Introduction: Immune-potentiating functions of Lactobacillus plantarum strains in the common carp were evaluated. Material and Methods: Fourteen days of feeding fish dry diet supplemented with the bacteria provided parameters of nonspecific humoral immunity (lysozyme, ceruloplasmin, γ-globulin, total protein levels, and serum bactericidal activity) and cellular immunity (pinocytosis, respiratory burst activity, and potential killing activity of organ phagocytes), as well as the proliferative response of organ lymphocytes stimulated with mitogens. The resistance of fish to infection with Aeromonas hydrophila was also determined. Results: Dietary supplementation with L. plantarum had a substantial influence on the activity of organ phagocytes, especially the potential killing activity of head kidney cells. A significant increase in the proliferative activity of LPS-stimulated B lymphocytes and in the levels of γ-globulins and total protein was observed. The supplemented diet conveyed higher resistance than the control diet as the cumulative fish mortalities after infection with A. hydrophila were 65% and 85%, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that dietary supplementation with L. plantarum stimulates the antibacterial resistance of common carp and may reinforce defence against bacterial infections, but further studies need to be conducted.

Ceruloplasmin (Cp) was isolated from fresh equine plasma by precipitation, cellulose chromatography, and improved ion-exchange chromatography. Purified equine Cp is a glycoprotein having a molecular weight of approximately 115,000. In electrophoresis, equine Cp migrated to the alpha 1-globulin region, its isoelectric point was about 4.15 and consisted of about 890 amino acid residues. Serum Cp concentration was measured by use of the single radial immunodiffusion method. In clinically normal horses, the mean (+/- SD) serum Cp concentration of newborn foals was 2.87 +/- 0.40 mg/ml and that of 3-month-old foals was 5.02 +/- 0.92 mg/ml, which was similar to the adult value. It reached a peak of 6.06 +/- 0.74 mg/ml in 2-year-old horses. The Cp concentration in mares was not statistically different for the perinatal period, but it decreased immediately before and after delivery. Concentration of Cp increased at 6 days after IM administration of turpentine oil, castration, or jejunojejunostomy in adult horses, and increased to peak values twice as high as baseline values at 7 to 14 days, returning to baseline values at 28 days after treatment. We concluded that equine serum Cp is an acute-phase reactive protein increased in the intermediary or later phase of acute inflammation.

Objective—To evaluate the effects of perioperative oral administration of carprofen and meloxicam on concentrations of 3 acute-phase proteins in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Animals—18 healthy adult anestrous female dogs undergoing elective OVH. Procedures—Dogs were allocated to 3 groups (6 dogs/group). A placebo treatment, carprofen (2.0 mg/kg), or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was orally administered to the dogs of the respective groups. The initial doses were administered 30 minutes before premedication prior to OVH; additional doses were administered once daily for 4 days after surgery. Blood samples were collected 45 minutes before premedication and 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after the end of OVH; samples were used for measurement of total WBC and neutrophil counts and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen. Results—Values did not differ significantly among groups for WBC and neutrophil counts, serum concentrations of CRP and ceruloplasmin, and plasma concentrations of fibrinogen. Concentrations of all inflammatory markers, except serum ceruloplasmin, increased significantly following OVH, but in a similar manner for each group. No significant changes were detected in serum ceruloplasmin concentrations over time. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Perioperative administration of both carprofen and meloxicam did not significantly affect the concentrations of CRP, ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen in dogs undergoing OVH. Thus, use of carprofen or meloxicam should not affect clinical interpretation of results for these 3 acute-phase proteins.

Microcytosis is a common laboratory finding in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunt (PSS), although its pathogenesis is not yet understood. Because the most common cause of microcytosis in dogs is absolute or relative iron deficiency, iron status was evaluated in 12 young dogs with PSS. Complete blood counting was done before surgical correction in all dogs, and in 5 dogs after surgery, by use of an automated hematology analyzer. Serum iron concentration and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were determined colorimetrically, and percentage of transferrin saturation was calculated. Erythrocyte protoporphyrin content was quantified by use of front-face fluorometry. Serum ferritin concentration was measured by use of ELISA. Serum ceruloplasmin content was determined colorimetrically (with p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride as substrate) as an indirect indicator of subclinical inflammation, which may result in impaired iron utilization. Special stains were applied to liver (10 dogs; Gomori's) and bone marrow aspiration biopsy (7 dogs; Prussian blue) specimens for qualitative assessment of tissue iron content. Nonpaired Student's t-tests were used to compare serum iron concentration, TIBC, percentage of transferrin saturation, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin, ferritin, and ceruloplasmin concentrations in dogs with PSS with those in clinically normal dogs. All dogs had microcytosis before surgery; microcytosis resolved in 3 dogs after surgical correction. Serum iron concentration and TIBC were significantly lower, in PSS-affected dogs than in clinically normal dogs. Erythrocyte protoporphyrin, ferritin, and ceruloplasmin concentrations in PSS-affected dogs were not significantly different from those in healthy dogs. Excess iron was not detected consistently in liver or bone marrow samples. These results suggest that relative iron deficiency, perhaps associated with altered iron transport and not absolute iron deficiency, is related to microcytosis in dogs with PSS.

Assay procedures for determining serum haptoglobin concentration and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in dogs were validated, and reference values were established. Serum haptoglobin concentration is reported as milligrams per deciliter of cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity, whereas serum ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was determined by use of p-phenylenediamine as substrate. Both assays were used to analyze serum samples from 288 dogs. In each dog's case record, clinical history and final diagnosis were evaluated to determine whether the dog had an inflammatory condition. Complete blood cell counts were performed in 265 dogs, using simultaneously collected blood samples. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was determined for 161 dogs. A positive correlation (P < 0.01) was found for serum haptoglobin concentration and for ceruloplasmin oxidase activity, compared with WBC counts, segmented neutrophil and band neutrophil counts, and plasma fibrinogen concentration. Ceruloplasmin oxidase activity and haptoglobin concentration were up to 6 times more sensitive than fibrinogen concentration or leukocyte counts in detecting inflammation. Specificity of ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was comparable to fibrinogen concentration and leukocyte counts, whereas haptoglobin concentration was found to be slightly less specific. Specificity of haptoglobin concentration improved slightly (from 0.82 to 0.88) when dogs with a history of glucocorticoid administration were excluded from analysis. Predictive value of a negative test result (haptoglobin concentration < 125 mg/dl; ceruloplasmin oxidase activity < 20 IU/L) and predictive value of a positive test result for haptoglobin concentration and ceruloplasmin activity were comparable to or better than fibrinogen concentration or various oxidase leukocyte counts in detection of inflammation in a variety of disease conditions. We concluded that serum haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin oxidase assays could be used as adjuncts for diagnosis of the inflammation in dogs.

Therapeutic and anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus emblica (Common name - Amla) was evaluated in mastitic cows. The milk Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and ceruloplasmin concentration was significantly (P0.05) higher in mastitic cows prior to treatment. The parameters of mastitic cows treated with P. emblica (group III) and with amoxicillin sulbactum combination (group IV) were compared to that of healthy cows (group I and II). Significant reduction (P0.05) in Somatic Cell Count (SCC) was observed in both the treated groups. The level of ceruloplasmin significantly (P0.05) reduced in group III and IV after treatment. Results of the present experiment indicate reduction of SCC and ceruloplasmin level in the mastitic animals treated with the P.emblica extract. The extract of P. emblica significantly reduced (P0.05) the udder inflammation and helped in lowering the concentration of inflammatory marker ceruloplasmin. Therefore P. emblica extract could be advised for the treatment of bovine mastitis.