Effect of seasons on productive performance, metabolic changes and immunity response in rabbits

Document Type : Original Article

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Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of season on growth performance traits, metabolite assays and gene expression for innate immune in response to vaccination against pasteurellosis. APRI line, weaned females rabbits of were used in this study a local population. Rabbits weaned at 35 days and introduced in the experiment. Weight at 5 weeks considered as the beginning and all rabbits were weighed every 7 days until 12 weeks old. The feed consumption measured at the same weekly interval. Immunity response was studied by vaccination with Pasteurella multocida at 8 and 10 weeks of age as challenge experiment and the blood samples taken at 8 , 10 and 12 weeks of age. Gene expressions for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) were assayed by Real Time-PCR. Metabolite assays included glucose, triglycerides, and urea nitrogen and blood samples were taken at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age, respectively. The body weights in winter at W5, W8and W12 of age were higher than those in other seasons. Season had significant (P<0.05) influence on daily gain and feed intake. Triglycerides were significantly higher (P< 0·05) in rabbits during summer. From summer to spring season, the urea values gradually increased significant in rabbits. Vaccination with Pasteurella multocida led to an increase in expression for IL-6 in autumn and winter. Expression for IL-6 in spring was lowest the values. Gene expression of TLR4 in rabbits under different seasons had not significantly different. With vaccination by Pasteurella multocida, it is recommended by using additives to enhance immunity during summer and spring in rabbit.

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