Relationship of Inflammatory Signals, Cortisol and Oxidative Stress in Sheep Affected with Peste des petits ruminants

Inflammation and oxidative stress are closely related. Oxidative stress has been found to be associated with various pathological processes, however, very little emphasis has been given to correlate it with inflammatory signals and stress hormone cortisol. Infectious disease like Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in small ruminants requires close laboratory monitoring in this regard. Looking towards paucity of work associating inflammatory signals, oxidative stress and the possible role of hormone cortisol in pathogenesis of PPR in sheep, the present investigation was carried out in which blood samples were collected during an outbreak of the diseases to harvest serum from healthy and sheep affected with PPR. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), a rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway and the principal source of NADPH, represented inflammatory signal. G6PDH is a major cellular reductant, and is central to cell survival. It is known to mediate an increase in the oxidative stress and inflammatory signals. Cell growth and proliferation are affected by G6PDH. Serum peroxidase, gammaglutamyl transferase and oxidase activities represented biomarkers of oxidative stress. Serum cortisol was determined by radioimmuno assay. In the present investigation, levels of G6PDH, peroxidase, gammaglutamyl transferase, oxidase and cortisol were significantly higher (p≤0.01) in affected animals in comparison to healthy lot, respectively. Correlation between cortisol and G6PDH; cortisol and peroxidase; cortisol and gammaglutamyl transferase; G6PDH and peroxidase and G6PDH and gammaglutamyl transferase were positive and highly significant (p≤0.05). Results suggested the relation of oxidative stress with the inflammation markers.It can be recommended that an appropriate management strategy has to be designed and applied involving periodic monitoring of healthy lot, prevention of contact of former with infected sheep and proper supplementation of antioxidants to in-contact healthy animals and animals under treatment.