SEROLOGICAL SERUM-PROTEIN FRACTION AND RESPONSES TO BRUCELLA-MELITENSIS IN LAMBS FED AFLATOXINS

Twenty-four lambs were given 2 ppm aflatoxins (AF) in their diet for 3 7 d and 12 were kept as a control group. After this time, toxic feed w as removed for a further 35 days (clearance period). On day 17 all lam bs were vaccinated with B melitensis strain Rev-1, and blood samples w ere taken regularly to determine the levels of antibodies and serum pr oteins. Aflatoxins decreased titers of Rose Bengal test and optical de nsities of ELISA, both in the intoxicated and clearance periods. Compl ement fixation titers were lower in intoxicated lambs, except on the 2 3rd day of intoxication, but not statistically different (P>0.05). No effect of AF was noted on total serum proteins, but albumin and alfa-g lobulin levels were lower for intoxicated lambs than for the control g roup. Beta-globulin concentration did not change, and increases in gam ma-globulins levels in dosed lambs were observed throughout the experi ment. These results suggest that AF causes a failure in the acquired i mmunity system of lambs by decreasing antibody production and altering serum profile proteins.