间接血凝抑制试验检测血清和卵黄中鸡毒支原体抗体的研究

将13只正处于产蛋期的试验鸡在接种疫苗前后分别采血、分离血清；收集鸡蛋，分离蛋黄，并分别用16％NaCl、8％柠檬酸纳和氯仿处理后，检测鸡毒支原体(MG)间接血凝抑制(HI)抗体。结果表明：接种疫苗前的血清和16％NaCl、8％柠檬酸钠和氯仿处理卵黄抗体平均效价分别为4.7，4．4，4．1和4.2 log2；第一次接种疫苗后的血清和16％NaCl、8％柠檬酸纳和氯仿处理卵黄抗体平均效价分别为7．4、6．7、7．1、6．9log2；第二次接种疫苗后第1次采集的血清和16％NaCl、8％柠檬酸钠、氯仿处理卵黄抗体平均效价分别为10．4、9．6、10．1、9．710g2，第2次采集的血清和16％NaCl、8％柠檬酸钠、氯仿处理卵黄抗体平均效价分别为7．9、7.1、7．6和7．4log2。8％柠檬酸钠处理后的卵黄抗体效价最高，与血清抗体效价最接近。血清HI抗体效价与卵黄HI抗体效价具有良好的一致性和相关性，用卵黄可以代替血清进行HI试验。     

不同鸡新城疫疫苗免疫鸡血清HI抗体的测定

将试验鸡分成3个试验组和1个对照组。A组鸡接种鸡新城疫系疫苗,B组鸡接种油乳剂灭活苗,C组鸡接种鸡新城疫系疫苗,并在接种疫苗后第3、4、5、6、7、9、11、13、15、20、25d采取各组鸡血并分离血清,检测HI抗体。结果表明,接种系疫苗的组,HI抗体效价均值从4.67log2上升到10log2,接种后第5d开始上升,接种后第11d达到峰值,持续6d保持高滴度抗体水平。接种系疫苗的组,HI抗体效价均值从4.67log2上升到7log2,接种后第4d开始上升,接种后第9d达到峰值。接种油乳剂灭活苗的组,HI抗体效价均值从4.67log2上升到9.33log2,接种后第5d开始上升,接种后第11d达到峰值,持续16d保持高滴度抗体水平。系疫苗HI抗体效价上升快,效价高,较适合于紧急接种,油乳剂灭活苗HI抗体效价可在高水平维持较长时间,较适合于预防接种。     

THE SEROLOGICAL RESPONSE OF CHICKENS TO AUSTRALIAN LENTOGENIC STRAINS OF NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS

SUMMARY: Australian lentogenic Newcastle disease viruses were evaluated as uninactivated vaccines in Australian chickens, the response being evaluated by the production of haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies. Two viruses, V4 and PM9, induced high levels of antibody and were readily transmissible between chickens by contact exposure. Three other viruses were poorly immunogenic and poorly transmissible. Chickens vaccinated intramuscularly with the V4 strain produced higher HI antibody titres than chickens vaccinated by the orotracheal, intranasal and intraocular routes. HI antibody titres in chickens vaccinated with the V4 strain reached peak levels 3 to 5 weeks after vaccination and waned considerably during the next 2 to 4 weeks. However, low levels of HI antibody persisted for at least 36 weeks after vaccination. Intramuscular vaccination with the V4 strain of one-day-old chicks lacking maternal antibody to Newcastle disease virus resulted in 42–70% mortality and the survivors developed very high titres of HI antibody. Similar chickens inoculated orotracheally showed signs of depression and developed high titres of HI antibody, but there were no mortalities. Chickens 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-weeks-old and lacking maternally derived HI antibody to Newcastle disease virus suffered no adverse reaction to intramuscular or orotracheal vaccination. The antibody response of the 1-week-old chickens was considerably poorer than that of the older chickens. Following orotracheal vaccination with the V4 strain, chickens with low levels of maternally derived antibody responded with low levels of HI antibody. On the other hand, in the progeny of hens hyperimmunised with the V4 strain the production of active antibody following orotracheal vaccination was delayed until the level of passive antibody had declined considerably. There was no response to intramuscular vaccination in congenitally hyperimmune chickens. The minimum HI antibody inducing dose of V4 vaccine, when measured 3 weeks after vaccination of 6-weeks-old chickens, was 10^5.6 50% egg infectious doses.     

