Use of a Monte Carlo analysis within a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to predict doxycycline residue withdrawal time in edible tissues in swine

The pharmacokinetics of doxycycline were studied following a single intravenous (I.V.) and intramuscular (I.M.) injection of 10 mg/kg into eight healthy pigs. The steady-state tissue/plasma partition coefficients were obtained via a 3-h constant rate infusion (CRI) in four pigs. Based on the results of in vivo studies and the parameters derived from published work, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to predict the drug concentration in edible tissues. The predicted values were then compared with those derived from a previous study. To account for individual differences in the processes of drug metabolism and/or diffusion, a Monte Carlo (MC) run of 1000 simulations was incorporated into the PBPK model to predict the doxycycline residue withdrawal times in edible tissues in swine. The withdrawal periods were compared with those derived from linear regression analysis. The PBPK model presented here provided accurate predictions of the observed concentrations in all tissues except for the injection site. The withdrawal times in all edible tissues derived from the MC analysis were longer than those from linear regression analysis. Based on the residues in the injection site and muscle tissue, the MC analysis predicted a withdrawal time of 33 days. Here, we illustrate that MC analysis can be incorporated into the PBPK model to accurately predict doxycycline residue withdrawal time in edible tissues in swine.     

Sulfamethazine water medication pharmacokinetics and contamination in a commercial pig production unit

Sulfamethazine is often used to treat disease in the swine industry. Sulfamethazine is available as water or feed medication and historically (over the past 40 years) has been associated with residue violations in both the United States and Europe. Despite sulfamethazine's approval for use as a water medication, little research on the pharmacokinetics of the water formulation is available. Therefore, a pilot study was performed to determine the plasma levels of an approved sulfamethazine water medication. Plasma levels in pigs treated with an oral bolus (250 mg/kg), which is equivalent to the total drug consumed within a 24-h period, achieved therapeutic concentrations (50 microg/ml). Noncompartmental-based pharmacokinetic model parameters for clearance, half-life, and volume of distribution were consistent with previously published values in swine. However, the above treatment resulted in exposure of pen mates to sulfamethazine at levels currently above tolerance (0.1 ppm). Using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model, the treatment dose simulation was compared with observed plasma levels of treated pigs. Flexibility of the physiologically based pharmacokinetic model also allowed simulation of control-pig plasma levels to estimate contamination exposure. A simulated exposure to 0.15 mg/kg twice within approximately 8 h resulted in detectable levels of sulfamethazine in the control pigs. After initial exposure, a much lower dose of 0.059 mg/kg maintained the contamination levels above tolerance for at least 3 days. These results are of concern for producers and veterinarians, because in commercial farms, the entire barn is often treated,and environmental contamination could result in residues of an unknown duration.     

Development of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for flunixin in cattle (Bos taurus)

Frequent violation of flunixin residues in tissues from cattle has been attributed to non-compliance with the USFDA-approved route of administration and withdrawal time. However, the effect of administration route and physiological differences among animals on tissue depletion has not been determined. The objective of this work was to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to predict plasma, liver and milk concentrations of flunixin in cattle following intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) administration for use as a tool to determine factors that may affect the withdrawal time. The PBPK model included blood flow-limited distribution in all tissues and elimination in the liver, kidney and milk. Regeneration of parent flunixin due to enterohepatic recirculation and hydrolysis of conjugated metabolites was incorporated in the liver compartment. Values for physiological parameters were obtained from the literature, and partition coefficients for all tissues but liver and kidney were derived empirically. Liver and kidney partition coefficients and elimination parameters were estimated for 14 pharmacokinetic studies (including five crossover studies) from the literature or government sources in which flunixin was administered i.v., i.m. or s.c. Model simulations compared well with data for the matrices following all routes of administration. Influential model parameters included those that may be age or disease-dependent, such as clearance and rate of milk production. Based on the model, route of administration would not affect the estimated days to reach the tolerance concentration (0.125 mg kg^?1) in the liver of treated cattle. The majority of USDA-reported violative residues in liver were below the upper uncertainty predictions based on estimated parameters, which suggests the need to consider variability due to disease and age in establishing withdrawal intervals for drugs used in food animals. The model predicted that extravascular routes of administration prolonged flunixin concentrations in milk, which could result in violative milk residues in treated cattle.     

