Immune response of gnotobiotic piglets against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

In this study, several cytokine responses were investigated during Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) infection using a gnotobiotic infection model. We found that several inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-18, and TNF-alpha) and an anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of germ-free (GF) piglets stimulated with heat killed Mhp whole antigens, but no IFN-gamma and IL-4 were induced by Mhp. After the intranasal infection of Mhp, IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-18, and IFN-gamma were also detected in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluids (BALF). The antigen-specific IFN-gamma and IL-10 responses after infection of Mhp were gradually suppressed during Mhp infection as well as non-specific immune response to concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysacchalide (LPS) at early stage of infection. These results suggested that Mhp infection modulates the immune response of pigs by inducing several cytokines, and causes immuno-suppression of pigs in a gnotobiotic condition.     

Effects of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance,intestinal morphology,non‐specific immunity and mRNA expression in weanling piglets

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance, gut health and non‐specific immunity of weanling piglets. A total of 150 weanling piglets were allocated to six treatments. The piglets were fed the same basel diet supplemented with 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics for 28 days. From day 14 to day 28 of dietary treatment, piglets fed 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. During the whole experimental period, piglets fed 120 mg/kg lysozyme tended to have greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. Compared with piglets fed control diet, piglets fed diets containing antibiotics and 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum and jejunum. Additionally, dietary supplementation of 60 and 90 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in piglets. In conclusion, dietary lysozyme can accelerate the growth of weanling piglets by improving gut health and non‐specific immunity and supplementing 90 mg/kg lysozyme is as effective as antibiotics (20 mg/kg colistin sulphate + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin) in improving the growth performance of weanling piglets.     

猪支原体肺炎活疫苗（168株）气溶胶免疫后呼吸道sIgA分泌及抗原存留规律

猪支原体肺炎是由猪肺炎支原体(Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae ,Mhp)引起的猪的一种慢性呼吸道疾病,严重影响养猪业发展,活疫苗气溶胶免疫是防治该病的新措施。为研究猪肺炎支原体活疫苗(168株)经气溶胶免疫后,疫苗株在免疫猪肺内的占位存留规律,选用3周龄不吃初乳猪27头,随机分为3组,G1气溶胶免疫组12头,G2肺内免疫组12头,同时设立阴性对照3头。分别于免疫后第2 h、7 d、14 d及28 d进行鼻拭子Mhp sIgA检测以及血清抗体检测。另外在上述时间点分别宰杀G1和G2组各3头,对照组在实验组免疫后第28 d宰杀,采集肺泡灌洗液,分别进行Mhp sIgA检测及Mhp疫苗株含量检测。结果显示:(1)所有试验猪至实验结束,Mhp血清抗体未出现转阳现象;(2)鼻拭子sIgA水平G1组在免疫后第14 d与对照组相比上升,差异具有显著统计学意义(p <0.05);G2组在免疫后第7 d和14 d与相应的对照组相比上升,差异具有显著统计学意义(p <0.05),各时间点G1组与G2组sIgA水平差异不具备统计学意义(p >0.05);(3)G1组肺泡灌洗液中的 sIgA在免疫后14 d部分转阳(阳性率33.33%),28 d全部转阳(阳性率100%);G2组在免疫14 d时已全部转阳(阳性率100%),各时间点G1组与G2组sIgA水平差异不具备统计学意义(p >0.05);(4)气溶胶免疫组肺泡灌洗液内Mhp疫苗株浓度在免疫后第2 h、7 d、14 d和28 d分别是相应肺内免疫组的0.37倍、1.01倍、0.88倍以及0.52倍。猪支原体肺炎活疫苗(168株)经气溶胶免疫后,和肺内免疫一样可以诱导免疫猪的局部黏膜免疫以及具有同等的占位效应,且经气溶胶免疫的疫苗株在免疫仔猪体内的增殖水平可能与其诱导的黏膜免疫水平相关。     

