Cytokines and immunoglobulin G response in donkeys with spontaneous Setaria equina infection

Setaria equina (S. equina) is a filarial worm that exists in peritoneal cavity of equines. This study aimed to evaluate cytokine mediators tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses in spontaneously S. equina infected and non-infected donkeys with emphasis on choosing the best antigen that could be used in diagnosis of such filarial infection. A total of 87 donkeys were examined. Two S. equina antigens: crude somatic S. equina antigen (CSS) and excretory secretory S. equina antigen (ESS) were prepared. They were evaluated in diagnosis of the infection using indirect ELISA and electrophoretically characterised through sodium dodecyl sulphate poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blotting technique. The re-sults indicated that both TNF-α and IL-4 in the serum of infected donkeys were significantly higher compared with the non-infected group at P