title: Effect of beta-carotene supplementation on plasma and yolk IgY levels induced by NDV vaccination in Japanese quail.
abstract: Newly hatched Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks were fed diets containing different levels of retinoids (vitamin A) or beta-carotene. Group A received a commercial diet containing 10,000 IU vitamin A per kilogram. The diets of Groups B, C, and D contained no vitamin A but were supplemented with 1-, 2.5-, and 5-fold retinol equivalents of beta-carotene. Each group contained 16 quails in a 1:1 sex ratio. At 8 weeks of age the quails were immunized orally with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Boosters were given three times at two-week intervals. Blood samples were taken at two-week intervals until 14 weeks of age. The anti-NDV IgY titre was determined by a locally developed direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Groups A and B showed nearly the same antibody response. This indicates that the preformed vitamin A and the equivalent beta-carotene have the same immunomodulatory effect. Groups receiving higher doses of beta-carotene (Groups C and D) exhibited significantly higher plasma IgY levels compared to Groups A and B. The results indicate that elevated doses of beta-carotene have a slight effect on the adaptive immune response in Japanese quail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology and Health, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Szent István University, H-2103 Gödölló, Páter K. u. 1, Hungary. maeet@fau.gau.hu
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bárdos
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szabó
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003370:Coturnix / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009521:Newcastle Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C016512:IgY; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012176:Retinoids; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D019207:beta Carotene