The preventive role of lactoferrin on some immune variables in rats experimentally infected with E. coli leading to amelioration the infection

Male albino rats were used in this study and were obtained and bred in the animal house of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Tikrit University. A total of thirty two animals were used in the experiment and divided into two groups, each containing 16 animals. The first group received 100 mg/kg of lactoferrin orally. The second group (the control group) was given only water. Then, the animals were given 0.5 ml of E.coli bacterial suspension containing 4×106 CFU/ml . This dose was determined by the LD50 test.Blood was drawn from the eye socket on days (3, 6, 12, 24) from the start of the experiment and placed in special tubes to conduct the tests required in the research, which are, IgG, CD8, IL-1β, TNF-α,The tests were performed using ELISA technology. The highest CD8 value on day 24 for animals in the control group was given only E.coli. Interleukin 1 β showed the highest value on days 3 and 6 for the lactoferrin group given bacteria. IgG showed the highest value on day 24 for the lactoferrin group given bacteria. Finally, TNF- α showed the highest value on day 3 for the lactoferrin group given bacteria. Lactoferrin influences immune variables and bacterial resistance.