CELLULAR IMMUNITY AND CYTOKINE PROFILE IN PIGLETS DURING CRITICAL PERIODS OF NURSERY
The article presents the results of studying the state of cellular immunity and cytokine profile in piglets during critical periods of nursery on an industrial pig breeding farm. Early weaning of piglets was characterized by leukocytosis, an increase in the number of lymphocytes, T-cells associated with a pronounced response to antigenic load, an increase in the relative and absolute number of T-suppressors, a decrease in the same level of T-helpers and Ttfr/tfch on 10th day after weaning, an increase in the cytokine IL-2 content, aimed at reducing the negative effect of the stress on cellular immunity. Technological stress in piglets associated with transportation to fattening was manifested by an increase in the relative and absolute content of T-suppressors, the absolute number of T-helpers, a decrease in the Ttfr/tfch ratio, the amount of IL-2 and IFN-γ on day 20, indicating suppression of cellular immunity within three weeks after the stress. Adaptation to new conditions in piglets at the age of 115 days was accompanied by a significant decrease in the relative content of T-lymphocytes and T-helpers on days 10 and 20 after stress exposure, their absolute number on day 20, as well as the Ttfr/tfch ratio, an increase in the level IFN-γ, aimed at maintaining the development of a Th-1 dependent adaptive cellular immune response and maintaining, together with its IL-4 antagonist, the balance of T-helpers1 / T-helpers 2.