EFFECT OF GLUCAN IMMUNOMODULATOR ON THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE AND MEAN HELMINTH INFECTION INTENSITY IN LAMBS ON PASTURES CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY-METAL EMISSIONS

Lambs grazed for 6 months on pasture contaminated with copper-dominate d heavy metal emission showed a gradual insignificant decrease in T- a nd B-cells and complement CH50 level in their peripheral blood. Glucan immunomodulator (GI), combined with IgG and Zn and given to lambs in four repeated doses (at the outset and after 2 months of the experimen t), significantly (P<0.01) increased the values for immunocompetent ce lls (T- and B-cells) throughout the experiment and for CH50 from day 2 1 to day 63 of the experiment. Lambs treated with immunomodulator elim inated fewer eggs during the experiment. On day 168 they showed a lowe r prevalence and mean intensity of Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and gastr ointestinal nematodes infection than untreated animals. The efficacy i ndex of the combined glucan immunomodulator, evaluated by the reductio n in helmint count in both GI treated and untreated lambs, was 53%.