Ivermectin residues in the edible tissues of swine and cattle: effect of cooking and toxicological evaluation

Young male pigs (25-40 kg bw) were treated experimentally with a single 0.4 mg/kg bw, s.c. dose of ivermectin (Ivomec vet. inj., MSD). The disappearance of the drug from the edible tissues 7-21 days after treatment was studied using a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method. The highest residue levels were found at the injection site (up to 59 and 2.6 mg/kg 7 and 14 days post-injection, respectively). Among the other tissues studied, the residue levels 7 days post-injection showed the following order: liver (less than or equal to 50 micrograms/kg) greater than kidney (less than or equal to 25 micrograms/kg) greater than muscle (less than or equal to 20 micrograms/kg). After 21 days only traces of ivermectin (less than or equal to 2 micrograms/kg) could be detected in the muscle and other edible tissues, including the injection site. Similar residue concentrations were found in slaughterhouse material from sows therapeutically treated with ivermectin for parasite infestation. An ordinary culinary preparation of the minced beef muscle from a bull treated with ivermectin resulted in a 45% (boiling) or 50% (frying) decrease in the drug residue. Based on the known toxic effects of the drug and the results of the present and other residue studies, the suggested withdrawal time for Ivomec in edible tissues of swine and cattle is 21 and 28 days, respectively.     

Residue analysis of spectinomycin in tissues of chicken and swine by HPLC

A reversed-phase HPLC method with ultraviolet detection using p-nitrophenyl hydrazine as a pre-column derivatizing reagent was investigated for the determination of the antibiotic spectinomycin (SPCM) in muscle, liver, kidney and fat of chicken and swine. SPCM was extracted from samples with 10% trichloroacetic acid saturated with EDTA-2Na, and then cleaned up with coupled Sep-Pak Plus PS-2 cartridges. The detection limit of SPCM was 0.02 microgram (potency)/g. Recoveries of SPCM ranged from 77.4 to 97.4% for chicken tissues and from 74.5 to 91.8% for swine tissues. The present method was used for the analysis of chicken tissues after the 11th day of withdrawal (SPCM-medicated drinking water: 500 mg (potency)/L, for 7 days), and swine tissues after the 14th day of withdrawal (SPCM-medicated feed: 100 mg (potency)/kg, for 7 days). Results showed that SPCM concentrations were lower than the MRLs in all tissues.     

Pharmacokinetic analysis of thymol,carvacrol and diallyl disulfide after intramammary and topical applications in healthy organic dairy cattle

ABSTRACT

Mastitis is among the most costly concerns for dairy producers whether cattle are managed conventionally or organically. Unfortunately, there are no USFDA-approved mastitis treatments that allow dairy cows in the United States to maintain organic dairy status. We investigated the plasma pharmacokinetics of three organic mastitis products currently used by organic producers and organic dairy veterinarians. Those products include intramammary, topical and intravaginal preparations, each dosed at two levels. Additionally, tissue data were collected for kidney, liver and fat in order to estimate a withholding time for each of the products. The lower limit of quantification (LOQ) and lower limit of detection (LOD) were 0.001 and 0.0005 µg ml^–1, respectively, in plasma and all tissues except fat for both thymol and carvacrol. Fat had an LOQ of 0.01 µg ml^–1 and an LOD of 0.005 µg ml^–1 for thymol and carvacrol. Diallyl disulfide had an LOQ of 0.005 µg ml^–1 and LOD of 0.001 µg ml^–1 in all tissues. For diallyl disulfide (garlic), no levels above 0.001 µg ml^–1 were measurable in plasma or tissues. For topical and intramammary products, levels were measurable in the plasma, liver, kidney and fat up to 72 h after the last dose. The plasma half-lives were short for thymol (approximately 1.6 h) and carvacrol (approximately 1.5 h), whereas the estimated half-lives for these substances in tissues ranged from 13.9 to 31.5 h for thymol and from 16.9 to 25 h for carvacrol. The predicted amount of time that the molecules would be found in the body based on the slowest depletion time of liver tissue was 13 days for thymol and 10 days for carvacrol. The apparent half-life of topically applied carvacrol was approximately 4.5 h in plasma, with an estimated withhold time of 10 days. These times were calculated using the USFDA’s tolerance limit method for meat withdrawal times.     

Pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin in edible tissues of healthy and experimentally infected pigs with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

The aim of this study was the comparison of the tissue pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin in healthy pigs and pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App). Tulathromycin was given to 24 healthy and 24 infected pigs by intramuscular injection at a single dosage of 2.5 mg kg^?1 body weight (b.w.). Pigs were euthanised at each group and then samples of liver, kidney, muscle, injection site and skin with fat were taken at scheduled time points. Drug concentrations were determined by LC-MS/MS. In this study, higher values of the area under the concentration–time curves (AUC) were calculated in all tissue samples taken from infected than healthy pigs. In pigs with App the AUCs of liver, kidney, muscle, skin with fat and injection site were 1111, 1973, 235, 181 and 2931 mg kg^?1 h, while in pigs without inflammation they were 509, 1295, 151, 111 and 1587 mg kg^?1 h, respectively. Maximum drug tissue concentrations (C_max) in infected animals were 2370, 6650, 2016, 666 and 83 870 µg kg^?1, while in healthy pigs they were 1483, 6677, 1733, 509 and 55 006 µg kg^?1, respectively. The eliminations half-times (T_1/2) were respectively longer in all tissue samples taken from infected animals (from 157.3 to 187.3 h) than in healthy ones (from 138.6 to 161.2 h). The tulathromycin tissue concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in all tissue samples of the infected pigs compared with the healthy animals at 360 h (from 0.0014 to 0.0280) and at 792 h (from 0.0007 to 0.0242) after drug administration. The results suggest that the tissue pharmacokinetic properties and residue depletion of tulathromycin can be influenced by the disease state of animals.     

Residue analysis of metoclopramide in bovine and swine tissues by HPLC and administration experiment

A reversed-phase ion-pair HPLC method with ultraviolet detection has been developed for determination of metoclopramide (MCP) in bovine and swine muscle, liver, kidney, fat and intestine. MCP was extracted from samples with acetonitrile, and the extracts were cleaned up on an Oasis HLB cartridge (60 mg) after liquid-liquid extraction. The limit of detection of MCP was 0.002 microg/g and the limit of quantitation was 0.007 microg/g. Recoveries of MCP spiked at 0.03 ppm ranged from 74.1 to 93.3% for bovine tissues and from 86.1 to 92.7% for swine tissues. The present method was used for the analysis of bovine and swine tissues 1 day after withdrawal following drug administration. The MCP concentrations in all tissues were lower than the Japanese provisional MRLs.     

Adrenal responsiveness in pre- and postpartum dairy cows.

Adrenal responsiveness was evaluated by injecting 10 multiparous dairy cows with 200 IU adrenocorticotropin between -13 and -2 days prepartum (I) and postpartum between 24 and 40 h (II) and 21 and 24 days (III). Concentrations of glucocorticoids following injection were influenced by day of injection, temperature, and minimum percent relative humidity but not by breed, breed X injection day interaction, or age of cow. Likewise differences in regressions for adrenal response and mean response (ng/ml) for the three injections were nil. Mean concentrations at peak (45, 60, and 120 min postinjection samples) adjusted for preinjection concentrations also did not differ for the three periods of injection. Mean concentrations of glucocorticoids in plasma for daily samples between -13 and -2 days prepartum were 5.3 +/- .4 (n = 61), reached a peak of 14.8 +/- .3 ng/ml the day of calving, and remained high for 2 days postpartum. Estradiol increased through prepartum sampling from 23.3 to 339.6 +/- 94.1 pg/ml the day of calving, then declined abruptly. Progestins began to decline about -5 days prepartum from mean concentration of 4.09 +/- .62 (n = 25) and attained low concentrations (.30 +/- .06 ng/ml) 2 days postpartum. Although there was a surge of glucocorticoids at parturition, this was not associated with a modification in adrenal responsiveness or with prepartum concentrations of other steroid hormones of plasma. Adrenal potential in prepartum and postpartum dairy cows appears well maintained.     

