DYNAMICS OF SERUM PROTEIN DURING THE ESTROUS CYCLE OF GOATS BRED IN BRAZIL AND NATURALLY INFECTED BY CAPRINE ARTHRITIS ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to evaluate variations in proteinogram occurring during the estrus cycle of animals infected or not by caprine arthritis encephalitis. Forty blood samples were collected from female goats in different phases of the estrus cycle (estrus, proestrus, metaestrus and diestrus). Samples were classified as positive (n = 5) and negative (n = 5), according to the results of the survey of antibodies against caprine arthritis encephalitis as performed by immunodiffusion in agar gel. Samples were also used in the determination of albumin, total protein and alpha, beta and gammaglobulin by means of electrophoresis and biuret method, respectively. Electrophoresis showed that estrus, proestrus, metaestrus and diestrus positive animals presented total protein mean equal to 7.96 ± 0.69, 7.67 ± 1.14, 7.77 ± 0.36, 7.48 ± 0.83; mean albumin equal to 3.22 ± 0.41, 3.11 ± 0.68, 3.30 ± 0.67, 3.28 ± 0.57; mean alphaglobulin equal to 0.70 ± 0.09, 0.70 ± 0.12, 0.69 ± 0.12, 0.61 ± 0.11; mean betaglobulin 1 equal to 0.85 ± 0.04, 0.87 ± 0.04, 0.90 ± 0.12, 0.83 ± 0.11; mean betaglobulin 2 equal to 0.77 ± 0.18, 0.68 ± 0.17, 0.60 ± 0.15, 0.54 ± 0.09; and mean gammaglobulin equal to 2.43 ± 0.47, 2.31 ± 0.54, 2.28 ± 0.49, 2.21 ± 0.54. Negative animals presented mean total protein equal 7.76 ± 1.31, 8.03 ± 1.10, 7.50 ± 0.51, 6.49 ± 1.14; mean albumin equal to 3.06 ± 0.46, 3.19 ± 0.46, 3.03 ± 0.62, 2.93 ± 0.96; mean alphaglobulin equal to 0.69 ± 0.19, 0.75 ± 0.18, 0.70 ± 0.24, 0.58 ± 0.20; mean betaglobulin 1 equal to 0.79 ± 0.03, 0.79 ± 0.23, 0.80 ± 0.15, 0.66 ± 0.16; mean betaglobulin 2 equal to 0.67 ± 0.20, 0.95 ± 0.37, 0.81 ± 0.40, 0.73 ± 0.41; and mean gammaglobulin equal to 2.35 ± 1.42; 2.42 ± 1.30, 2.23 ± 1.03, 1.92 ± 0.70, respectively. Variance analysis did not show any statistically significant differences. Animals infected by caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) did not present any changes in proteinogram, regardless of the phase of the estrus cycle they were in.