Experimental trials with a thermostable Newcastle disease virus (strain I2) in commercial and village chickens in Tanzania

Antibody responses in indigenous village and commercial chickens vaccinated with 12 thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine and protection levels against challenge with a virulent field isolate were determined. The antibody response of village chickens vaccinated by eye drop revealed that 30, 60 and 90 days after primary vaccination, the mean log2 HI titres were 6.1, 5.4 and 3.6, respectively, whereas for commercial chickens, the antibody response after 14, 30 and 90 days were 8.2, 5.1 and 4.2, respectively. Village chickens vaccinated orally via drinking water had mean log2 HI titres of 3.4 after 30 days. After booster vaccination, the mean HI titre was 5.4 and 3.3 after 30 and 60 days post-secondary vaccination (i.e. 60 and 90 days after primary vaccination). Antibody response of mean log2 HI titres of 2.6 was recorded 30 days after primary vaccination orally through food; 30 and 60 days after secondary vaccination (i.e. 60 and 90 days after primary vaccination), mean log2 HI titres were 5.3 and 3.2, respectively. All commercial and village chickens vaccinated by eye drop survived the challenge trial whereas village chickens vaccinated through drinking water and food had protection levels of 80% and 60% 30 days after primary vaccination, respectively. However, 30 days after booster vaccination, the protection level was 100%. At 60 days after secondary vaccination, the protection level dropped again to 80% for chickens vaccinated orally. All control chickens used in the challenge trials developed clinical ND and died 3-5 days after inoculation with the virulent virus. Supported by laboratory findings, I2 strain of NDV seemed to be avirulent, immunogenic and highly protective against virulent isolates of NDV. It may be a suitable vaccine to use in village chickens to vaccinate them against ND in rural areas.     

Experimental infection of chickens with an atypical mycoplasma gallisepticum strain: comparison of diagnostic methods

Fifteen chickens were inoculated with the atypical Mycoplasma gallisepticum (mg) K703 strain. On different dates post inoculation, tracheal swab samples were collected for mycoplasma culture and blood samples were analysed by slide agglutination test ( ) with commercial or homologous antigen and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ) with three different kits. Results showed that MG isolation rate was low on several sampling dates. The with commercial antigen did not yield positive results, although birds were positive when tested with homologous antigen. With commercial kits, the numbers of positive samples remained low. These results illustrate the difficulty of diagnosis of infections with such variant strains.     

An adhesion-hemadsorption inhibition test for the detection of serum antibody to Mycoplasma gallisepticum

A simple adhesion-hemadsorption inhibition (AHAI) test was developed for the detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma gallisepticum in the chicken sera. The AHAI antibody was detected simultaneously with HI antibody from sera of chickens intratracheally inoculated with viable cells of M. gallisepticum. A good correlation between HI and AHAI antibody titers was obtained with 382 (84.7%) of 451 sera from chickens reared on farms spontaneously contaminated with M. gallisepticum, whereas the remainder, 69 sera, was positive for HI but negative for AHAI test. It was not apparent whether the latters exhibited a non-specific reaction or the discrepancy was due to the lower sensitivity of AHAI reaction. The AHAI test does not require a great amount of antigen, special reagents or instruments, or pre-absorption treatment of test sera, and, therefore, it may serve as a simple serological test for detecting antibodies to M. gallisepticum.     

Immunoadjuvant effects of bacterial genomic DNA and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides on avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 inactivated oil emulsion vaccine in chicken

This study investigated the immunoadjuvant effects of three types of bacterial genomic DNA and CpG oligonucleotides (CpG ODN) on the avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H5N1 inactivated oil emulsion vaccine under two immunization strategies. The genomic DNA extracted from Escherichia coli O₂, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis FQ68, and synthetic CpG ODN were used as adjuvants, and their effects on the AIV oil emulsion vaccine were examined in chickens. The results indicated that when administered separately from the vaccine, adjuvants induced lower haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titres and serum IgG titres but resulted in higher concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-10. In contrast, when combined with the oil emulsion vaccine prior to inoculation, CpG ODN induced higher HI, IgG titres and IFN-γ concentration but resulted in lower IL-10 concentration. These data suggest that, depending on the immunization approaches, adjuvants may exert distinct immune effects in chickens receiving AIV H5N1 oil emulsion vaccine: the prior incorporation of CpG ODN into the vaccine may augment both the humoral and Th1 type immune responses, while separate inoculation of adjuvants has not shown better adjuvanticity.     

