The effect of nonspecific immunostimulation of pregnant mares with 1,3/1,6glucan and levamisole on the immunoglobulins levels in colostrum, selectedindices of nonspecific cellular and humoral immunity in foals in neonatal and postnatal period

The objectives of the studies were to evaluate the effect of levamisole and 1,3/1,6 glucan applied in pregnant mares on parameters of non-specific cel lular and humoral immunity of foals. Eighteen mares in three experimental g roups (six animals in each) and their progeny were examined. Multiparous ma res, crossbreed of Polish, full-blood and Hannover Lines (400-500 kg), 4-9 years old, originated from four different farms. They were kept under ident ical zoohygienic and nutritional conditions. The animals were randomly chos en in experimental groups. None of mares had been previously vaccinated. In group I, levamisole was injected three times at 7-day intervals at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight. Group II was injected at the same periods of t ime and manner with 1,3/1,6,glucan at a dose of 0.19 mg/kg of body weight, whereas mares in group III served as controls. Injection of the immunostimu lators started in mares 4-6 weeks before expected parturition. Blood was ta ken from foals before the first dose of colostrum, then 18 and 36 h after t he first dose of colostrum and on Days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 of Life. The parameters determined in blood were reduction of NET by PMNs, pha gocytic activity, phagocytic index, test of intracellular killing and in bl ood sera were total protein, gamma-globulin fraction, lysozyme activity, le vel of IgG, IgG(T), IgM and IgA. In the first dose of colostrum taken just after parturition, specific gravity, total protein, gamma-globulin complex, lysozyme activity, level of IgG, IgG(T), IgM, IgA were determined. Colostr um of mares immunostimulated with levamisole or 1,3/1,6 glucan were charact erized by a high content of IgG and IgG(T) compared to the colostrum of non stimulated mares. The level of immunity was higher in foals from dams immun ostimulated with levamisole or 1,3/1,6 glucan. Clinical examinations in neo natal and postnatal period did not show any abnormalities in these foals (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.