Abstract

The ability to produce interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in vitro was measured in blood from 200 F-2-crosses between European wild boar and Swedish Yorkshire pigs, originating from a reference pedigree for gene mapping. A total of 200 pigs of 44 litters, descendent from 4 boars and 22 sows, were stressed by transportation together with non-littermates for 5 h. Blood samples were collected from each individual twice, i.e. immediately before transportation and the day after transportation. IFN-alpha production was induced in whole blood cultures by a monolayer of fixed, Aujeszky's disease virus infected, porcine kidney cells. In general, the amount of IFN-alpha produced was significantly lower (p=0.02) the day after transportation, although the ability to produce IFN-alpha showed a large individual variation (p<0.001). However, both the levels of IFN-alpha produced and the decrease after transportation varied between the four parental offspring groups. Also, indications of single genes with significant effects on the ability to produce IFN-alpha were found. These results confirm a genetic influence on the ability to produce IFN-alpha. In addition, stress, such as transportation and mixing, may decrease the level of IFN-alpha produced.

Keywords

INTERFERON-ALPHA; PIG; GENETIC INFLUENCE; AUJESZKYS DISEASE VIRUS

Published in

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica
1994, Volume: 42, number: 2-3, pages: 331-336
Publisher: AKADEMIAI KIADO

SLU Authors

• Wattrang, Eva

  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Fossum, Caroline

  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/106590