BACKGROUND: Replacement of natural materials with syntheticdrugs in order to increase production and safety. OBJECTIVE: The purposeof this study was to investigate the effect of feed supplemented with ginger (Zingiberofficinale) extract on the growth, biochemical and hemato-immunologicalparameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). METHODS: Fishwith an average body weight 14.1±0.2 g were fed diet for 8 weeks with 0.5% and1% ginger extract and with unsupplemented commercial diet as the control. Bloodsamples were collected from caudal vein from apparently healthy fish at the endof trial. Growth (weight gain, specific growth ratio and condition factor),hematological (RBC,WBC, Hb, Hct, monocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil),Biochemical (glucose, total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, albumin, AST,ALT, LDH and ALP) and immunological (lysozym activity, ACH50,IgM, and SOD)parameters were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that there wereno significant differences (p>0.05) in growth, hematological, biochemicaland metabolic enzymes between fish fed control and ginger extractsupplementation. The lowest level of cortisol was observed in 0.5% gingerextract (p<0.05). Lysozyme activity was significantly increased in 0.5%ginger extract fed fish (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggestthat by using 0.5% ginger extract there will be an improvement in growth andimmune function of rainbow trout

Because hepatocyte-stimulating factor/interleukin 6 (IL-6) the principal inducer of acute-phase protein synthesis in the liver, quantification of its activity in blood provides an early and sensitive assessment of the acute-phase response. Circulating IL-6 activity was monitored in 4 adult horses for 72 hours after IV administration of endotoxin. In 4 experiments performed at weekly intervals and in randomized order, each horse was given endotoxin-1,000, 30, 1, and 0 ng/kg of body weight. Plasma IL-6 activity was quantified as the ability to promote growth of the IL-6-dependent B-cell hybridoma, B13.29 clone B9. Interleukin-6 activity (171 +/- 10.2 U/ml) was found in all pretreatment plasma samples and was significantly (P < 0.05) increased above baseline from 2 to 12 hours after 1,000 ng of endotoxin/kg was given and at 3 hours after 30 ng of endotoxin/kg was given. After 1,000- or 30-ng/kg dosage of endotoxin, peak plasma IL-6 activity (10,128 +/- 4,096 and 1,555 +/- 1,326 U/ml, respectively) was observed for 3 hours. The IL-6 response of endotoxin-treated horses began about 1 hour after tumor necrosis factor appeared in the circulation, and its course closely approximated the endotoxin-induced febrile reaction. Significant increase in plasma IL-6 activity was not detected in horses given 1 ng of endotoxin/kg or control buffer.

Systemic and pulmonary antibody responses of calves to Pasteurella haemolytica were evaluated by measuring immunoglobulin production in blood for 9 days and in pulmonary lavage fluid for 7 days after intrapulmonary inoculation. Clinical signs, pulmonary lesions, pulmonary and systemic inflammatory response, and amount of antigen in lavage fluid were used to evaluate the response of calves to challenge with P haemolytica. The pulmonary response consisted of production of IgG, IgE, and IgM antibodies to P haemolytica antigens and a 17- to 68-fold increase of cells in lavage fluid 8 hours after inoculation, with a gradual decrease toward normal. Antibodies of the IgM isotype to P haemolytica were demonstrated as early as 8 hours through 7 days after inoculation in 3 of 3 calves. Of the anti-P haemolytica isotypes, IgM was found in the highest concentration. In all of the inoculated calves, IgE was found 1 to 2 days after inoculation, and IgG was found in 2 of 3 inoculated calves from day 1 through 7 after inoculation. Detection of IgG correlated with smaller pulmonary lesions. Immunoglobulin A was not detected in lavage fluid. Serum was evaluated for IgG and IgM antibody response to P haemolytica. Specific IgM was detectable 5 days after inoculation, and IgG was detectable 7 days after inoculation. Pasteurella haemolytica antigens were not detected in serum or plasma. A transient increase in neutrophil count was found 8 hours after inoculation, with return to baseline values by 24 hours after inoculation. Antigen was detected in lavage fluid by use of monoclonal antibodies against selected P haemolytica capsular antigen, outer membrane antigens, and leukotoxin in all inoculated calves 8 hours after inoculation. The monoclonal antibody specific for P haemolytica capsule provided the best detection of antigen. The other monoclonal antibodies detected antigen, but were less consistent.

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.

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.

Immunoglobulin E is produced in response to parasitic nematodes that undergo blood and tissue migrations. Results of our previous studies indicated that IgE and IgG respond to Dirofilaria immitis in experimentally infected dogs. To determine the association between treatment with the larvicide, diethylcarbamazine (DEC), and antibody responses and to examine the potential influence of infection with a nonfilarid intestinal nematode on isotype-specific immune responses, we monitored, by use of isotype-specific ELISA, separate IgE and IgG responses against D immitis in 4 groups (A-D) of 8 dogs experimentally coinfected with D immitis and Ancylostoma caninum. All dogs were monitored from 2 weeks before inoculation with D immitis, through postinoculation (PI) week 20. Group-B dogs received a daily regimen of 6.6 mg of DEC/kg of body weight. Group-C dogs received 4.95 mg of oxibendazole/kg daily. Group-D dogs received DEC and oxibendazole, equivalent to the daily doses given to dogs of groups B and C. All dogs given oxibendazole had no A caninum at necropsy. Of the groups receiving DEC, 3 group-B dogs each had 1 to 2 D immitis at necropsy. When results of chronologic IgE determination for all groups were statistically compared, only groups B and C had significant (P = 0.0148 and P << 0.00005, respectively) increases in IgE values. Group-C dogs had the highest IgE values from PI week 10 until the end of the study, whereas IgG values were statistically identical to those of group-A dogs. Group-B dogs given only DEC and having the least number of D immitis of all groups, had IgE values that peaked at PI week 6; values were significantly (P = 0.0002) higher than those for all other groups. In Group-B dogs, IgG values increased significantly (P << 0.00005) only at PI week 20 and were significantly (P << 0.00005) decreased after PI week 6, compared with values for all other groups. Group D containing 6 dogs infected with 1 to 18 D immitis found at necropsy had IgE values betwee.

Vaccina virus (VV) infection induces specific antibodies and cytotoxic T cells in various animal species. Therefore, helper T cells also should be induced that stimulate the humoral and cellular immune responses. We determined such helper T-cell activity in 2 species after VV infection. Rabbits and rhesus macaques were infected with the Copenhagen strain of VV or with recombinant VV expressing retroviral proteins. Animals of both species developed antibodies and specific proliferative T-cell response. This reactivity could be enhanced by booster infection with VV. The proliferating macaque cells were CD4+ and major histocompatability complex class II-restricted. These data confirm the broad immunogenicity of VV. Expression of additional polypeptides expressed from a recombinant VV does not lead to altered immune response to VV antigens. However, strength of the helper T-cell response, as well as clinical reactions, differed between macaques and rabbits. Infection with recombinant VV as delivery vectors offers the opportunity for combined vaccination against recombinant proteins and does not diminish cellular and humoral immune responses to VV itself.