Investigation of serum β-defensin-1 level in calves with coccidiosis

OBJECTIVE: Coccidiosis is a protozoan infection that can result in hemorrhagic diarrhea, depression, weakness, weight loss, and even mortality in young animals. β-defensin-1 is an antimicrobial peptide produced largely by epithelial cells in the skin and mucosa. It possesses antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties. The goal of this study was to evaluate how β-defensin-1 levels changed in coccidiosis-infected calves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample included 10 coccidiosis-positive calves and 7 healthy calves, for a total of 17 calves of diverse breeds and older than 15 days. To assess the level of β-defensin-1, blood samples were obtained from the vena jugularis of the animals. The concentrations of β-defensin-1 in the serum were measured using a commercial ELISA kit. RESULTS: Although the serum β-defensin-1 level decreased in infected animals, the drop was not statistically significant when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: According to the study’s findings, there was no significant change in the serum β-defensin-1 level in coccidiosis-infected calves. We believe that it will be advantageous to conduct additional studies with a larger sample size in order to acquire more precise results.