猪圆环病毒2型感染对猪瘟弱毒疫苗接种猪免疫应答的影响

为探索猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)感染对猪瘟(CSF)弱毒疫苗接种猪免疫应答的影响,将20头28 d断奶仔猪随机分为V-I、I-V、V和C4组,5头·组-1.V-I组在接种CSF弱毒疫苗后2d感染PCV2;I-V组在感染PCV2 后2d接种CSF弱毒疫苗;V组只接种CSF弱毒疫苗;C组为空白对照组.共免疫2次,间隔21 d.免疫后定期检测血清CSFV特异性抗体水平、外周血淋巴细胞(PBLC)增殖活性和PBLC中IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10 mRNA的表达水平.结果显示:在CSF弱毒疫苗免疫前或免疫后感染PCV2,均会导致CSFV抗体水平低下,血清抗体阳转率下降,PBLC增殖活性降低.初次免疫后,V-I与I-V组的PBLC内IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10 mRNA的表达量严重不足,其中V-I组的表达量最低.加强免疫后V-I与I-V组的PBLC内IFN-γ与IL-10的表达失衡,IL-2和IL-4的表达缺乏,其中I-V组的细胞因子表达失衡和缺乏更严重.上述研究表明,CSF弱毒疫苗免疫前或免疫后感染PCV2均会影响机体的体液和细胞免疫应答水平,导致PBLC内细胞因子的表达严重抑制和紊乱.     

Immune response in farm animals infected or immunised with bacteria of Chlamydia sp. and Chlamydophila sp. genus

Bacteria from genera Chlamydia (Ch.) and Chlamydophila (Chl.) are very pathogenic and may infect humans and animals. They also may cause latent infection, especially in animals. In this paper we discuss the non-specific and specific cellular and humoral immunity in farm animals, after infection or immunisation with Chlamydia sp. and Chlamydophila sp. bacteria. It has been shown, that the infection or immunisation with the microorganisms influenced the activity of polimorphonuclear cells (PMN) and mononuclear cells (MN) in the process of phagocytosis. It has also been shown that the bacteria influenced the amount and activity of lysozyme, activities of myeloperoxidase and lysosomal enzymes. Infection or immunisation with the microorganisms was demonstrated to affect numbers of lymphocytes T and B and those of their subpopulation as well as the activity of cytokines and levels of serum and secreted immunoglobulins. The changes were detected just a few hours after infection or immunisation and persisted for a few days to a few decades.     

Evaluation of antibody formation, daily weight gain and meat quality after vaccination of piglets against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

A Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine (Respisure, Pfizer AH) was tested for its effects on antibody formation, daily weight gain (DWG) in different growing periods, lung lesions and quality of meat (chemical composition, physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition). Two groups of conventional piglets were used for the investigation. One group of 11 females and 11 males was vaccinated intramuscularly at the age of 1 and 3 weeks. The other group of 22 piglets was left nonvaccinated as control. The results showed that antibodies against M. hyopneumoniae in the vaccinated group had been formed 14 days after the second vaccination and remained present till the end of the study at 147 days of age. In the nonvaccinated group, seroconversion started at 49 days of age and by the end of the study 10 out of 22 pigs had become seropositive. Vaccinated pigs achieved significantly higher daily weight gain (+30 g) and finishing body weight (+6.04 kg) than the nonvaccinated animals. In addition, the vaccinated pigs showed lesions involving 3.27% of the lung surface in average, while in the nonvaccinated pigs 9.04% of the lung surface was affected. Investigation of meat quality showed that the longissimus dorsi muscle of vaccinated pigs contained significantly lower percentage of fat (-0.63%) and its tryptophan/hydroxyproline ratio was significantly lower (-23.57) in comparison with the control animals. In addition, some other parameters also showed a favourable tendency, e.g. lean meat percentage was 0.91% higher, the protein content of the longissimus dorsi muscle was 0.35% higher, its water-binding capacity was also higher by 0.78%, its monounsaturated fatty acid concentration was 2.97% lower, while its polyunsaturated fatty acid content was 1.65% higher in the vaccinated pigs than in the nonvaccinated animals.     

日粮中不同铁和铜水平对仔猪生长发育的影响

研究了日粮中不同铁和铜水平对仔猪生长发育的影响。铁水平组采用单因子4水平处理方法,分为1个对照组和4个试验组,每组4头仔猪,试验期为28 d;铜水平组采用二因子有重复试验设计,按照性别、体重随机分成4组,每组20头仔猪,试验期为28 d。结果表明,60 mg/kg酵母铁组的促生长效果较好;以250mg/kg的剂量向断奶仔猪料中添加硫酸铜,可以提高仔猪采食量和日增重,改善饲料利用率;添加5 mg/kg赖氨酸铜的经济效益较好。     