Mycoplasma synoviae invades non-phagocytic chicken cells in vitro

Mycoplasma synoviae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum are major poultry pathogens, but their strains differ significantly in invasiveness and pathogenicity. Recent studies have demonstrated that M. gallisepticum invades chicken erythrocytes (CER) and chicken embryonic fibroblasts. The aim of this study was to determine whether M. synoviae also invades chicken cells. Using the gentamicin invasion assay, relative invasion frequency (RIF) of four M. synoviae strains was determined for CER, chicken embryonic cell line (CEC-32) and/or primary chicken chondrocytes (CCH). All tested strains of M. synoviae were capable of invading chicken cells within 24 h after infection. The type strain WVU 1853 showed significantly higher invasiveness in CER (RIF 7.5 ± 1.5%) and CEC-32 (RIF 7.0 ± 0.3%) than field strain ULB 02/T6 and M. gallisepticum strain R_low. Surprisingly, WVU 1853, which is capable of causing synovitis and arthritis in chickens, was less invasive for CCH with a RIF (1.2 ± 0.3%) similar to that of R_low (1.1 ± 0.1%). This is the first study documenting the invasiveness of M. synoviae strains for non-phagocytic chicken cells.     

Investigations on the Influence of Helminth Parasites on Vaccination of Chickens against Newcastle Disease Virus under Village Conditions

Prevalence studies have shown that almost 100% of free-range chickens are infected with a wide range of parasites. The infections are mostly subclinical in nature, resulting in production losses and occasionally mortality. Newcastle disease (ND), on the other hand, results in high mortality rates during epidemics. ND is a limiting factor for increasing poultry production in many tropical countries, where frequent reports indicate vaccination failures. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of helminths on the antibody response after vaccination against Newcastle disease of free-range chickens naturally infected with parasites. Sixty chickens were divided into six groups, of which three were vaccinated against ND with a live De Soto vaccine, while the other three remained non-vaccinated. One group within the vaccinated groups and the one within the non-vaccinated group was kept naturally infected with helminth parasites, while the other two groups in each set were dewormed with fenbendazole and niclosamide, and one of each of these groups was subsequently infected with Ascaridia galli. After vaccination, all the groups were followed for 5 weeks and their antibody titres were determined weekly using a HI test. All the birds were finally challenged 4 weeks after vaccination with a virulent velogenic ND virus obtained from a field outbreak. All the vaccinated chickens seroconverted and had high antibody levels after 3 weeks, but these dropped to low levels at 4 weeks after vaccination. After challenge, the antibody titres rose in the dewormed groups but not in the parasite-infected groups. After 5 weeks, all the parasite-infected animals had significantly lower antibody titres than the dewormed animals. All the vaccinated chickens survived the challenge infection, emphasizing the importance of the cellular immune response. Further studies are needed to examine the effects of the parasitic infection on protection against ND over a longer period.     

DNA vaccine encoding avian influenza virus H5 and Esat-6 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis improved antibody responses against AIV in chickens

The H5 gene of avian influenza virus (AIV) strain A/chicken/Malaysia/5744/2004(H5N1) was cloned into pcDNA3.1 vector, and Esat-6 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was fused into downstream of the H5 gene as a genetic adjuvant for DNA vaccine candidates. The antibody level against AIV was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Sera obtained from specific-pathogen-free chickens immunized with pcDNA3.1/H5 and pcDNA3.1/H5/Esat-6 demonstrated antibody responses as early as 2 weeks after the first immunization. Furthermore, the overall HI antibody titer in chickens immunized with pcDNA3.1/H5/Esat-6 was higher compared to the chickens immunized with pcDNA3.1/H5 (p < 0.05). The results suggested that Esat-6 gene of M. tuberculosis is a potential genetic adjuvant for the development of effective H5 DNA vaccine in chickens.     

