Variation in the immune status of two Australian pig breeds

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the variation in immune competence of two Australian pig breeds.

Design: A panel of immune tests were used to assess breed and sire differences in weaner piglets of Large White and Duroc breeds.

Procedure: All piglets were immunised against porcine leptospirosis. Blood samples were taken for studies on lymphocyte phenotypes, mitogenic responses of blood cells and serological analysis.

Results: Significantly larger blood leucocyte numbers were found in Large White piglets compared with Duroc piglets after vaccinations. No significant difference in concanavalin A induced blood cell proliferation was found between these two breeds before or after vaccinations. Some significant breed variation in blood lymphocyte phenotypes was found. While the age-related changes of lymphocyte phenotypes were similar for the two breeds, the Large White breed had significantly larger numbers of CD2+ and CD4+ cells than the Duroc breed after the two vaccinations. There were also significant sire effects on CD8+ cells within the Large White breed after the first vaccination. No significant breed difference was detectable in serum IgG concentrations but sire differences within each breed before the primary vaccination were found. The serum antibody response to vaccination against leptospirosis was generally small, and showed no variations due to either breed or sire. No gender effects were found during the entire study.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated significant differences in some important immune components of the pig breeds studied. This may in turn indicate the variation in their immune competence or disease resistance. However, further investigation into the heritability and correlation with specific immune responses is required.