新型香糖、香鲜及香甜复合调味剂在仔猪饲粮中的应用效果研究

本试验旨在研究新型香糖、香鲜及香甜复合调味剂对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清胃肠肽指标、养分消化率及粪便微生物数量的影响。选取体重相近的(28±2)日龄健康大白断奶仔猪128头,随机分成4个组,每组4个重复,每个重复8头仔猪。对照组(A组)饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加香糖复合调味剂(0.8 g/kg植物香味提取物+0.2 g/kg糖精钠,B组)、香鲜复合调味剂(0.8 g/kg植物香味提取物+0.2 g/kg鲜味组合物,C组)、香甜复合调味剂(0.8 g/kg植物香味提取物+0.2 g/kg植物甜味提取物,D组)。试验期28 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,1)饲粮中添加香糖和香鲜复合调味剂在试验第1~14天显著降低了断奶仔猪料重比(P0.05);2)饲粮中添加香糖和香鲜复合调味剂显著提高了断奶仔猪有机物的消化率(P0.05);3)饲粮中添加香糖、香鲜及香甜复合调味剂对断奶仔猪血清胃肠肽指标和粪便微生物数量没有显著影响(P0.05)。由此可见,饲粮中添加香糖和香鲜复合调味剂能够改善断奶仔猪的生长性能与养分消化率。     

Dietary supplementation with Chinese herbal ultra-fine powder enhances cellular and humoral immunity in early-weaned piglets

This study was conducted to determine effects of dietary supplementation with a Chinese herbal ultra-fine (CHU) powder on cellular and humoral immunity in early-weaned piglets. Sixty piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly assigned to one of 3 treatment groups representing supplementation with 0 or 2 g/kg of the powder, or 0.2 g/kg of colistin (an antibiotic) to maize- and soybean meal-based diets (n = 20). On days 7, 14 and 28 after initiation of the treatment, lymphocyte proliferating activity and serum levels of antibodies and cytokines were measured. Results indicated that the powder enhanced (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF- on days 7 and 28, and of IgG and IgM on day 28, as well as the proliferating activity of blood lymphocytes in vivo on all days relative to the none additive group. Addition of the powder (7.82 to 31.25 mg/ml) to culture medium in vitro also increased (P < 0.05) the proliferating activity of blood lymphocytes compared with the none additive group. These findings indicate a beneficial effect of the CHU powder on cellular and humoral immune responses in piglets.     

新型甜味剂及鲜味剂在断奶仔猪饲粮中的应用效果研究

本试验旨在研究新型甜味剂及鲜味剂对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清胃肠肽指标、养分消化率及粪便微生物数量的影响。选取体况良好、体重(7.81±0.82)kg、(28±2)日龄的大白断奶仔猪128头,随机分成4个组,每组4个重复,每个重复8头仔猪。对照组(A组)饲喂不加鲜味剂和甜味剂的基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加0.2 g/kg的糖精钠(B组)、0.2 g/kg的鲜味组合物(C组)和0.2 g/kg的植物甜味提取物(D组)。试验期28 d。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,B、C、D组断奶仔猪第1~14天和第1~28天的料重比均极显著降低(P0.01);2)与对照组相比,C组血清胰高血糖素样肽-1含量显著降低(P0.05)。3)各组有机物、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、钙和磷的消化率均差异不显著(P0.05)。4)各组的粪便大肠杆菌、乳酸杆菌和双歧杆菌数量均差异不显著(P0.05)。由此可见,饲粮中添加糖精钠、鲜味组合物及植物甜味提取物能够改善断奶仔猪的生长性能,调节血清胃肠肽分泌。     

Immunomodulating effect of Inter Yeast S on the non-specific and specific cellular and humoral immunity in lambs

The objective of this study was to determine the stimulating effect of the Inter Yeast S dietary supplement on selected parameters of specific and non-specific humoral and cellular immunity in lambs. The study involved 32 lambs aged 30 +/- 3 days, divided into two equal groups: II--control, and II--experimental. Experimental group animals were fed a C-J concentrate mixed with a prebiotic, the Inter Yeast S, commercially available, containing dried brewer's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the amount of 3 g/kg of the concentrate. At the beginning of the experiment (day 0) and on the 15th, 30th and 60th day of the study, blood was sampled from the jugular vein to determine selected parameters of biochemical, specific and non-specific humoral and cellular immunity in lambs (total protein levels, gamma globulin levels, lysozyme activity, ceruloplasmin activity, proliferative response of blood lymphocytes (MTT) after stimulation with LPS or ConA, the metabolic activity (RBA) and potential killing activity (PKA) of phagocytes). As regards humoral immunity parameters, significantly higher gamma globulin levels and higher lysozyme and ceruloplasmin activity were found in blood serum of experimental lambs administered the Inter Yeast S, compared with those determined in control lambs not fed the supplement. No statistically significant differences in serum total protein were found between the control and experimental groups. An analysis of cellular immunity indicators revealed significantly higher levels of RBA and PKA, and higher proliferative response of blood lymphocytes (MTT) after stimulation with LPS and ConA in the experimental group, compared with those observed in the control group.     