己烯雌酚及其代谢物在泥鳅体内的组织分布及药物代谢动力学研究

采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法,研究口服灌药给药方式下,己烯雌酚及其主要代谢物双烯雌酚在泥鳅（Misgurnus anguillicaudatus）体内的组织分布和药物代谢动力学。在（12±2）℃水温条件下,泥鳅口服灌药（以体质量计,下同）0.1、1.0、10.0 mg/kg后,其血浆、肌肉和肝脏中己烯雌酚含量-时间曲线关系符合一级吸收的二室开放动力学模型。以1.0 mg/kg为例,3 种组织中己烯雌酚峰值水平肝脏最高、肌肉次之、血浆最低,平均消除速率分别为22.46、3.32、5.05 μg/（kg·h）,6、72、120 h后均降至检出限以下。双烯雌酚在血浆、肌肉和肝脏中变化趋势与己烯雌酚基本相似,在血浆、肌肉和肝脏中1、4、4 h达到最大浓度值,6、72、96 h降到检出限以下。采用DAS 2.0药物代谢动力学参数计算程序,计算有关药物代谢动力学参数。结果表明：己烯雌酚在泥鳅体内消除较快,血浆、肌肉、肝脏的含量-时间曲线下面积相差较大,说明不同组织对己烯雌酚的蓄积能力有所差别;己烯雌酚在泥鳅体内各组织分布广,消除快。在本实验条件下,己烯雌酚在0.1、1.0、10.0 mg/kg口服灌药剂量下,建议其消除期分别定为3、5、5 d;并且水温高时可适当缩短消除期,水温低时可适当延长消除期。     

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for quinocetone in pigs and extrapolation to mequindox

ABSTRACT

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are scientific methods used to predict veterinary drug residues that may occur in food-producing animals, and which have powerful extrapolation ability. Quinocetone (QCT) and mequindox (MEQ) are widely used in China for the prevention of bacterial infections and promoting animal growth, but their abuse causes a potential threat to human health. In this study, a flow-limited PBPK model was developed to simulate simultaneously residue depletion of QCT and its marker residue dideoxyquinocetone (DQCT) in pigs. The model included compartments for blood, liver, kidney, muscle and fat and an extra compartment representing the other tissues. Physiological parameters were obtained from the literature. Plasma protein binding rates, renal clearances and tissue/plasma partition coefficients were determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The model was calibrated and validated with several pharmacokinetic and residue-depletion datasets from the literature. Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulations were incorporated into the PBPK model to estimate individual variation of residual concentrations. The PBPK model for MEQ, the congener compound of QCT, was built through cross-compound extrapolation based on the model for QCT. The QCT model accurately predicted the concentrations of QCT and DQCT in various tissues at most time points, especially the later time points. Correlation coefficients between predicted and measured values for all tissues were greater than 0.9. Monte Carlo simulations showed excellent consistency between estimated concentration distributions and measured data points. The extrapolation model also showed good predictive power. The present models contribute to improve the residue monitoring systems of QCT and MEQ, and provide evidence of the usefulness of PBPK model extrapolation for the same kinds of compounds.     

Plasma pharmacokinetics and milk residues of flunixin and 5-hydroxy flunixin following different routes of administration in dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to determine if the plasma pharmacokinetics and milk elimination of flunixin (FLU) and 5-hydroxy flunixin (5OH) differ following intramuscular and subcutaneous injection of FLU compared with intravenous injection. Twelve lactating Holstein cows were used in a randomized crossover design study. Cows were organized into 2 groups based on milk production (<20 or >30 kg of milk/d). All cattle were administered 2 doses of 1.1 mg of FLU/kg at 12-h intervals by intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injections. The washout period between routes of administration was 7 d. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein before FLU administration and at various time points up to 36 h after the first dose of FLU. Composite milk samples were collected before FLU administration and twice daily for 5 d after the first dose of FLU. Samples were analyzed by ultra-HPLC with mass spectrometric detection. For FLU plasma samples, a difference in terminal half-life was observed among routes of administration. Harmonic mean terminal half-lives for FLU were 3.42, 4.48, and 5.39 h for intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injection, respectively. The mean bioavailability following intramuscular and subcutaneous dosing was 84.5 and 104.2%, respectively. The decrease in 5OH milk concentration versus time after last dose was analyzed with the nonlinear mixed effects modeling approach and indicated that both the route of administration and rate of milk production were significant covariates. The number of milk samples greater than the tolerance limit for each route of administration was also compared at each time point for statistical significance. Forty-eight hours after the first dose, 5OH milk concentrations were undetectable in all intravenously injected cows; however, one intramuscularly injected and one subcutaneously injected cow had measurable concentrations. These cows had 5OH concentrations above the tolerance limit at the 36-h withdrawal time. The high number of FLU residues identified in cull dairy cows by the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service is likely related to administration of the drug by an unapproved route. Cattle that received FLU by the approved (intravenous) route consistently eliminated the drug before the approved withdrawal times; however, residues can persist beyond these approved times following intramuscular or subcutaneous administration. Cows producing less than 20 kg of milk/d had altered FLU milk clearance, which may also contribute to violative FLU residues.     

