title: Serum protein concentration and protein fractions in clinically healthy Lacaune and Sarda sheep using agarose gel electrophoresis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) provides useful information in ruminants, but reference intervals (RI) are different from other species. There have been no reports of SPE RI for dairy sheep using agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the serum concentration of total protein (TP) and protein fractions determined by AGE in mid-lactating dairy ewes, to establish RI, and to assess potential differences between Lacaune (L) and Sarda (S) sheep breeds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from healthy, mid-lactating ewes. SPE was assessed using a semi-automated AGE system. Reference intervals (90% confidence intervals) for TP and each protein fraction were determined using the nonparametric method for combined data, and the robust method for data from the single breeds. Data from S and L sheep were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 172 sheep included 116 L and 56 S ewes, 2-6 years old. There were significant differences between S and L breeds, and RI were calculated for TP, albumin, α1 -globulin, α2 -globulin, β1 -globulin, β2 -globulin, γ1 -globulin, and γ2 -globulin concentrations, and for the Albumin/Globulin ratio. Group S showed higher concentrations of TP, α2 -, β1 -, β2 -, and γ1 -globulins, whereas L was higher for albumin and γ2 -globulin concentrations, and A/G ratio (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The resolution with AGE was excellent, allowing standardization of 7 protein fractions, detection of differences between S and L ewes, and determination of RI for French (Lacaune) and Italian (Sarda) dairy sheep.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5459-6298
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Antognoni
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.affiliation: Unità Sanitaria Locale n°2, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moncada
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4814-2273
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riondato
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scoccia
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mangili
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins
keywords: Clinical chemistry; dairy ewes; lactation; protein metabolism; reference intervals