Investigation of some acute phase protein levels of Awassi lambs in neonatal period and their relationship with lamb weight

Acute phase proteins (APPs) have been paid attention to as sensitive and reliable biomarkers used for monitoring general health status, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies of diseases. In this study, changes in some APPs, globulin (Glb), and total protein (TP) concentrations and the correlation of these proteins with lamb weight were investigated in the neonatal period of Awassi lambs (Ovis aries). Repeated blood samples were taken from 59 lambs at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age. There were statistical differences in average haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid-A (SAA), ceruloplasmin (Cp), and albumin (Alb) concentrations during the neonatal period. The lowest concentrations of both Hp and SAA were measured in precolostrum samples and increased to the highest level on the 3rd day of the neonatal period. Ceruloplasmin concentrations followed a constant course in the samples of the first 3 days and reached the highest level in the 14th day samples. The highest levels of Alb were measured in precolostrum samples, and the lowest levels were detected in the 14th day samples. Acute phase protein concentration changes did not differ significantly by gender except Cp. There was a negative correlation between the weights of lambs and Cp and Alb. It was concluded that the time-dependent change of APPs in the neonatal period could help in understanding the neonatal period of Awassi lambs and that its primary purpose is survival as a physiological part of the adaptation process to the extrauterine environment