Effect of Low-Dose Human Interferon-alpha on Shipping Fever of Thoroughbred
Racehorses |
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| Authors: | Makoto AKAI Seiji HOBO Shinya WADA |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Racehorse Clinic, Ritto Training Center, Japan Racing Association, 2500–2 Mikoma, Ritto-shi, Shiga 520-3085, Japan;2. Microbiology Division, Epizootic Research Center, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400–4 Shiba, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan |
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| Abstract: | To assess the effect of human interferon-alpha (IFNα) on shipping fever of Thoroughbredracehorses subjected to long-distance transportation, an IFNα preparation was orallyadministered to 48 horses three times (once daily, 3 successive days) beforetransportation (IFNα group). In the control group (25 horses), maltose was administered inthe same way. These treatments induced no abnormal findings in Thoroughbred racehorsesbefore transportation. Immediately after transportation, significant increases in rectaltemperature were observed in both treatment groups, whereas the rectal temperature of theIFNα group tended to be lower than that of the control group. Although WBC, Fbg, and SAAimmediately after transportation were significantly increased due to transportation inboth groups, the extent of the increases in the IFNα group was significantly smaller thanin the control group. Long-distance transportation had a relatively profound impact onThoroughbred racehorses, which was mitigated by IFNα treatment. |
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| Keywords: | human interferon-alpha low-dose oral administration thoroughbred racehorses shipping fever |
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