Disease Resistance and Thriftiness of Calves given Human Lymphoblastoid Interferon

Abstract

A field trial was set up to evaluate the effect of human lymphoblastoid interferon (IFN) as a biological response modifier (BRM) in cattle. Two different doses (100 and 1000 International Units /kg body weight) of partially purified interferon from Namalwa cells were administered to suckling calves, after animals were introduced into a large veal fattening and finishing unit. The clinical conditions of the calves and some parameters of specific and non-specific immunity, along with the individual weights, were evaluated over a 4-month period. The higher IFN dose correlated with a favourable clinical response of calves to a respiratory syndrome; this was further substantiated by a dramatic improvement of the growth rate with respect to control calves. To a lesser extent, this also occurred in calves given the lower IFN dose. These results suggest better disease resistance in IFN-treated calves, possible associated with dose-dependent regulation of basic homeostatic functions.

Therapeutic and Prophylactic Use of Oral, Low-Dose IFNs in Species of Veterinary Interest: Back to the Future

“…Finally, parenteral yet much lower doses of human lymphoblastoid IFN-α (100-1000 IU/kg b.w.) proved effective in our experience as vaccine adjuvants [65] and immunomodulators for better thriftiness of cattle [66].…”