The diagnostic accuracy of acute phase proteins and proinflammatory cytokines in sheep with pneumonic pasteurellosis

Wael M El-Deeb; Ahmed M Elmoslemany

doi:10.7717/peerj.2161

The diagnostic accuracy of acute phase proteins and proinflammatory cytokines in sheep with pneumonic pasteurellosis

PeerJ. 2016 Jul 19:4:e2161. doi: 10.7717/peerj.2161. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Wael M El-Deeb¹, Ahmed M Elmoslemany²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
² Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of acute phase proteins and proinflammatory cytokines in sheep with pneumonic pasteurellosis. Blood samples were collected from 56 sheep (36 naturally infected with Pasteurella multocida and 20 healthy controls) belonging to one farm in Eastern region, Saudi Arabia. Serum samples were evaluated for acute phase proteins (Haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA) and fibrinogen (Fb)), and the proinflammatory cytokines (interleukins (IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-ϒ)). Additionally, nasopharyngeal swabs and bronchoalveolar lavages were collected from all animals for bacteriological examinations. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the diagnostic performance of each parameter. All parameters showed moderate to high degree of positive correlation with case-control status. There was no significant difference in the area under the curve (AUC) among acute phase proteins; however, both Hp and SAA showed better sensitivity and specificity than Fb. The proinflammatory cytokines (IL1-α, IL1-β, and IL6) showed similar and highly accurate diagnostic performance (AUC > 0.9), whereas IFN-ϒ was moderately accurate (AUC = 0.79). In conclusion, this study confirms the value of acute phase proteins and cytokines as diagnostic biomarkers of naturally occuring pneumonic pasteurellosis in sheep.

Keywords: Acute phase proteins; Cytokines; Diagnostic accuracy; Haptoglobin; Pneumonic pasteurellosis; Sheep.

Grants and funding

The research is funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Faisal University (Project No. 130031). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.