Comparative observations of fever and associated clinical, haematological and blood biochemical changes after parenteral administration of poly I: Poly C, interferonalpha2aand Escherichia coli endotoxin in goats

Abstract

The present report describes a comparative study in dwarf goats on human IFN‐α2a (0.5 × 10⁶ IU kg^‐1 body weight IM), poly I: poly C (an interferon inducer; 30 pg kg ^‐1 b.w. IV), and Escherichia coli endotoxin (an I1–1 inducer; 0. 1 μg kg^‐1 b.w. IV. Although IFNs are considered to be species specific, human IEN‐α_2a was very potent in dwarf goats. All 3 stimuli induced the ‘acute phase response’. Among the varied physiological alterations, which together produce this response, are fever and depression, inhibition of gastric function, tachycardia, a decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase activity, leukopenia, lymphopenia and neutropenia followed by neutrophilic leukocytosis, hypoferraemia and hypozincaemia. The results suggest that, apart from I1–1, IFN‐α also seems to mediate the systemic ‘acute phase response’ to certain exogenous stimuli.