Cellular Immunity and Cytokine Profile in Pre-Farrow and Lactating Sows

Abstract

Study results of cellular immunity and cytokine profile of commercial pre-farrow and lactating sows are shown. Before farrow, the animals demonstrated physiological immunodeficiency characterized by relative leukopenia and lymphopenia, decreased T-cell number, higher helper/suppressor ratio providing immunological tolerance in dam/fetus system. Their cytokine profile was specified by relatively deficient interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α indicative of immune system suppression and high level of γ-interferon involved in parturition and activation of suppressor cells. Post-farrow sows demonstrated higher cellular immunity involving higher levels of leukocytes, lymphocytes and T-cells as well as tendency of T-lymphocyte helper/suppressor ratio reduction being indicative of T-cells’ suppressor activity. The cytokine profile of the sows was specified by the recovered numbers of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and γ-interferon, decreased level of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 that regulate cellular and humoral immunity, respectively as well as their subsequent increase (in particular, interleukin-2) following animal immunization against parvoviral infection and erysipelas on day 7 post farrowing (Parvoruvax vaccine, Merial, France) and against classical swine fever on day 14 post farrowing (culture dry virus-vaccine LK-VNIVIPFIT). This is due to the formation of the cellular and humoral immunity.