BACKGROUND: Probiotics, in form of microbial supplements, are known to be a suitable alternative for antibiotics and can affect the health indicators of host. Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the combined effects of dietary autochthonous Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger on haematological and serumbiochemicalparameters of beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) juveniles. Methods: This study was based on a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 3 replicates on beluga juveniles with average weight of (mean ±SE) 31.8±2.81g. Beluga Juveniles were divided randomly into 12 fiber glassy tanks with density of 30 fish per tank and were fed with diet contain dietary probiotic with density of 2×106 (Cells/g) for the first treatment, 4×106 (Cells/g) for the second treatment, 6×106 (Cells/g) for the third treatment and basal diet without probiotic for the control group for 8 weeks. Results: Diet supplementing with concentration of 6×106 (Cells/g), significantly improved serum biochemical parameters (p<0.05), however hematological parameters were affected by supplemented diet with probiotics that showed no significant difference in comparison with the control group (p>0.05). Also results indicate that growth factors were improved in experimental treatments in comparison with the control group. Conclusions: The results showed that the use of combination of these species with studied concentrations can improve the performance of some biochemical parameters such metabolites factors, immune, enzymes and serum electrolytes of belugajuveniles. It is recommended that the concentration of A. niger and S. cerevisiae, used for third treatment be used as an immune stimulator for beluga juveniles.

Eight Holstein cows, 4 inoculated intracisternally in 1 quarter of the mammary gland with Escherichia coli and 4 noninfected controls, were administered ceftiofur sodium (3 mg/kg of body weight, IV, q 12 hours) for 24 hours, beginning at 14 hours after inoculation of infected cows. All challenge-exposed cows became infected, with mean +/-SEM peak log10 bacterial concentration in milk of 5.03 +/-0.69 colony-forming units/ml. The infection resulted in systemic signs (mean peak rectal temperature, 41.5 +/- 0.3 C; anorexia; signs of depression) and local inflammation (mean peak albumin concentration in milk, 7.89 +/- 1.71 mg/ml). Ceftiofur was detectable in milk from all challenge-exposed cows, compared with only 1 of 4 noninfected cows, and the mean period after inoculation that ceftiofur was detectable in milk was longer (P < 0.05) in infected (147.7 +/- 27.5 hours) than noninfected cows (1.3 +/- 1.3 hours). However, maximal ceftiofur concentration attained in milk for all cows was 0.28 micrograms/ml, and was 0.20 micrograms/ml or less for all but 2 milk samples collected for 10 days after challenge exposure. Mean serum concentration of ceftiofur peaked at 1.0 +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml and 0.7 +/- 0.1 micrograms/ml for infected and noninfected COWS, respectively. After each ceftiofur dose, mean peak and trough concentrations of ceftiofur in serum did not differ between groups; however, concentration of ceftiofur in serum was higher at 7 hours after each dose in noninfected cows, suggesting more rapid clearance of the drug in infected cows. Ceftiofur was not detected in serum (< 0.05 micrograms/ml) of any cow at or after 120 hours following inoculation of infected cows Storage of serum samples at -20 C for 3 weeks resulted in a 98.8% decrease in ceftiofur activity, compared with that in fresh serum samples. Eighty-seven percent of this loss occurred 30 minutes after mixing serum and ceftiofur; thus, about 13% of the original activity was lost in storage.

To measure the concentration of serum amyloid A (SAA) protein in horses a sensitive and highly reproducible sandwich (ELISA) was established, using affinity purified SAA antibody. Results of the ELISA were found to have a high correlation (r = 0.95) with those of the single radial immunodiffusion test. Equine SAA concentration was measured by use of this ELISA. In clinically normal horses, the concentration of SAA was high immediately after birth to 2 weeks of age. After that, SAA concentration had periodic fluctuations in the range of approximately 10 to 30 microgram/ml. Mean (+/- SD) concentrations of SAA in foals (less than or equal to 12 months old) and adult horses (greater than or equal to 18 months old) were 21.23 +/- 12.20 and 14.93 +/- 9.07 microgram/ml, respectively. In mares during the perinatal period, SAA concentration remained stable within the reference range before parturition. It increased quickly after delivery, and reached a peak value of 101.29 +/- 98.82 microgram/ml on postpartum day 3, then began to decrease, at postpartum week 2, to the reference range by the end of postpartum month 1. In horses with experimentally induced inflammation, SAA concentration increased quickly and reached approximately four- to 40-fold increase over the pretreatment value on day 1 and remained high on days 2 to h after treatment. It then returned to the baseline value by 2 to 4 weeks in association with disappearance of local signs of inflammation. The SAA concentration was high in most horses with clinical signs of inflammation. It was concluded from these data that this ELISA is sensitive and reliable for measuring SAA in horses.

