Assessment of innate immunity by phagocytic activity in non-descript and Sahiwal cattle in Chhattisgarh

Abstract

Aim: The objective of the research was to assess the innate immunity status of non-descript (ND) cattle in comparison to Sahiwal cattle in Chattisgarh by the determination of the phagocytosis activity (PA) and opsonocytophagic index (OI). Materials and Methods: In-vitro phagocytic activity of neutrophil was studied in ND and Sahiwal (S) cattle after dividing them in groups viz. ND-I, ND-II, S-I and S-II. Neutrophils were separated from the blood and activated with Staphylococcus aureus. PA and OI were observed under high power of a microscope at ×1000 magnification. Results: PA (percent) in groups ND-I, ND-II, S-I and S-II was 73.00±1.03, 82.25±1.51, 80.75±1.36 and 82.37±1.27, respectively which vary significantly (p<0.01), with respect to age. The observations regarding the OI (bacteria per neutrophil) in groups ND-I, ND-II, S-I and S-II was 7.17±0.04, 7.76±0.09, 7.02±0.04 and 7.79±0.06, respectively. Age difference was evident, i.e., OI increases as age increases. Conclusion: Innate immunity plays a vital role in host defense against diseases. Neutrophil kills the invading pathogen by phagocytic action. PA and OI is an important tool for the assessing innate immune status. After coincubation of neutrophil with bacterial cells, PA was significantly lower (p<0.01) in ND-I, calves group then other groups. Further, the result of OI clearly indicates that OI has increased as age increases in both breeds. The study will, therefore, generate first hand information on ND cattle along with their relative statistical differences, if any, when compared with Sahiwal.

Keywords

• innate immunity
• non-descript cattle
• opsonocytophagic index
• phagocytosis activity