Expresión de los genes de inmunoglobulina a y citoquinas asociadas IL-5, IL-6 y TGF-β en mucosa intestinal de crías de alpacas (Vicugna pacos) vacunadas con antígeno clostridial

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the expression levels of IgA genes and associated cytokines IL-5, IL-6 and TGF-β in the intestinal mucosa of clinically healthy baby alpaca, that were orally vaccinated with a clostridial antigen. Ten unvaccinated baby alpacas (control) and 15 vaccinated (two doses with a seven-day interval) were used. Sampling was done seven days after the second dose. Likewise, two age subgroups (15-28 and 35-56 days of age at the time of sampling) were considered. Intestinal segments of 2 cm in length were taken from the middle portion of the jejunum and stored at -196 °C. Total RNA extraction was performed and the complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized by reverse transcription. Subsequently, real-Time PCR was run using specific primers for IL-5, IL-6, TGF-β and exon 3 of IgA. Relative expression evaluation was performed using the 2^-ΔΔÄCt method. Vaccinated animals with clostridial antigen had a greater expression of IgA (control: 275.3 fold, vaccinated: 710.2 fold more than the calibrator) (p = 0.005). The vaccinated alpacas of the 15-28 day subgroup expressed IL-5, IL-6 and TGF-β at 1.96, 4.78 and 2.87 fold higher than the calibrator, respectively, with a significant difference with the control group (p<0.05). It is concluded that the administration of clostridial antigen as an oral vaccine in baby alpacas in the first 14 days of age promotes a greater expression of the IL-5, IL-6, TGF-β and IgA genes at the intestinal mucosa level.