Effects of plane of nutrition on IL-2 and IL-10 expression in Fasciola gigantica infected calves as determined by real-time PCR.

SUMMARY The effects of plane of nutrition on the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in crossbred (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) calves infected with Fasciola gigantic was investigated. Animals in groups I and II were fed with 100 % of NRC (National Research Council) requirement while the group III were fed on 125% of NRC requirement. IL-2 and IL-10 were measured during early phase (30 days post infection) and chronic phase (75 days post infection) of infection by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The IL-2 was not detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of calves at d 30 and 75 post infection and control groups. The IL-10 was detected in PBMCs of infected groups at d 30 and 75 post infection. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the expression of IL-10 cytokine in both the infected groups provided with different NRC requirements. The findings suggested the plane of nutrition had no effect on Th2 response to F. gigantica infection.