The effect of Fenbendazole on the immune system of lambs
S.J. Parish, R.G. McFarlane, A.S. Familton, T.J. Abell
Animal and Veterinary Science Group, Lincoln University, New
Zealand.
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 1996,
56: 80-83
Measurement of lymphocyte blastogenesis and antibody production
were used to determine the effect of a benzimidazole anthelmintic on the
immune response. Both parasitized and parasite-naive (n=12) lambs, 6
months of age, were treated with fenbendazole (5mg/kgBW) and compared
with untreated control animals. All animals (n=24) were given bovine virus
diarrhoea (BVD) vaccine the day following anthelmintic treatment.
Heparinised blood samples were collected 0,3,7,14 and 21 days after the
anthelmintic treatments. The entire treatment regime was repeated at Day
28. No effects on immunity were apparent after the initial dosage with
fenbendazole. However, peripheral lymphocytes from lambs (parasitized
and parasite-naive) collected 14 days after the second administration of
fenbendazole treatment, had significantly lower stimulation indices
compared to control animals, when cultured in vitro with concanavalin A
(Con A) (P<0.01), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and lipopolysacchride
(LPS)(P<0.05). In addition, stimulation to Con A was depressed 7 days after
the second treatment. The primary and secondary humoral responses to
BVD vaccination, as measured by serum neutralisation titre, were similar
among groups. The repeated use of anthelmintics from the benzimidazole
group may interfere with immune responsiveness in young sheep.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
fenbendazole; immunosuppression; lymphocyte proliferation;
antibody.
Download abstract in text format
Last Updated 18-03-1997
