The expression profiles of cytokines and antioxidant genes were determined from an experimental infection with H. contortus in Pelibuey lambs. The infection was followed for 34 days (d) to determine the number of eggs per gram (epg) and the packed cell volume (PCV). Differential white cell counts and expression profile estimations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, FCεR1A, GPX and SOD1 were determined at 0 hour, 4 hours, 2 days and 14 days post-infection (PI) in infected and control groups. Comparison of the fold change between 0 and 4-hours, 4-hours and 2-days and 2- and 14-days periods was performed. Significant differences (P<.05) between epg (>2000) and PCV (>30%) were determined after 21 days and were also observed with regard to monocyte and lymphocyte cells after 2 and 7 days PI. At 0 hour and 14 days PI, the GPX and IL-2 genes showed a 0.37- and 0.49-fold decrease in expression, respectively. In contrast, upregulation was observed at 4 hours of IL-8 (2.58) and FCεR1A (2.71), at 2 days for IL-4 (2.14) and IL-8 (4.02) and at 14 days for IL-2 (0.41), IL-10 (2.35) and FCεR1A (2.28). The comparison between the intervals of infection showed high expression values against H. contortus infection in Pelibuey sheep after the 2nd period of PI involving a dichotomy T cells.

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Gossypol is a polyphenolic aldehyde found in cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum). Cottonseed is a readily available feedstuff commodity in the southeast United States; therefore, it has the potential for usage as an inexpensive source of fat and protein and is promising for animal producers in this region. Gossypol has been studied for its negative effect on the reproduction of males. However, in the present study, we hypothesized a possible anthelmintic effect of cottonseed, a source of gossypol (polyphenolic compound) against Haemonchus contortus. For this purpose, 4-month-old Boer x Spanish cross does (n = 40) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments (n = 10/treatment), based on the supplementation (0.5% body weight-BW in kg), Cottonseed vs. pelleted feed (NC), and no parasite infection (NP) or artificial infection with 4,000 L3 of H. contortus (P). For 8 weeks, FAMACHA, BW, and eggs per gram of feces (EPG) using the McMaster technique were recorded from each animal. The experimental design used was a 2x2 factorial. Normality was tested using Wilk-Shapiro, followed by an ANOVA. Those variables not following normal distribution were analyzed using Kruskal - Wallis nonparametric test. Body weights were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Goats fed with Cottonseed had a similar BW to those fed with pellets, 29.14 and 29.80 kgs, respectively. Furthermore, the Cottonseed fed animals had greater EPG (1074.4 ± 473.4) compared with those eating pelleted feed (672.7 ± 297.07; P&lt; 0.05). Non-artificially infected animals presented minimum EPG (8.1± 8.9 and 3.7 ± 6.05 for NCNP and CNP, respectively) as part of natural infection. FAMACHA for both parasitized groups were similar, 2.77 and 2.84 for NCP and CP, respectively, but greater (P &lt; 0.05) than the FAMACHA of the non-infected animals of 2.29 and 2.41 for NCNP and CNP, respectively. From this study, the presence of cottonseed in the diet of female meat goats did not have a positive effect on reducing the parasite infection, contrary to what was expected.