SINGLE ADMINISTRATION OF ENTEROCOCCAL PREPARATION (FK-23) AUGMENTS NONSPECIFIC IMMUNE-RESPONSES IN HEALTHY DOGS

Influence of a single administration of heat-killed Enterococcus faeca lis FK-23 preparation (FK-23) on non-specific immune responses was eva luated in healthy dogs. The dogs received a single administration of F K-23 at a dose of 100 mg/kg perorally and thereafter a complete blood count (CBC), leukocyte differential count, phagocytic activity of peri pheral blood neutrophils and a lymphocyte blast transformation (LBT) t est were assessed. Although FK-23 had no effect on the CBC or leukocyt e differential count, treatment of the drug caused a 1.4-fold increase in neutrophil phagocytosis compared to FK-23 non-treated healthy dogs . LET activities of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM ) were also activated to twice the control levels and that of concanav alin A (Con A) was increased to one and a half times by the FK-23 trea tment. Thus, a single administration of FK-23 appears to augment host resistance through stimulation of the non-specific immune responses in vivo. (C) 1998 International Society for Immunopharmacology.