Acute phase response in experimentally Escherichia coli serotype O55:B5 induced endotoxemia and its comparative treatment with dexamethasone and flunixin meglumine in Iranian fattailed sheep.

Abstract

This experiment was performed in order to clarify the effect of acute phase response following the induction of endotoxemia by Escherichia coli serotype O55:B5 and regarding its comparative treatment with dexamethasone and fl unixin meglumine in the Iranian fat-tailed sheep. Fifteen, clinically healthy, one-year old Iranian fat-tailed ewes were randomly assigned into three equal (n = 5) experimental groups, comprising of a control group, and a Dexa and a Flnx group. Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli serotype O55:B5 was administered intravenously at 20 μg/kg. All experimental groups underwent intravenous fl uid therapy for 120 minutes after lipopolysaccharide injection. 180 minutes after lipopolysaccharide, Dexamethasone (in Dexa group at 1 mg/kg) and fl unixin meglumine (in Flnx group at 2.2 mg/kg) were injected, along with the intravenous fl uid for 60 minutes. The control group received only lipopolysaccharide and was treated with an intravenous fl uid without any drug. The researchers collected blood samples from all the ewes and assayed separated sera for serum acute phase proteins (serum amyloid A and haptoglobin) and infl ammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma). In all experimental groups there a rapid increase was noted in the amount of acute phase proteins and infl ammatory cytokines after endotoxemia induction (P 0.05). The fi ndings also revealed that immediate intravenous administration of dexamethasone and fl unixin meglumine reduced and controlled the acute phase response in sheep endotoxemia due to Escherichia coli serotype O55:B5.