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In this study, the effect of immunostimulant effective Levamisole on bovine mastitis, metritis and foetal deaths as well as on some immunological parameters was investigated. The material of the study comprised of 6.5-month pregnant. 20 experiment and 10 control, total 30 Holstcin cows from the Türkiye Şeker Fabrikaları A.Ş.. Lüleburgaz Sarımsaklı Dairy Farm, aged between 3-7 years, weighing approximately 600 kg. with the same amount of milk production and with no mammary problems. To create immunostimulation in the experimental animals. 2.5 mg/kg of 10% Levamisole was administered I.M. once a week for a total of 6 weeks and continued until a month before parturition. The same was applied to the control group for the same length of time as 15 ml placebo. In order to evaluate clinical results, the rate of mastitis was observed by clinical examination and CMT after birth: the rate of metritis by examining the colour and odour of vaginal discharge and by rectal examination: and rates of foetal deaths were recorded in the intrauterine period, during birth and 2 months after birth. Immunological parameters were used to support clinical results. For this, blood-serum IgG levels 2 weeks before birth, on Day I and Day 4 after birth: colostrum-serum IgG levels on Day I and Day 4 after birth and blood-serum IgG levels on Day 4 and Day 14 after birth before the calves suckled colostrum following birth were measured using ELISA. Also blood frotis smears were prepared from calves 4 days after birth and leucocyte rates were determined. While in the experimental group mastitis occurred in only 1 animal (5%). it occurred in 2 animals (20%) in the control group. While in the expérimental group metritis occurred in 2 animals (10%), it occurred in 4 animals (40%) in the control group. In the experimental group foetal death occurred in I animal (5%), while 1 foetal death (10%) was also determined in the control group. While a significant decrease was seen in the occurrence rates of postpartum mastitis and metritis in the group to which levamisole was administered, when compared to the control group, the decrease in foetal deaths in the control group was found to be statistically insignificant (p>0.05). When IgG rates in ELISA results were evaluated, they were found to be higher in the experimental group compared to the experimental group. While the blood-serum IgG levels 2 weeks before birth and on Day 1 and Day 4 after birth of cows in the control group were 14.28±0.437 mg/ml. 9.71±0.328 mg/ml. 17.38±0.481 mg/ml respectively: these values were 11.48±0.129 mg/ml. 5.67±0.308 mg/ml. 10.41±0.317 mg/m! for the control group and were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). When the mean colostrum-serum IgG levels immediately after birth and on Day 4 were evaluated, they were found to be 24.37±0.309 mg/ml. 19.18±0.171 mg/ml respectively in the experimental group and 20.18±0.708 mg/ml. 15.49±0.231 mg/ml in the control group. This was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). When blood-serum IgG levels of the calves were measured, they were found to be 5.45±0.319 me/ml immediately after birth before suckling colostrum. 11.65±0.615 mg/ml 4 days after binh and 9.16±0.411 mg/ml 14 days after birth in the experimental group, The same values were measured as 4.07±0.118 mg/ml, 8.43±0.316 mg/ml and 7.14±0.512 mg/ml respectively in the control group. While in the control group IgG was high immediately after birth before suckling colostrum, this was not found to be statistically significant. On Day 4 and Day 14 after birth. IgG levels were found to be higher in the experimental group compared to the control group and thus statistically significant (p<0.05). An increase with respect to lymphoctyes was determined in the leucocyte formula; however, this was not found to be statistically significant (p>0.05).
As a result, we can suggest that Levamisole can be used as an alternative and reliable drug in decreasing the occurrence rate of relenlio secundinarum. mastitis and metritis in cows and increasing IgG level in both cows and calves.