Experimental immunology
Effect of tylosin and prebiotics on the level of cytokines and lymphocyte immunophenotyping parameters in calves

Introduction: Antibiotic growth promotants (AGP) were applied until December 31, 2005 and it is now prohibited in EU. Therefore new alternatives are intensively searched in livestock nutrition. Among them, an important part plays natural compounds, such as probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotic with potential immuneprofitable properties.

Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of tylosin and prebiotics (b-glucans and mannan-ologosaccharides ) added into the traditional ruminant feed on the level of selected cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-a) and alternation of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in calves (T, Th, Ts/c, B lymphocyte subsets i.e. CD2+, CD4+, CD8+, WC4+ cells, respectively).

Material and Methods: The calves were divided into three groups. The animals in group I were fed feedingstuffs with tylosin, in group II with the same feed suplemented with prebiotics and group III – control group (the feed without this addition). The experiment was carried out by 7 weeks and blood samples from calves were taken twice a week. The concentrations of cytokines were estimated by using ELISA test and biological methods. Immunophenothyping of lymphocytes were performed by using flow cytometry (FCM).

Results: The received results indicate, that prebiotics caused the significant increase of the cytokine levels and percentage of lymphocyte subpopulations in compared with the control animals. This effect was also recorded in calves treated with tylosin, however the changes were not as unequivocall and their intensity was less expressed.