Pigs are relatively resistant to dexamethasone induced immunosuppression

Antibody Responses to Sarcoptes scabiei Apolipoprotein in a Porcine Model: Relevance to Immunodiagnosis of Recent Infection

“…Pigs have been reported to be less susceptible to Dex treatment than other species. For example, Flaming [62] found that IgG antibody responses were unaffected in Dex treated pigs, despite receiving much higher doses (2–6 mg/kg) than used in our study (0.2 mg/kg). Similarly, Dex did not inhibit serum IgE levels in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis [63].…”

First report of naturally acquired clinical sarcocystosis in a pig breeding stock

“…It is not likely that the administration of 8 mg/100 kg dexamethasone had worsened the clinical outcome of the infection in the boar, because pigs are considered remarkably resistant to immunosuppression by this drug (Flaming et al, 1994), and immunosuppressive doses are much higher (>6 mg/kg) than those used in the present case. The involvement of breed or individual genetic factors in the clinical course of the infection cannot be discarded (Reiner et al, 2002).…”

Altered Pathogenesis of Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus in Pigs due to Immunosuppressive Effects of Dexamethasone: Implications for Corticosteroid Use in Treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

“…DEX (Vedco, Inc.), an antiinflammatory corticosteroid, was given daily to PRCV/DEX and mock/DEX pigs by intramuscular injection of 2 mg per kg of body weight from postinoculation day (PID) 1 to 6 to mimic the doses and regimen used for SARS patients (1,14,27). A previous report indicated that a single treatment of DEX (2 mg/kg) caused lymphopenia and a marked decrease in lymphocyte blastogenesis in pigs (12). The PRCV/PBS and mock/PBS pigs were similarly administered phosphatebuffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4).…”