Breed-related and stage-related differences in the immune response to Staphylococcus aureus carriage in sheep during the periparturient period.

INTRODUCTION

Staphylococcus aureus is ubiquitous as a commensal bacterium and a frequent opportunistic pathogenic one in animals including livestock. The aim of this study was to analyse the expression levels of ovine cytokine genes and acute-phase proteins in response to the presence of S. aureus.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Four different anatomical swabs, milk and blood samples came from 50 ewes from the native Uhruska and Świniarka breeds. The Uhruska breed exhibits high fertility and meat performance and the Świniarka breed is considered a primitive breed. Isolation and identification of S. aureus, haematological analysis, and analysis of cytokine and acute phase protein gene expression levels were performed.

RESULTS

Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated from swabs and milk from sheep of both breeds. A significant increase in IL6 and Hp (haptoglobin) gene expression was observed in leucocytes in samples from Uhruska sheep in which the presence of S. aureus was detected.

CONCLUSION

The expression level of selected cytokine and acute-phase protein genes have shown that even local carriage of S. aureus in small ruminants can lead to a systemic immune response, manifested by increased expression of IL6 and Hp genes in leucocytes.