Improving the Immune and Health Status and Blood Constituents of Egyptian Buffaloes and their Offspring in Response to Treating Dams with Selenomethionine and Levamisole

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of treating Egyptian buffaloes with some immunopotentiators as selenomethionine and levamisole HCl separately or in combination, during the late stage of pregnancy and early lactation period, on immune and health status and blood constituentsof the dams and their offspring as well as growth performance of their calf. Total of 28 Egyptian buffaloes weighing 600 ± 50 kg in 2^nd – 4^th lactation season at late stage of pregnancy (60 days before parturition) were selected to carry out this study. All experimental animals were randomly allocated in randomized design to four similar experimental groups (7 buffaloes / each). Animals in the 1^st group were without treatment and served as a control group, while those in the 2^nd group were orally administrated with 0.9 mg/kg of DM twice weekly of selenomethionine (Se-Met). The 3^rd group were subcutaneously injected with 0.5 mg/kg of BW/week of levamisole HCl (LEV) and the 4^th group were orally administrated with 0.9 mg / kg of DM twice weekly of selenomethionine plus 0.5 mg/kg of BW/week, subcutaneously of levamisole HCl (Se-Met+LEV) respectively, during 60 days pre- and post-partum. The obtained results showed that blood plasma TP, AL, T₃ and T₄ hormones, selenium and glucose concentrations as well as activity of transferases enzymes (ALT and AST) and antioxidant enzymes (GSH and SOD) were improved (P<0.05) in dams that administrated with Se-Met, LEV and Se-Met+LEV and their calf compared with untreated dams and its calves. The best (P<0.05) values recorded with dams received Se-Met+LEV together and their newborn calves. Administration of Se-Met, LEV and their combination Se-Met+LEV to dams achieved significantly (P<0.01) enhanced levels of immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG, and significantly (P<0.01) reduced levels of  nitric oxide and cortisol in blood plasma of dams and their newborn calves as compared to the control dams and their offspring. The greatest (P<0.01) values of immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG and least (P<0.01) values of nitric oxide and cortisol were detected in dams administrated with Se-Met+LEV together and their calf. Also, dams treated with a combination of Se-Met+LEV (G₄) recorded significantly (P<0.01) increased concentrations of all immunoglobulins fractions  (IgA, IgM and IgG) in their colostrum as compared to the control dams or dams treated with Se-Met (G₂) or LEV (G₃) separately. Moreover, there were no recorded cases of newborn affection between calves delivered from all administrated dams compared with calves delivered from the control dams that shows more severe pneumonia and enteritis as a result of which two calves (28.57%) died in the first month of life. Average birth and weaning weights and daily gain of buffalo calves were significantly (P<0.05) higher by Se-Met, LEV and Se-Met+LEV administration to their dams, begin the highest (P<0.05) values of birth and weaning weights and daily gain of calf produced from buffalo dams received Se-Met+LEV together (G₄). In conclusion, administration of some immunopotentitors as selenomethionine and levamisole HCl single or in combination to Egyptian buffaloes during the late stage of pregnancy and early lactation period (the transition period) had a valuable impact on immune and health status and blood constituents of dams and their calves as well as growth performance of their calves. Therefore, it can be recommend to administer the Egyptian buffalo dams with a combination of selenomethionine at level of 0.9 mg/kg of DM/twice weekly, orally plus injection subcutaneously with levamisole at level of 0.5 mg/kg of BW/weekly during the transition period for improving immune and healthstatus and blood constituents of dams and their newborn calves as well as growth performance of their offspring, which allow for raising good female calves for milk production or male calves for breeding.