饲粮中添加地衣芽孢杆菌和解淀粉芽孢杆菌对断奶仔猪生长性能及血液指标的影响

【目的】研究饲粮中添加地衣芽孢杆菌和解淀粉芽孢杆菌对断奶仔猪生长性能、血常规、血清生化及抗炎抗氧化指标的影响。【方法】选取108头28日龄杜长大断奶仔猪,按体重分为3组,每组6个重复,每个重复6头。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,其余两组分别在基础饲粮中添加1 g/kg地衣芽孢杆菌、1 g/kg解淀粉芽孢杆菌,试验期28 d。在试验第14和28天,空腹称重并计算采食量,每个重复选取2头仔猪,前腔静脉采血并用血细胞分析仪和试剂盒方法测定血常规及血清生化指标。【结果】各组断奶仔猪之间的平均日增重、平均日采食量、料重比均无显著性差异（P＞0.05）。与对照组相比,解淀粉芽孢杆菌组断奶仔猪的腹泻率显著降低（P＜0.05）;地衣芽孢杆菌组和解淀粉芽孢杆菌组断奶仔猪第14天血液淋巴细胞百分含量均显著升高,白细胞介素-2（IL-2）、丙二醛含量及乳酸脱氢酶、谷草转氨酶活性均显著降低（P＜0.05）;解淀粉芽孢杆菌组断奶仔猪第14天血液中碱性磷酸酶活性显著降低,血红蛋白含量显著升高,第28天血液中IL-2含量显著降低,总蛋白、球蛋白含量均显著升高（P＜0.05）。【结论】饲粮中添加地衣芽孢杆菌或解淀粉芽孢杆菌对断奶仔猪生长性能无显著影响,但能够改善仔猪血液指标,保护肝脏功能,且添加解淀粉芽孢杆菌还可以提高仔猪新陈代谢,降低仔猪腹泻率。     

Blending of a conventional Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine with a positive marker: tracking of immunised pigs by peptide-specific antibodies raised to the marker component

Highly immunodominant marker antigens simply blended to existing veterinary vaccines may represent a smart approach for addressing the still open issue of vaccination compliance. This approach was evaluated by blending a widely deployed Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine with a peptide-KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin) conjugate as marker. Piglets were vaccinated twice with: (i) a combination of the M. hyopneumoniae-specific vaccine and the marker, (ii) M. hyopneumoniae-specific vaccine, (iii) marker alone or (iv) placebo dose only. All piglets which received the M. hyopneumoniae-specific vaccine/marker formulation or, as control, the marker blended with Montanide IMS1313 adjuvant responded to the respective immunisation from day 21 to 77 post vaccination as seropositive for the appropriate peptide and KLH. However, the responder rate to M. hyopneumoniae of piglets administered with M. hyopneumoniae-specific vaccine/marker was slightly reduced at day 35 and 49 post immunisation in comparison with piglets vaccinated with M. hyopneumoniae-specific vaccine alone. Accordingly, we conclude that this marker technology could be successfully applied to label a whole set of vaccines prevented that the blending process will be optimised.     

Effects of supplemental palygorskite instead of zinc oxide on growth performance,apparent nutrient digestibility and fecal zinc excretion in weaned piglets

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of palygorskite instead of zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and zinc contents in serum and feces in weaned piglets. One hundred and sixty‐five piglets (28 days of age, 7.10 ± 0.86 kg) were allotted to five treatments on the basis of weight and sex. Each treatment included three replicates of 11 piglets. The piglets were fed the same basal diet supplemented with 0 mg/kg (control group), 1800 mg/kg, 2400 mg/kg, or 3000 mg/kg palygorskite or 2500 mg/kg ZnO for 28 days. There was no significant difference for incidence of diarrhea among the four treatments during the 0–14‐day feeding period. Compared with the control group, piglets offered diets supplemented with 1800 mg/kg palygorskite had higher (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and crude protein digestibility. Fecal digestibility of energy in 1800 mg/kg palygorskite and ZnO groups were higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control group. Both the zinc concentrations in serum and fecal zinc excretion in palygorskite groups and control group were all lower (P < 0.05) than that in the ZnO group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 1800 mg/kg palygorskite can improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility and can also decrease zinc excretion in feces in weaned piglets.     

