measured using an automatic analyzer after the sample was centrifuged at 1,500 rpm for 5 min (LABOSPECT 003, Hitachi High-Technologies Corp, Tokyo, Japan).
Blood samples for cytokine measurement were centrifuged at 1,000 × g for 30 min at room temperature within 30 min of blood collection. The
plasma was frozen and immediately stored below −20°C. Blood samples were thawed at room temperature before undertaking measurements. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assays were conducted using Quantikine Canine Immunoassay kits (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA) for IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α. All measurements were
performed using a spectrophotometer (Synergy 2 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader; BioTek Instruments Inc., Winooski, VT, USA).