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The influence of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on eosinophils numbers in the gut of milk or milk replacer fed calf

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

K.N. Muturi*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK
M. Wallace
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK
J. Struthers
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK
J.R. Scaife
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK
M.A. Lomax
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA, UK
A. Mackellar
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Pencuik, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, U.K
J.F. Huntley
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Pencuik, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, U.K
R.L. Coop
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Pencuik, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, U.K
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Extract

Infection by parasites is a major cause of production losses and mortality in young calves. The problem is most prevalent during the first grazing season (Armour, 1989). Eosinophils are important cellular mediators in immunity to gastrointestinal parasites (Baker et al, 1993), but during an extreme hypersensitivity immune response, degranulating eosinophils may lead to tissue pathology which may favour parasite survival (Miller, 1996). Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) influence the fatty acid composition of immune tissues and cells (Jaffrey, 1998). n-6 and n-3 fatty acids are known to influence various components of immune response via eicosanoid dependent or independent mechanisms which influence the relative proportions of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, including IL-5 an important regulator of eosinophils maturation and recruitment. This study was carried out to establish the extent to which dietary n-6 or n-3 PUFA source affects the numbers of eosinophils in the gut of calves.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2003

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References

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