and TNF-? and the ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes to secrete IL-2 were detected. Serum IL-2 levels decreased in group I, but increased in group II. The levels of TNF-? and secreted IL-2 were elevated by varying degrees in both groups I and II. Lymphocytes displayed reactivity during the first week after infection with a significantly increased response to both specific and non-specific challenges. TNF-? may be involved in the hepatic injury process caused by Fasciola hepatica. The infective dose of Fasciola hepatica greatly influenced IL-2 levels in the host playing a vital role in the initiation of host defense.

Keywords

Fasciola hepatica / goat, cytokine / radio-immune method / MTT method