Failure to obtain passive transfer of immunity via colostrum can be detrimental to the health and survival of a young pup. It has been stated that pups that do not receive colostrum in the first 2 days after birth, be given adult dog serum as a source of protective immunoglobulins. Twenty-five Beagle pups were obtained by cesarean section from 6 Beagle bitches. The pups were allotted to 3 groups at birth. Group 1 was a control group and was allowed to suckle colostrum. Group-2 pups received 22 ml of pooled adult dog serum/kg of body weight (10 ml/lb) SC at birth. Group-3 pups were given 22 ml of pooled adult dog serum/kg by stomach tube at birth. Pups from groups 2 and 3 were separated from the bitch for 48 hours to prevent colostral antibody absorption and were fed a commercially available milk replacer by stomach tube. After 48 hours, all pups were returned to the bitch until they were weaned at 6 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected from all of the pups at birth and on days 1, 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. The concentration of IgA, IgG, and IgM in serum was determined by radial immunodiffusion and compared by use of a one-way analysis of variance. The control pups had significantly higher serum concentrations of IgA and IgG, than the pups in groups 2 and 3 on days 1 and 2 and 2 and 7, respectively. Group-2 pups had significantly higher serum IgM concentrations on day 1 than either group 1- or group-3 pups.

Four virgin heifers were experimentally inoculated intravaginally with 7 X 10(6) Tritrichomonas foetus, and 2 heifers served as uninfected controls. The durations of infection were 13, 20, 21, and 28 weeks, respectively. An ELISA that used whole T foetus antigen was used to detect anti-T foetus immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG1, IgG2, and IgM) in vaginal, cervical, and uterine secretions, and sera during the course of infection. The vaginal and cervical antibody responses were characterized by significantly increased T foetus-specific IgA and IgG1 at 7 to 9 weeks of infection, whereas uterine IgA and IgG1 responses peaked at 10 to 12 weeks. The antibody response in serum was predominantly of the IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses. In all reproductive tract regions, IgA persisted at least until the time of T foetus clearance, and usually longer. The next most persistent isotype was IgG1, lasting longest in the vagina, then cervix, and for the shortest time in the uterus. In local secretions, IgG2 was seen only transiently, increasing at weeks 13 to 15 in the vagina, and at weeks 10 to 12 in the cervix. Little IgM, relative to that present before infection, was detected in any secretion or serum, although cervical secretions had the greatest amount. Eight to 12 weeks after clearance, the 4 experimental heifers were inoculated intravaginally with 1 x 10(5) T foetus, transient infections (2 to 3 weeks' duration) were established in only 2 of 4 heifers, as determined by culturing of reproductive tract secretions. The lag times of antibody responses during this reinfection were shorter than in the initial infection, and ELISA optical densities were at least as high as during the primary infection, suggesting an anamnestic response.

Immunoglobulin reactions to Salmonella dublin in serum and milk from 4 groups of lactating cows were measured by an indirect ELISA. The groups consisted of (1) cows that were natural carriers of S dublin in the mammary gland, (2) experimentally infected cows that did not become carriers, (3) cows inoculated with a commercial S dublin bacterin, and (4) cows used as S dublin-negative controls. Milk and serum samples were obtained at monthly intervals. Models for predicting carrier status were developed by use of stepwise logistic regression. Independent variables consisted of serum and milk IgG and IgM titers to S dublin lipopolysaccharide and a ratio of IgG to IgM. The utility of a single sample vs multiple samples obtained at 1-month or 2-month intervals was tested by comparison of goodness-of-fit X2 P values for 8 models predicting carrier status. Immunoglobulin reactions specific to S dublin were a significant predictor of carrier status (P < 0.001). Serum IgG titers specific for S dublin were the most important variable for predicting carrier status. Two serum IgG titers to S dublin obtained 2 months apart was a better predictor of carrier status than measurement of the IgG:IgM ratio from a single serum sample. Immunoglobulin recognizing S dublin epitopes also were detected in milk samples. In milk, performing 2 ELISA 60 days apart to determine IgG and IgM reactions to S dublin appeared to be useful for the prediction of carrier status, but was not as accurate as models for serum immunoglobulin reactions.

The sensitivity of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for bovine IgG serum antibody to Pasteurella haemolytica was compared with that of an indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test. Pasteurella haemolytica serotypes were grown in a chemically defined cell culture medium, and soluble antigens released into the growth medium were used in the ELISA and IHA test. An ELISA with serotype-1 antigen consistently detected antibody in sera that were positive by IHA test (correlation, 99%). Sera reacting with serotype-1 ELISA antigens also reacted with ELISA antigens prepared from other serotypes. Although ELISA titers determined by the 2 methods were approximately linear. Titer increases detected in paired serum samples by either test were similar. The ELISA was more sensitive than was the IHA in detecting colostral IgG antibody in serum of newborn calves. The ELISA uses a simple, stable antigen preparation and detects antibody to P haemolytica serotypes that commonly infect cattle.