Immunomodulatory effects of oat beta-glucan administered intragastrically or parenterally on mice infected with Eimeria vermiformis.
The immunostimulatory effect of intragastrically or parenterally administered beta-(1-->3; 1-->4) glucan, extracted from oats (ObetaG), on disease resistance to Eimeria vermiformis was studied in C57BL/6 mice. Multiple administrations of ObetaG by intragastric or subcutaneous routes reduced fecal oocyst shedding compared to the non-treated control group. The administration of ObetaG by subcutaneous route resulted in higher levels of total serum immunoglobulins and antigen (sporozoite and merozoite)-specific immunoglobulins as compared with the non-treated group. To evaluate the effect of a single subcutaneous dose, groups of mice were treated with ObetaG 2 days before E. vermiformis infection, at the time of infection and at 2 or 6 days after infection. From day 11 post-infection the oocyst discharge was significantly diminished (P<0.05-0.01) in the ObetaG-treated groups, except in those treated 6 days after infection, as compared to the non-treated control group. The proliferative responses to E. vermiformis sporozoite antigen of lymphocytes isolated from the spleen were significantly increased (P<0.05) when ObetaG was administered 2 days before or at the time of E. vermiformis infection. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to merozoite antigen were not influenced by treatment. In conclusion, ObetaG appeared to up-regulate immune mechanisms and provide enhanced resistance against eimerian coccidiosis in mice.
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Animal Biotechnology Centre, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Estrada
A
A
Van Kessel
A
A
Gajadhar
A
A
Redmond
M
M
Laarveld
B
B
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D018554:Avena; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004539:Eimeria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013997:Time Factors; D047071:beta-Glucans
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D005936:Glucans; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D047071:beta-Glucans; C067858:beta-glucan, (1-3)(1-4)-