Validation and application of an immunofluorimetric assay for detection of serum free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine concentrations in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) under various physiological conditions

• Published in: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation 2009-09, Vol.21 (5), p.668-673
• Main Authors: Ambrosio, Roberto, Sannino, Maria Laura, Cortese, Laura, Nappi, Clemente, Ara, Daniela, Cioffi, Michele
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging - physiology; animal age; animal diseases; animal reproduction; Animals; blood chemistry; buffaloes; Buffaloes - blood; Buffaloes - growth & development; Buffaloes - physiology; Circadian Rhythm; diagnostic techniques; Female; females; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Immunoassay - methods; lactation; Lactation - physiology; methodology; new methods; parity (reproduction); Pregnancy; reference standards; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; temporal variation; Thyroid Gland - physiology; thyroxine; Thyroxine - blood; triiodothyronine; Triiodothyronine - blood; young animals
• ISSN: 1040-6387; 1943-4936
• DOI: 10.1177/104063870902100511

Correspondence: 1 Corresponding Author: Laura Cortese, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Sezione di Clinica Medica, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy. lcortese{at}unina.it The current study was designed to validate an immunofluorimetric method to measure free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4) concentrations in the serum of buffalo and to develop a better understanding of thyroid metabolism in buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ) of different ages and reproductive statuses. Free triiodothyronine and fT4 were determined in sera from 4 groups of 10 animals, each representing 5–10-year-old lactating buffalo, 2–3-year-old first calf heifers, 1–1.5-year-old virgin heifers, and 5–10-year-old dry buffalo. The average sensitivity of the immunofluorimetric assay was 5.9 pmol/l for fT3 and 14.7 pmol/l for fT4. Intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation were 5.6% and 5.1% for fT3 and 1.5% and 4.3% for fT4, respectively. Virgin heifers had higher average values for fT3 and fT4, while lactating buffalo had the lowest average values. Dry buffalo and first calf heifers had intermediate fT3 and fT4 values. The findings of this study suggested that lactating buffalo were in a state of low thyroid activity, while virgin heifers had increased thyroid activity. Key Words: Buffalo • immunofluorimetric assay • reproductive status • thyroid hormones