Evaluation of passive immunity transference in preterm lambs, treated or not with antenatal or postnatal corticotherapy

• Grant number: 15/17105-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Camila Infantosi Vannucchi
• Grantee: Beatriz de Melo Justo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sheep are small ruminants of considerable importance in animal production due to the ability to provide wool, milk, leather and meat. Ruminants have epitheliochorial placenta, which means that the transfer of maternal antibodies to fetal does not occur satisfactorily to ensure adequate immunity, so the ingestion of colostrum in these species is essential. Colostrum is the first milk secreted after parturition and it is very rich in proteins and fat, and specially immunoglobulins. Therefore colostrum is considered a crucial nourishment for neonatal survival. Neonatal prematurity sometimes is indicated as a negative influence over colostrum absorption, reducing the transfer of passive immunity and its effectiveness. Considering that, the objective of this study is to determine concentrations of total protein and protein fractions (globulins and albumin) that are present in the lacteal serum from ewes and serum from premature lambs (born at 135 days of gestation) subjected or not to treatment with antenatal or postnatal betamethasone. This study will also analyse the glicemic and hepatic profile of the premature lambs. Fifteen lambs will be used and will be distributed in the respective groups: Antenatal Corticotherapy Group (n=5), Postnatal Corticotherapy Group (n=5) and Control Group (n=5). The results obtained will be useful to affirm if corticotherapy has a negative influence over immunoglobulin concentration in ewe colostrum, and if it will increase the absorptive ability of preterm neonates when compared to preterm neonates from the control group that were not treated with betamethasone. (AU)