Evaluation of levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and some haematologic parameters of dogs with cutaneous wounds

The aim of the study was to investigate the time-course of serum and wound fluids interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels in dogs with cutaneous wounds and their relationship with some haematologic parameters. The experimental group comprised of six adult dogs that underwent surgery with wounds (n = 6) on the mid lateral aspect of the right antebrachium; and control group of six, apparently, healthy intact (free from cutaneous wounds) adult dogs, comprising equal number of both sexes. Vital signs evaluated were within normal limits. Samples of blood, serum and wound fluids harvested pre- and at 12 h, 36 h, 60 h, 156 h and 324 h post-injury, were utilised for IL-6 and IL-8 assay and haematology. Peak concentrations of IL-6 in wound fluid (1.33. +/- 0.33 ng/mL) and serum (0.82 +/- 0.24 ng/mL) of the experimental group at 12 h post-operation were higher (P < 0.01) than the control (0.30 +/- 0.05 ng/mL). Concentrations of IL-8 at 12 h and 60 h in wound fluid (0.21 +/- 0.05 ng/mL and 0.22 +/- 0.11 ng/mL) respectively were lower (P < 0.05) than serum (0.71 +/- 0.21 ng/mL and 0.73 +/- 0.24 ng/mL) respectively in the experimental group and corresponding values recorded in controls (0.34 +/- 0.09 ng/mL and 0.36- 0.14 ng/mL). The haematological and biochemical parameters exhibited minimum fluctuations, but values were within normal ranges. Significant correlations were obtained between serum and wound fluid IL-6 (r = 0.827, P < 0.05); wound fluid IL-6 and monocyte count (r = 0.818, P < 0.04); wound fluid IL-6 and haematocrit (r = 0.894, P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between serum IL-8 and serum IL-6 (r = 0.622, P > 0.05) and serum IL-8 and wound fluid IL-8 (r = 0.718, P > 0.05) in the experimental group. In conclusion, IL-6 and IL-8 exerted modulated inflammatory processes following cutaneous wounds in dogs. Further studies are required to investigate the expression patterns of IL-6 and IL-8 in cutaneous wounds in order to improve the quality of management of cutaneous wounds.