Flowcytometric assessment of circulating peripheral blood monocytes in small ruminants

The proportions of circulating peripheral blood monocytes were determined in 253 samples from a total of 50 small ruminants (sheep and goats) in various physiological conditions using FITC-labeled anti-CD14 monoclonal antibodies and flowcytometry. Monocytes were detected in all samples, their proportion varied from 0.2 to 35.5% of the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) fraction, whereas current reference tables give 0% of the white blood cells as the lower limit. A statistically significant difference was found between sheep and goats and the animals’ gender and age exerted an effect; the other potential factor lactation appeared to have no influence