Effect of different levels of mannan-oligosaccharide supplementation on some immunological variables in weaned piglets

The effect of different doses of mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) on specific and non-specific immune responses was studied in piglets, weaned at 28 days. A total of 58 piglets were used in six groups. Five groups were fed 0, 1, 2, 4 g MOS product per kg diet or with growth promoting antibiotics and immunized by inactivated Aujeszky’s disease virus (AyV) vaccine at week 1 and 3 of the experiment (35 and 49 days). A sixth group, receiving the same non-supplemented diets was not immunized. Blood samples for lymphocyte stimulation (LST) and AyV neutralization (VN) tests were taken from all pigs on the first day of the experiment and at weekly intervals for 5 weeks. At week 8, the immunized piglets were infected orally with transmissible gastroenteritis virus. All piglets were weighed and slaughtered at week 10, digesta from small intestine were collected and tested for the presence of secretory (s)IgA. Feeding MOS supplementation resulted in enhanced specific and non-specific immune responses, however, a regressive dose-response of MOS was observed. Both the specific cellular (LST) and humoral responses (VN) were enhanced after 2 weeks of feeding 1 g/kg MOS and significantly differed from the antibiotic positive control. The same tendency was detected in case of the non-specific LSTs, although these started some weeks later showing significant differences by the fifth week. Higher doses of MOS had no further beneficial effect on systemic immunity. In addition, 1 g/kg MOS supplementation group also showed some advantage in local immune responsiveness. Therefore, based on the studied immune variables, 1 g/kg MOS product is suggested in the diet of weaned piglets.     

早期断奶对仔猪血清肿瘤坏死因子和白细胞介素-2含量的影响

本文旨在研究仔猪血清肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)和白细胞介素-2(IL-2)含量的变化规律,以及早期断奶、免疫球蛋白和乳铁蛋白对TNF和IL-2含量的影响。试验选用约克夏仔猪,试验1分别在1、7、14、21和28日龄选取2头仔猪;试验2仔猪分别在14、18和35日龄断奶;试验3选取16头仔猪,分为4个处理,每个处理4个重复;试验4选取32头仔猪,分为4个处理,每个处理8个重复。结果表明:(1)血清TNF(P<0.01)、IL-2(P<0.05)含量从1日龄到7日龄显著降低,14日龄又上升,并维持一定水平。(2)与35日龄断奶仔猪相比,早期断奶仔猪断奶14和35 d血清IL-2含量显著降低(P<0.05),14日龄断奶仔猪血清TNF含量也表现出降低的趋势。(3)饲喂血浆蛋白粉和特异性免疫卵黄日粮仔猪血清TNF含量显著提高(P<0.05)。(4)饲喂2、10和20 mg/kg乳铁蛋白仔猪血清TNF、IL-2含量均表现出提高的趋势。由此得出结论,早期断奶降低了仔猪血清IL-2含量,饲喂血浆蛋白粉和特异性免疫卵黄日粮可以提高血清TNF含量。     

白藜芦醇对氧化应激仔猪回肠黏膜形态、抗氧化能力、紧密连接蛋白及炎性因子mRNA表达的影响

本试验旨在研究白藜芦醇(Res)对氧化应激仔猪肠道黏膜结构、抗氧化能力、紧密连接蛋白及炎性因子mRNA表达的影响.选择健康状况良好、胎次相近的28日龄三元杂交(杜×长×大)断奶仔猪30头,随机分为5组,对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组在基础饲粮中分别添加0、10、30、90 mg/kg Res,每组6个重复,每个重复1头仔猪...     

