Effect of levamisole on immune function and reproductive performance in first-litter gilts.
First-litter commercial cross-bred gilts were treated with levamisole (1.5, 2.5, or 3.5 mg/kg of body weight) weekly during the last 4 weeks of gestation, because similar treatment of dairy heifers had improved postpartum maternal health and neonatal survival. In the gilts, differences in reproductive performance were not found on the basis of pig survival at birth, pig survival at weaning, birth weight, or weaning weight. Also, differences between treated and control gilts were not found in response of circulating lymphocytes to mitogen stimulation (phytohemagglutinin A, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen). In all gilts, the lymphocyte response to mitogen stimulation was decreased during the first week after farrowing.
Purswell
B J
BJ
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
Dawe
D L
DL
Brown
J
J
Williams
D J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D007978:Levamisole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007978:Levamisole