Comparison of serological tests for the measurement of the primary immune response to avian infectious bronchitis virus vaccines

The immune response of individual chickens exposed in an aerosol apparatus to live commercial avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccines was measured by serum neutralization (SN), haemagglutination inhibition (HI), complement fixation (CF) and agar gel precipitin (AGP) tests over a period of 14 weeks.The SN titres showed considerable variation for individual chickens and in a large number of birds were negative until 14 weeks after infection.Positive HI titres were recorded for most birds at one week after infection and persisted throughout the observation period. Some relationship was seen between HI and SN titres particularly in birds showing a high immune response.The results obtained with the AGP were transient, variable and did not compare well with results obtained by the other tests. The highest number of positive AGP reactors were seen two to three weeks after infection.Most birds showed positive titres by the CF test at some time after infection but titres were always low and did not correlate with results obtained by the other tests.Twenty-two weeks after vaccination 23 chickens were challenged by aerosol exposure to the Massachusetts 41 strain of IBV and four days later the trachea, kidneys and oviducts were removed from each bird for attempted virus isolation. Virus was recovered from only one kidney and 11 trachea samples. The mean pre-challenge HI and SN titres of birds from which no virus was recovered were significantly higher than the mash titres of vaccinated birds from which virus was isolated after challenge.     

禽副粘病毒2型对SPF鸡免疫功能的影响

7日龄 SPF鸡经滴鼻、点眼感染 PMV- 2 ,可引起轻微的呼吸道症状 ,病理组织学观察可见气管黏液分泌亢进和轻微的淋巴细胞浸润 ;感染 PMV- 2后的 1天 ,2天 ,3天… 11天 ,定位采取气管、肺、肝、脾、肾、心、大脑、法氏囊、盲肠扁桃体等组织 ,检查病毒的分布规律 ,结果表明 ,PMV- 2在法氏囊、气管、肺、胸腺、脾、肾、大脑中均有分布 ;SPF雏鸡感染 PMV - 2后 ,接种鸡新城疫克隆 30疫苗 ,免疫后 5 - 30天 ,每 5天 1次检测血清中 ND的 HI抗体效价 ,结果表明 ,PMV- 2感染组比对照组的 HI抗体效价平均低 2 log2 ,统计结果显示差异极显著。雏鸡感染 PMV - 2后对新城疫疫苗的免疫应答有影响 ,从而可能抑制机体的免疫功能 ,危害养鸡生产。     

Protective antibody response produced by the chickens vaccinated with green coloured thermostable Newcastle disease virus

The efficacy of green-coloured (GC) I-2 Newcastle disease vaccine was determined in the present study. I-2 vaccine was mixed with a green coloured dye and stored at 4°C for 6 months while assayed for the virus infectivity at a monthly interval. Chickens were vaccinated with the GC vaccine by eye drop. Serum samples were collected from all birds before and after vaccination at weekly interval for 4 weeks and tested for haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). These chickens were challenged with NDV virulent strain four weeks after vaccination. The results showed that there was no difference between the infectivity titres of GC and uncoloured vaccines. However, chickens vaccinated with GC vaccine produced higher HI antibody titres than chickens vaccinated with uncoloured vaccine. Results from the challenge trial showed that all vaccinated chickens survived whereas all unvaccinated chickens died. The findings from this study have shown that the GC vaccine is safe and produced protective antibodies against NDV in vaccinated chickens. Wambura, P. N., 2008. Protective antibody response produced by the chickens vaccinated with green coloured thermostable Newcastle disease virus. Tropical Animal Health and Production.     