L-苹果酸对断奶仔猪炎症反应和肠道健康的影响

旨在研究日粮中添加L-苹果酸对断奶仔猪肠道健康和机体炎症反应的影响。本研究选取192头健康状况良好的28日龄三元杂交(杜×长×大)断奶仔猪(初始体重(9.12±0.52)kg),随机分为4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复8头猪(公母各半)。对照组饲喂玉米-豆粕型基础日粮,3个处理组分别在基础日粮中添加0.25%、0.5%和1%的L-苹果酸制品(含有20%L-苹果酸和80%载体),试验期28 d。分别在试验的第14和28天,前腔静脉采血制备血清,检测血清炎症因子水平,试验结束时屠宰测定仔猪空肠的炎症反应、抗氧化能力并观察空肠形态,分析与肠道黏膜屏障功能相关的蛋白表达水平。结果表明：1)与对照组相比,日粮添加1%L-苹果酸制品显著降低了试验第14天仔猪血浆中促炎因子肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和白介素-6(IL-6)的水平(P<0.01),显著升高了抗炎因子白介素-10(IL-10)的水平(P<0.01);显著降低了试验第28天血浆中IL-6的水平(P<0.01),显著升高了IL-10的水平(P<0.01);这表明日粮添加1%L-苹果酸制品缓解了断奶仔猪的炎症反...     

Comparative analyses of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses upon vaccination with different commercially available single-dose porcine circovirus type 2 vaccines

The objective of this study was to compare the induction of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by four commercially available single-dose porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) vaccines. A total of 50 3-week-old piglets were assigned to five groups (10 pigs per group). Four commercial PCV-2 vaccines were administered according to the manufacturer's instructions and the piglets were observed for 154 days post vaccination (dpv). Inactivated chimeric PCV-1-2 vaccines induced higher levels of PCV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies (NA) and interferon-γ-secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC) in pigs than did the other three commercial PCV-2 vaccines. The proportions of CD4⁺ cells were significantly higher in animals vaccinated with inactivated chimeric PCV-1-2 and PCV-2 vaccines than in animals vaccinated with the two subunit vaccines. To our knowledge, this is the first comparison of humoral and cell-mediated immunity induced by four commercial single-dose PCV-2 vaccines under the same conditions. The results of this study demonstrated quantitative differences in the induction of humoral and cell-mediated immunity following vaccination.     

Effects of beta-glucan obtained from the Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus and lipopolysaccharide challenge on performance, immunological, adrenal, and somatotropic responses of weanling pigs

A total of 108 crossbred piglets (7.75 +/- 0.24 kg of BW) weaned at 28 d was used to study the interactive effects of beta-glucan obtained from the Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge on performance, immunological, adrenal, and somatotropic responses of weaned pigs. The treatments were in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement; main effects were level of Astragalus membranaceus glucan (AMG; 0, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg; as-fed basis) and presence of immunological challenge (with or without LPS). The experiment included six replicate pens per treatment and three pigs per pen. Lipopolysaccharide challenges were conducted on d 7 and 21 of the trial. Blood samples were obtained from the vena cava from one pig per pen at 3 h after LPS challenge to determine plasma responses. Weight gain and feed:gain ratio were unaffected by glucan. However, there was a quadratic effect on feed intake (P < 0.05): pigs fed 500 mg of glucan/kg had the highest feed intake. Immunological challenge with LPS decreased weight gain (P = 0.02). An interaction (P = 0.01 to 0.09) between AMG and LPS was observed for glucose, IL-1beta, PGE2, and cortisol. Astragalus membranaceus glucan had a quadratic effect on the plasma concentrations of glucose, IL-1beta, PGE2, and cortisol (P < 0.05) after both LPS challenges. Plasma concentrations of glucose, IL-1beta, PGE2, and cortisol (P < 0.05) were all increased in LPS-challenged pigs compared with the control pigs after both LPS challenges. The IGF-I concentrations were less for LPS-challenged pigs than for unchallenged pigs. The lymphocyte proliferation response of peripheral blood induced by 5 microg of concanavalin A/mL (P < 0.01) and IL-2 bioactivity (P < 0.05) increased linearly with increasing addition of glucan. Pigs challenged with LPS had greater T-lymphocyte proliferation (P = 0.06) and IL-2 bioactivity (P = 0.07) than unchallenged pigs after the first immunological challenge but not after the second. In conclusion, although glucan did not improve pig performance under the conditions of the present experiment, when included at 500 mg/kg, it decreased the release of inflammatory cytokine and corticosteroid and improved the lymphocyte proliferation response of weanling piglets via enhanced IL-2 bioactivity.