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.

Full Abstract

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.

Author information

Author/s: Ambrosio, Roberto (R); Sannino, Maria Laura (ML); Cortese, Laura (L); Nappi, Clemente (C); Ara, Daniela (D); Cioffi, Michele (M);

Affiliation: Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Sezione di Clinica Medica, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc (J Vet Diagn Invest), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 21 (issue 5) : pp 668-73

Dates: Created 2009/09/09; Completed 2009/11/05;

PMID: 19737762, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/5/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.