Prophylactic effects of caprine serum factor (CSF‐I) in mice infected with Salmonella typhimurium

Administration of caprine serum fraction–immunomodulator (CSF‐I) resulted in an enhanced survival rate in female Swiss Webster mice infected with approximately 5,000 colony‐forming units of Salmonella typhimurium . The prophylactic benefit of CSF‐I resulted in a significant reduction in mortality of treated mice vs. control mice. Dependent upon the inoculum’s titer, 80–90% of the control group was lost due to salmonellosis by 8 days postchallenge. A single 0.1 ml (3 mg) subcutaneous dose of CSF‐I given 1 day before challenge improved the survival by 70–80% and dramatically reduced the presence of S. typhimurium in splenic tissue. No prophylactic benefits were observed if CSF‐I was given 4 days in advance of the pathogenic challenge. The prophylactic benefits of CSF‐I developed in a dose‐dependent manner. CSF‐I enhances the ability of the host to withstand and survive the challenge of an infectious agent. Drug Dev. Res. 54:45–51, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.