Humoral and cell factors of natural resistance in the animals of local breeds in specific environmental conditions of the Tyva Republic

Humoral and cellular factors of natural resistance of animals are represented by diverse proteins, peptides, lysosomal enzymes, and immunocompetent cells contained in blood. The natural resistance factors possessing antimicrobial properties additionally activate the other humoral and cellular immunity mechanisms. The natural resistance system formed during the process of evolution and microevolution of domesticated animals determines their fitness to biotic and abiotic stresses caused by the action of pathogens, unfavorable natural-climatic conditions that is most importantly for animals under all-year-round pasture keeping conditions. The landscapes of the Republic of Tuva are mountainous; this is a territory with sharply continental climate, frosts of down to -50 °С in winters, cool summer in highlands and hot in depressions. Nevertheless, the region is thought favorable for rearing native breeds of horses ( Equus ferus caballus ), sheep ( Ovis aries ), goats ( Capra aegagrus hircus ), and highland yaks ( Poephagus grunniens ), which are well fit to such complex conditions. Of the species listed, only the yaks were earlier studied with regard to evaluating the state of their cellular and humoral immunity. A comparative study on natural resistance parameters in native Tuvinian horses, highland yaks, Tuvinian short-fat-tailed sheep and goats of Tuvinian population was performed by us for the first time. The evaluation of humoral and cellular factors of natural resistance revealed specific distinctions. Thus, the native Tuvinian horses are superior to goats of Tuvinian population and Tuvinian short-fat-tailed sheep in phagocytosis activity as much as 1.38 and 1.43 times, respectively (P