Concentrations of serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-1 and -6 in Anatolian buffaloes naturally infected with dermatophytosis

Dermatophytosis is most frequently found in ruminants, in which non-pruritic periocular lesions are most typical, though generalised skin disease may develop. Accordingly, the infection causes major economic losses. The aim of this study was to measure the inflammatory status of Anatolian buffaloes with dermatophytosis by determining the serum concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) and -6 (IL-6). Anatolian buffaloes (n = 26), aged three to 11 month, were divided into two groups: 11 animals served as the clinically healthy control group and 15 animals clinically and microbiologically diagnosed with dermatophytosis formed the experimental group. Concentrations of tested proteins were measured using commercially available ELISA kits. In all cases, concentrations of measured proteins were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in infected animals when compared to healthy controls: SAA: 41.05 ± 0.01 vs. 7.43 ± 0.11μg/ml; Hp: 96.21 ± 0.18 vs. 8.49 ± 0.79 μg/ml; TNF-α: 0.90 ± 0.99 vs. 0.10 ± 0.26 ng/ml; IL-1α: 186.22 ± 0.22 vs. 74.04 ± 0.90 pg/ml; and IL-6: 55.94 ± 0.50 vs. 32.45 ± 0.20 pg/ml. It was concluded that the elevated values of variables under study were a result of the inflammatory response to dermatophytosis; thus, these markers may serve as an additional diagnostic tool.