DefinePK

Abstract

The current study sought to investigate changes in the secretion of immuno-protective proteins, as well as inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in camel milk and serum during the first two months postpartum. Using commercially available ELISA kits, the concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), lactoferrin (LTF), lactoperoxidase (LPO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in milk samples collected on days 4, 10, 30, and 60 postpartum were measured. IgG, LTF, and LPO were also measured in the serum samples from the dams and their calves obtained at the same time points. There were no significant variations in the levels of the protective proteins LTF and LPO in the milk on day 4 compared to the other sampling days. However, IgG concentrations significantly decreased from day 4 to days 10, 30, and 60 (P?0.05, P?0.001, and P?0.01, respectively). TNF-? secretions significantly increased on days 10, 30, and 60 compared to day 4 (P?0.001). Only days 10 and 60 exhibited significant decreases in IL-6 secretion compared to day 4 (P?0.001). The regulatory cytokine IL-10 levels were stable for the first three sampling times before significantly declining at day 60 (P?0.001). Analysis of the dam’s serum revealed a significant decline in LTF concentrations on days 10 and 60 compared to day 4 (P?0.05) and a significant increase in serum LPO on day 10 only (P?0.01). Serum IgG decreased in all the sampling days compared to day 4, however, these decreases were significant only on day 10 (P?0.05). A significant decline in calf’s serum IgG was observed on day 30 of age as compared to day 4. The results of the present study further our knowledge regarding the biologically active compounds found in milk that can be used to distinguish between healthy and diseased camel udders.