Computational and ultrastructural toxicology of a nanoparticle, Quantum Dot 705, in mice

We conducted pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies on Quantum Dot 705 (QD705) in male ICR mice for up to 6 months after a single intravenous dose. Time-course sacrifices were carried out at 1, 4, and 24 h; 3, 7, 14, and 28 days; and 6 months on groups of six mice per time point. Mass balance studies were also carried out at 24 h, 28 days, and 6 months. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, various tissues, urine, and feces were analyzed for cadmium (Cd111), which is a major (46%) component of QD705. On the basis of these experimental studies, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic computer simulation model was developed with excellent predictive capability for the time-dependent kinetic and distributional changes of QD705 in tissues. QD705 persisted and accumulated in the spleen, liver, and kidneys for at least 28 days with little or no disposition but was gradually and partially eliminated by 6 months. Although histological alterations of the spleen, liver, and kidney by light microscopy are unremarkable, investigation using electron microscopy on numerous renal samples revealed definitive mitochondrial alterations in renal tubular epithelial cells at 28 days and 6 months postdosing. Health implications and potential beneficial applications of QD705 are suggested.     

恩诺沙星注射液在猪体内残留消除规律研究

目的研究恩诺沙星注射液在猪体内的残留消除规律。方法本实验采用30头约50 kg重长白猪,随机分为2组,给药组25头,对照组5头。给药组用药量为每次2.5mg恩诺沙星/kg,每日1次,连用3d(1个疗程),使用1个疗程,对照组不给任何抗菌药物,与给药组同环境饲养。在最后一次给药6 h、24 h(1 d)、72 h(3 d)、120 h(5 d)、168 h(7 d)时采集肉、肝、肾、脂肪样本,经液相色谱-串联质谱法(liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS)测定组织中的恩诺沙星及其代谢物环丙沙星残留量之和,并利用WT1.4软件计算休药期。结果恩诺沙星注射液在猪肉中的休药期为3.17 d;在肾脏中的休药期为3.75 d;在肝脏中的休药期为8.18 d;在脂肪总的休药期为4.09 d。结论为保证兽药使用安全、食品安全和消费者健康,推荐恩诺沙星注射液在猪体内的休药期为9 d。     

Tissue deposition and residue depletion of melamine in fattening pigs following oral administration

The adulteration of animal feed as well as milk products with melamine has led to concerns about the ability to establish appropriate withdrawal intervals to ensure food safety. Two experiments were conducted in this study. The first was to investigate the deposition and depletion of melamine in blood and tissues of pigs exposed to adulterated feed with high doses of melamine. A total of 500 or 1000 mg kg^–1 melamine was added to the diet for fattening pigs (initial BW = ±60.24 kg). Melamine residues were detected in tissues (brain, duodenum, liver, heart, muscle and kidney) by LC-MS/MS. Dose-dependent effects were found between melamine residual concentration and its dose in feed. Five days after the withdrawal of melamine from the diets, the residue concentration in tissues fell below 2.5 mg kg^–1. In the second experiment, blood samples were taken at different time points from fattening pigs (BW = 100 kg) fed with adulterated feed with 1000 mg kg^–1 of melamine for 42 days. Results from the pharmacokinetics analysis showed that it would take 83 h for the melamine level in plasma depleting to the safe level of 50 ng ml^–1 after an expose of 1000 mg kg^–1 melamine contaminated feed for 42 days.     