Detection of serum antibodies against Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae by a dot-immunobinding technique

Both Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) antigens prepared for the routine haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test were diluted and absorbed to the separate pieces of durapore membrane for the measurement of dot-immunobinding (DIB) titers of test sera. Besides, durapore strips bearing both antigens were employed for a DIB test with chicken sera definitely diluted 100-fold. Shortening of reaction time of chicken sera with antigens as well as with the secondary serum markedly eliminated non-specific DIB reactions exhibited at low dilutions although the same condition was not so effective on the elimination of non-specific reactions among rabbit hyperimmune sera. Rapid and specific development of DIB antibody which continued at high titer up to 1:640 for 10 weeks postinoculation was proved in the sera of SPF chickens inoculated with MG or MS, while DIB titers of sera from uninoculated chickens remained 1:20 or lower. Non-specific reactions, which occurred in the routine serum plate agglutination test with a part of sera from the inoculated chickens, were not exhibited in the DIB as well as in the HI test with the same sera. Results of the DIB test with serum samples from 287 conventionally reared chickens definitely diluted 100-fold coincided with the results of HI test at a level of 90% with MG and 89% with MS antigen. This technique seems to be useful for a rapid, simple and specific diagnosis of avian mycoplasmosis.     

Protective immune response of chickens to oral vaccination with thermostable live Fowlpox virus vaccine (strain TPV-1) coated on oiled rice

The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate a local vaccine (strain TPV-1) against Fowl pox (FP) in chickens. Two separate groups of chickens were vaccinated with FP vaccine through oral (coated on oiled rice) and wing web stab routes, respectively. The results showed that the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titres in both vaccinated groups were comparable and significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control chickens. It was further revealed that 14 days after vaccination HI GMT of ≥2 log₂ was recorded in chickens vaccinated by oral and wing web stab routes whereas 35 days after vaccination the HI antibody titres reached 5.6 log₂ and 6.3 log₂, respectively. Moreover, in both groups the birds showed 100% protection against challenge virus at 35 days after vaccination. The findings from the present study have shown that oral route is equally effective as wing web stab route for vaccination of chickens against FP. However, the oral route can be used in mass vaccination of birds thus avoid catching individual birds for vaccination. It was noteworthy that strain TPV-1 virus could be propagated by a simple allantoic cavity inoculation and harvesting of allantoic fluid where it survived exposure at 57°C for 2 hours. If the oral vaccination technique is optimized it may be used in controlling FP in scavenging and feral chickens. In conclusion, the present study has shown that FP vaccine (strain TPV-1) was safe, thermostable, immunogenic and efficacious in vaccinated chickens.     

新城疫CHR株与La Sota株2种疫苗近期免疫效力比较试验

鸡新城疫CHR 株冻干疫苗中试产品3 批以及La Sota 株冻干疫苗( 符合质量要求) , 以5 种免疫途径: 肌注、滴鼻、喷雾、饮水、拌料分别接种11 日龄雏鸡。每批疫苗每种途径接种1 组, 20 只/ 组, 共20 组。雏鸡群免疫前血凝抑制抗体(HI) 效价为1∶2-13 , 于14 d 、28 d 后再测HI抗体水平, 并分别用10 000 鸡胚半数致死量(ELD50) 新城疫标准强毒北京株攻击。从而检测2 种疫苗用5 种免疫途径免疫后在不同时间的近期免疫效力。结果表明, 近期内CHR 株疫苗HI抗体呈上升趋势, 而La Sota 株疫苗HI抗体先升高后下降; CHR 株疫苗以饮水和拌料途径效果较好, 其它3 种途径效果相似。接种后14 d 攻毒, 2 种疫苗均能较好保护强毒攻击; 28 d 后, CHR 株保护率高于La Sota 株。     

Skin testing, fecal culture, and lymphocyte immunostimulation in cattle inoculated with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis.

Fourteen calves at 21 days of age were experimentally inoculated with 100 mg (wet weight) of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Three calves were inoculated orally, 4 intravenously, and 7 subcutaneously. Lymphocyte immunostimulation, fecal culture, and intradermal tuberculin skin testing were done between 112 to 150 days following exposure. Lymphocyte immunostimulation test results, conducted at 112 days after inoculation, showed all animals positive to Mycobacterium avium purified protein derivative. Fecal culture results, taken at 120 days after inoculation, showed that 2 of 3 animals inoculated intravenously were positive, whereas only 2 of 7 inoculated subcutaneously were positive (8 of 14 total were positive). Intradermal skin testing results at 150 days with M avium purified protein derivative showed 13 of the 14 calves were positive. Calves were examined at necropsy 153 days after inoculation, and M paratuberculosis was isolated from tissues of each of the 14 calves.     

