The studies were performed in 2008 on 308 sheep at the age of 2-4 years. Sheep from the following breeds were used: Karakachan, Tsigay, Replyan, Panagyurishte, Copper-red Shoumen, Karnobat, Pleven Blackhead, White Maritsa, Patch-faced Maritsa, Stara Zagora and Romanov. During the spring and summer, 6 sheep from each breed were used and during the summer – 20. The activity of the alternative pathway of complement activation was assayed by the method of Sotirov (1991). During the spring, the highest blood complement concentrations were determined in Panagyurishte (215,24 ± 5,22), White Maritsa (206,87 ± 13,12) and Copper-red Shoumen breeds (201,15 ± 8,88), and the lowest in Romanov (160,23 ± 7,44) and Pleven Blackhead breed – 164,09 ± 12,86 (р < 0,01). The highest summer complement levels were measured in Panagyurishte breed (218,801 ± 3,285 СН50), аnd the lowest – in Tsigay breed (167,144 ± 5,233 СН50) (р < 0,01). During the autumn, Karakachan breed were with the highest complement concentrations (205,79 ± 13,28), whereas Pleven Blackhead – with the lowest – 169,04 ± 10,10 (р < 0,01). Totally for all sheep studied, the average APCA concentrations were 190,87 ± 5,87 during the spring, 190,028 ± 8,284 СН50 during the summer and 191,24 ± 8,47 during the winter.

Complement activity in Bulgarian local sheep related to season and breed

L. Sotirov, V. Semerdjiev, Ts. Maslev, M. Iliev, G. Gerchev, I. Yankov, Ts. Koinarski, Ts.Hristova