Enhanced specific antibody response to bovine serum albumin in pigeons due to L-carnitine supplementation.
1. Thirty adult female pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were randomly divided into 3 equal groups; the 1st and 2nd groups were immunised with bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 0 and 20 d, the 2nd group also received 1 g L-carnitine per litre of drinking water from -5 to 25 d post-immunisation (dpi) and the 3rd group, a control group, received neither treatment. 2. Body weights and serum samples were taken at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 dpi. 3. Both BSA-specific IgG and IgM responses were enhanced by about 10% by L-carnitine supplementation. 4. L-carnitine supplemented pigeons showed a higher water consumption. Body weight loss during the onset of the immune response showed a slight tendency to be counteracted by L-carnitine supplementation. 5. The impact of L-carnitine on resistance and resilience to an immunological challenge is discussed.
Janssens
G P
GP
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium. geert.janssens@rug.ac.be
Mast
J
J
Goddeeris
B M
BM
Cox
E
E
Hesta
M
M
De Wilde
R O
RO
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D010856:Columbidae / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D011897:Random Allocation; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D002331:Carnitine