The effect of inoculation dose on the development of antibodies as measured by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test against Eimeria maxima and Eimeria acervulina

The effect of the inoculation dose on the development of antibodies as measured by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test against E. maxima and E. acervulina was studied in two experiments in each of which six groups of six chickens each were inoculated with varying numbers of oocysts.The IFA titres reached their maximum 2 weeks after inoculation. The response was dose related for both species. This response was more pronounced in the infections with E. acervulina than in those with E. maxima, reflecting a difference in immunogenicity.Reinoculation with E. maxima indicated that the birds were immune and resulted in a rise of the titres. The maximum IFA titres obtained during the primary infection were never reached by reinfection. The titres decreased gradually during the 7 weeks following reinoculation. Reinoculation with E. acervulnia resulted in higher titres than those obtained during the first infection.     

The interaction between Newcastle disease virus and Escherichia coli endotoxin in chickens.

The interaction between Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Escherichia coli endotoxin was studied in cell cultures, embryonated chicken eggs, and 8-wk-old chickens. These interactions were evaluated according to the induction of specific or nonspecific resistance in the host system and the virus titer produced in both chicken embryos and chickens. The endotoxin of E. coli induced a decrease in the size of the bursa of Fabricius in live chickens. Escherichia coli endotoxin given intravenously induced plasma antiviral activity in chickens that was interpreted to be interferon, as detected in a vesicular stomatitis virus plaque reduction assay. Endotoxin failed to produced toxic effects in the chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) or to result in any antiviral effect because no change was noted in the number of NDV plaques formed in CEF cultures. When endotoxin was given 3 days before NDV exposure in chickens, the virus titers were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from a peak of 10(2) to 10(0.18), 10(2.5) to 10(0.18), and 10(2.5) to 0 in the spleens, lungs, and kidneys, respectively, at 72 hr post-NDV inoculation. When endotoxin was given 24 hr after NDV inoculation, the NDV titer significantly (P < 0.05) increased from 10(2.0) to 10(3.5), 10(2.5) to 10(6.5), 10(2.5) to 10(4.5), 0 to 10(2.5) in the spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver, respectively, at 72 hr after NDV inoculation. In chicken sera, hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer to NDV was significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced from 1164 to 3127 when endotoxin was given prior to virus inoculation. However, there was a decrease in HI to NDV from 1164 to 727 without a significant difference in chicken sera when NDV was given prior to endotoxin inoculation.     

Serum C-reactive protein and immune responses in dogs inoculated withBordetella bronchiseptica (phase I cells)

Eight Beagle dogs were inoculated intrabronchially with 5×10⁹ live, avirulent cells ofBordetella bronchiseptica L-414 strain (phase I cells) (B. bronchiseptica) to investigate the serum levels of their C-reactive protein, the white blood cell counts, the antibody responses toB. bronchiseptica in the sera and tracheal secretions, and the effects of prednisolone given to four of the dogs on C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC) and immune responses. In two Beagle dogs inoculated intrabronchially with sterile physiological saline, the concentrations of CRP and the WBC counts did not increase. CRP was markedly increased one day after inoculation in the dogs inoculated withB. bronchiseptica to 385.0–720.0 µg/ml (mean 498±132 µg/ml) in the group given theB. bronchiseptica inoculation only, and to 372.0–649.0 µg/ml (mean 551±106 µg/ml) in the group treated with prednisolone following inoculation ofB. bronchiseptica, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CRP levels were 23–95 times the pre-inoculation values, which indicated that prednisolone had no effect on the production of CRP. In the prednisolone-treated group, the WBC count increased and stayed at an increased level for approximately 12 days. An indirect fluorescent antibody test led to the detection of anti-B. bronchiseptica IgM and IgG antibodies in the sera from 5 days afterB. bronchiseptica inoculation and S-IgA and IgG anti-B. bronchiseptica antibodies in the tracheal secretions on the day after the challenge exposure toB. bronchiseptica. The increase in CRP after challenge exposure toB. bronchiseptica was significantly (p<0.05) smaller than that found after the first inoculation ofB. bronchiseptica.Abbreviations CRP C-reactive protein - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - FHA filamentous haemagglutinin - IFA indirect fluorescent antibody - WBC white blood cell(s)