Evaluation of the relationship between passive transfer status, serum growth hormone and insulin like growth factor -1 levels in diarrheic and healthy lambs

EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PASSIVE TRANSFER STATUS, SERUM GROWTH HORMONE AND INSULIN LIKE GROWTH FACTOR -1 LEVELS IN DIARRHEIC AND HEALTHY LAMBS In this study, it was aimed to determine the usefulness of practical tests for the follow-up of sufficient colostrum intake in lambs, and also to investigate the Insulin Like Growth Factor-I (IGF)-19 and Growth Hormone (GH) changes in the neonatal period and in the early period, and to determine the relationship between the IGF-1 and GH values along with passive transfer tests. The study was carried out in a private sheep farm in Karacabey district of Bursa. The study material contained 15 healthy lambs and 15 diarrheic lambs of 'Kıvırcık' breed. In groups with diarrhea and healthy lambs, 8 male-7 females in healthy group, 7 male and 8 female lambs in diarrhea group were distributed to be equal in both groups. The animals were followed on the 7th, 14th, 21st, 35th, 49th and 63st days prior the colostrum intake by monitoring their clinical conditions and by taking the live weight measurements, serum and EDTA blood samples and stool samples were also obtained on stated days. IGF-1, GH levels were measured by ELISA method, Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) enzyme was measured using 'Reflotron', Gluteraldehyte Coagulation Test (GKT) was measured manually with freshly prepared GKT solution and Total Protein levels were measured manually with refractometer. In the present study, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference between body weight levels, especially at the time of birth, on the 49th and 63th days (P <0.05). Cryptosporidium spp. antigen was detected on all diarrheic lambs. Although there was no statistically significant difference detected in the plasma levels of IGF-1 and GH levels in animals in healthy and diarrheic groups, IGF-1 levels in diarrheic animals were significantly higher than healthy ones (p <0.05, 0.01). In the present study, it was found that there was a positive correlation between GH and IGF-1 on the 7 th, 14 th, 49 th and 63 th days in healthy lambs who did not have diarrhea. It was determined that there was a positive correlation between the lambs forming the diarrhea group only on the 7th and 35th days. GH did not show a significant correlation with the parameters used to demonstrate passive transfer failure; only healthy lambs showed a positive correlation with GGT on day 7 after the intake of colostrum with healthy lambs. Key words: lamb, neonatal, diarrhea, IGF-1, GH, cryptosporidium