Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology
Year : 1999, Volume : 1, Issue : 1&2
First page : ( 31) Last page : ( 34)
Print ISSN : 0972-0561.

Immunopathology of cadmium in bovine calves

Chauhan R.S., Agrawal D.K.

Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar-263 145, India.

Abstract

Immunopathological effects of cadmium was studied in 6 crossbred male bovine calves vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine. These calves were divided into two groups of 3 each. Group I calves were kept as control while group II calves were given cadmium 10 mg/kg b.w. in drinking water for a period of 4 months. Blood and serum samples were collected at 15 day intervals for detennination of humoral and cell-mediated immune response. Humoral immunity was detennined by assessing the Brucella specific antibody titres, total IgG and total IgM titres and B-Iymphocyte blastogenesis assay using lipopolysaccharide as mitogen. The cell mediated immunity was assessed by lymphocyte stimulation assay of peripheral blood using phytohaemagglutinin-M (PHA-M) as mitogen and by enumeration of BoCD₄⁺ and BoCD₈⁺ cells in peripheral blood. The results showed that the blastogenic activity of T-Iymphocytes reduced significantly in cadmium fed calves in comparison to controls. There was significant reduction in BoCD₄⁺ (T-helper cells) and BoCD₈⁺ (T-cytotoxic cells), brucella specific antibody titres, total IgG and IgM levels in cadmium fed calves in comparison to controls. Cadmium, thus, was found to have immunosuppressive effect at a dose of 10 mg/kg b.w. which may lead to increased susceptibility of animals to various diseases.

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Key words

Cadmium, humoral and cell mediated immune response, immunosuppression, calves.

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