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Immunomodulatory Effects of Oat β‐Glucan Administered Intragastrically or Parenterally on Mice Infected with Eimeria vermiformis
Author(s) -
Yuri Cheolheui,
Estrada Alberto,
Van Kessel Andrew,
Gajadhar Alvin,
Redmond Mark,
Laarveld Bernard
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1998.tb02309.x
Subject(s) - biology , coccidiosis , antigen , immune system , spleen , antibody , eimeria , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , subcutaneous injection , medicine , endocrinology , pathology
The immunostimulatory effect of intragastrically or parenterally administered β‐(1→3; 1→4) glucan, extracted from oats (OβG), on disease resistance to Eimeria vermiformis was studied in C57BL/6 mice. Multiple administrations of OβG by intragastric or subcutaneous routes reduced fecal oocyst shedding compared to the non‐treated control group. The administration of OβG 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 OβG 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 OβG‐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 OβG 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, OβG appeared to up‐regulate immune mechanisms and provide enhanced resistance against eimerian coccidiosis in mice.