Tissue concentrations of chloramphenicol after intramuscular injection in pigs

Tissue concentrations of chloramphenicol in pigs have been studied at 3, 6, 18, 72, and 168 h after intramuscular administration of chloramphenicol at a dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight. The determination of chloramphenicol concentrations has been performed by a biological method as well as by gas chromatography. The biological method proved to be insufficient for the demonstration of tissue residues of chloramphenicol after intramuscular administration in pigs at current dosage. Using gas chromatography a maximum mean concentration of approx. 3 μg/g was demonstrated in the muscle tissues at 3 and 6 h postinjection. Three and 6 days after the injection of chloramphenicol, the tissue concentration was slightly lower than 0.05 μg/g. A minimum period of 3 days withdrawal between injection of chloramphenicol in pigs and slaughter is recommended.     

TRANSLOCATION OF LEAD AND CADMIUM FROM FEED TO EDIBLE TISSUES OF SWINE1

In separate experiments, growing and/or finishing swine were fed a control diet and diets supplemented with various low levels of lead and cadmium, for periods up to 24 weeks. The levels of lead in different treatment groups were 2 (control), 6 and 21 parts per million (ppm), whereas those for cadmium were 0.2 (control), 2.4 and 10.1 ppm, respectively. Lead did not accumulate in skeletal muscles, but a dose-related increase was observed in bone, liver and kidney. In the case of cadmium, no increase was seen in skeletal muscles, bone or brain; the accumulation occurred primarily in kidney and liver. After cessation of lead supplementation the concentration of this metal declined in liver and kidney tissues. On the other hand, cadmium levels did not show any appreciable decline in kidney or liver during 12 weeks after an initial 12 weeks treatment. Lead and cadmium did not accumulate in edible muscles of swine, but the high concentrations of these metals that were recorded in liver and kidney would render these organs unfit for food purposes.     

Evaluation of the residues of furazolidone and its metabolite, 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), in eggs

The use of furazolidone in food-producing animals is banned within the EU. Detection of the protein-bound side-chain metabolite, 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), in animal tissues is the most effective method of enforcing the ban. The study was undertaken to find out if the same applies to eggs. The concentrations of furazolidone and AOZ in eggs reached a plateau of ~360-380 μgkg -1 by the fourth day of treating birds with 400mgkg -1 furazolidone. After a 4-day withdrawal from treatment, intact furazolidone could not be detected. AOZ residues could still be detected up to 21 days following withdrawal from treatment. During treatment, most intact furazolidone residues occur in the albumen. For AOZ, there is a more even distribution of residues between albumen and the yolk. The concentration of furazolidone in egg homogenates stored at -20°C decreases by 44% after 55 days. AOZ residues are stable during this period. From these results, it is clear that AOZ is a more suitable marker residue than the parent compound for monitoring concentrations of the drug in eggs.     

Changes occurring in immune responsiveness of single- and twin-bearing Comisana ewes during the transition period

Changes induced by twin and single lambing in the immune response of 16 periparturient Comisana ewes were studied. Cell-mediated immune responses were evaluated by means of skin tests performed from 3 wk before and up to d 35 after parturition. At d 21 and 7 before lambing, the sheep received an intramuscular injection of the antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), to which the animals had not been previously exposed, to determine their humoral immune response. Starting 3 wk before lambing and up to d 35 postlambing, the ewes were sampled to determine the plasma concentrations of anti-KLH antibody (IgG), IL-6, and IL-1 β. From parturition through d 35 postpartum, individual milk samples were collected for determination of anti-KLH IgG titers and IL-6 and IL-1β concentrations by means of a capture ELISA. The number of lambs born affected IL-6 concentrations in ewe plasma; IL-6 secretion always was higher in ewes birthing twins than in single-lambing ewes. Apart from the number of lambs born, the concentrations of plasma IL-6 in ewes were higher at lambing than at d 21 antepartum and at d 35 postpartum. An interaction of number of lambs born × time of sampling was observed for plasma antibody titers to KLH. The IgG concentrations were significantly higher in single-bearing ewes than in twin-bearing ewes before parturition and were very similar across groups after parturition. A time effect was found for the cell-mediated immune response and for anti-KLH IgG concentrations in milk, such that at parturition, cellular responses were lowest, and the anti-KLH IgG concentration was highest. A significant correlation was found for IgG titers to KLH in plasma and milk. Results indicate that IL-6 concentrations in blood can be considered a reliable indicator of stress connected to lambing and that the mammary gland is a microenvironment unrelated to blood stream with respect to interleukins expression. In contrast, a relationship was found for the IgG secretions in milk and blood, which suggests that the assessment of humoral immune status may be combined with milking routine in dairy animals.