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Background: Clinical experience suggested that a unique porcine serum polypeptide extract, used in hospitals for people with severe malnutrition, serendipitously resulted in a dramatic improvement in many fibromyalgia cases. Aims: The study aims to determine the effectiveness of a unique polypeptide serum extract in improving the symptoms of CFS and fibromyalgia (CFS/FMS). Methods: An open-label prospective study of 43 people with CFS or Fibromyalgia recruited worldwide. Interventions: Four 500 mg tablets twice daily for five weeks. Outcome Measures: Assessed baseline at five weeks of treatment using a VAS(1-10 points) rating energy, sleep, cognitive function, pain, overall well-being, anxiety, and digestive health, as well as the FIQR. The primary outcome measure was the pre- and post-treatment VAS composite score for the first five symptoms. Results: 43 subjects completed the three-week treatment trial. 60.5% of subjects rated themselves as improved, with 18.6% rating themselves as much better. In the 60.5% of subjects that rated themselves as improved, the significant average improvement was seen in all categories: 1. 69.4% increase in energy(p Conclusion: Recovery Factors® resulted in markedly improved energy, sleep, cognition, pain relief, calming, digestion and overall well-being in those with CFS/FMS. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04381793.

Infection with African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes an acute and highly lethal hemorrhagic disease that has been responsible for huge economic losses in China. To exactly detect the antigen of ASFV, we established a rapid, no-wash, one-step sandwich-type immunoassay based on the amplified luminescent proximity homogenous assay-linked immunosorbent assay (AlphaLISA) using two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) M-5 and M-6 against ASFV p72. ASFV p72 in samples was captured by biotinylated mAb M-5 connected to the donor bead surface via streptavidin and "sandwiched" by mAb M-6 which was coated onto the acceptor bead. Efficacy and sensitivity trials revealed that the AlphaLISA could detect ≥0.78 ng/ml of purified p72 and with a linear range of 0.78-100 ng/ml. The AlphaLISA was specific for ASFV and did not cross-react with other common pathogenic porcine viruses. Compared with RealPCR ASFV DNA test and ASFV antigen detection kit, the sensitivity of the AlphaLISA evaluated in 60 porcine serum samples was 93% and 100%, respectively. The specificity was 100% and 91.7%, respectively. This study presents a good laboratory diagnostic tool for sensitive and efficient detection of ASFV in porcine serum. KEY POINTS: • MAbs M-5 and M-6 recognized various epitopes of ASFV p72. • The established ASFV p72 AlphaLISA showed well specificity, high sensitivity, and satisfied correlation coefficient.

To establish an animal model of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) that would replicate the pathological process of ACLF in humans, rats were administered porcine serum (PS) for 11 weeks. Liver fibrosis was determined by pathological and biochemical assessments. The animals then were injected with d-galactosamine (d-gal) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The survival times of animals with cirrhosis and ACLF were determined over 48 h. Other animals were killed at 0, 4, 8 and 12 h after administration of d-gal/LPS. Liver injury was assessed by histopathological analysis and biochemical indices, and apoptosis was detected by Western blot and TUNEL analysis. After PS administration for 11 weeks the serum levels of hyaluronic acid and N-procollagen type III peptide increased significantly, and serious fibrosis and cirrhosis was observed at weeks 10 and 11. Cirrhotic rats were injected with d-gal/LPS to induced ACLF; the rate of mortality over 48 h was 80%. ALT and AST levels increased markedly at 4 h, but decreased significantly at 8 and 12 h post-treatment. The total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and total bile acids levels increased markedly at 8 and 12 h. Clotting times, TNF-α and IL-6 levels increased significantly, except for 12 h post-treatment. Apoptosis, inflammation and necrosis were elevated as determined by hematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL assays. BCL-2 levels decreased significantly, While BAX levels increased significantly. Cytochrome c expression peaked at 8 h post-d-gal/LPS treatment. In conclusion, an ACLF model induced by PS and d-gal/LPS was established and the underlying mechanisms of ACLF development were explored., Graphical abstract A rat acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) model induced by porcine serum and d-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide was established and underlying mechanisms of ACLF development were explored.fx1

Food allergies are a potential food safety and public health concern worldwide. To assure the safety of people who experience allergic reactions, it is necessary to establish effective and reliable methods for rapid detection of food allergens. This paper reports an innovative method for the rapid detection and analysis of porcine serum albumin (PSA), known as a major allergen in pork, based on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. The antibodies known to have a high bioactivity against PSA were verified by competitive indirect-ELISA and then immobilized on the SPR sensor surface, thus allowing them to capture PSA. The developed SPR demonstrated a linear range from 1.0 to 450 ng/mL for the measurement of PSA with a detection limit of 19.81 ng/mL. Within-day RSD (1.97–4.02%) and between-day RSD (1.88–4.15%) were no more than 5%. The SPR was evaluated for analysis of six commercial food samples and showed almost perfect agreement between the results obtained by ELISA test kits without significant differences (P > 0.05). Therefore, this assay permits accurate, specific, and sensitive detection of PSA in pork and pork products.

Pork provides an ideal source of food energy; however, pork can elicit an allergic reaction, and porcine serum albumin (PSA) has been identified as a major allergen. This study examined the impact of gamma irradiation on the allergenicity and structural qualities of PSA; the PSA solution was gamma-irradiated at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kGy. Allergenicity was investigated by immunoblotting and competitive indirect ELISA using serum from patients who are allergic to pork, and conformational changes in irradiated PSA were measured by circular dichroism, sulfhydryl group detection, and fluorescence emission spectra. The secondary and tertiary structures of gamma-irradiated PSA were altered, and the allergenicity of PSA was lowered by boosting the amount of irradiation. In addition, there is high correlation between depletion in the α-helix and immunoglobulin E-binding capability of PSA. The results show a new possibility in using gamma irradiation to reduce the allergenicity of pork products.

This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in porcine serum albumin (PSA), a major allergen, which occur when raw pork ham is marinated with kiwi or pineapple juice, and/or when the ham is pan broiled at 300℃ for 4 min after marination. In this study, raw pork ham was soaked for 4 h or 8 h in marinades containing commercial marinating sauce only, commercial marinating sauce and 7% kiwi juice, or commercial marinating sauce and 7% pineapple juice. When the meat was marinated and then pan-broiled, pork ham meat protein was significantly denatured and hydrolyzed, and the level of PSA in the meat was significantly reduced. The PSA contents of pork broiled without marination, pork that had been marinated in commercial marinating sauce alone, pork that had been marinated in commercial marinating sauce with kiwi juice, and pork that had been marinated in commercial marinating sauce with pineapple juice, were 95.4, 43.3, 14.3, and 5.4 ng/mL, respectively (p

Pork is an excellent source of essential nutrients such as protein. However, pork can trigger hypersensitivity and serumalbumin of pork is known as major allergen. In this study, to evaluate the effect of gamma irradiation on the allergenicity ofporcine serum albumin (PSA), PSA solution was irradiated at 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 kGy. The changes in the ability of PSAto bind IgG and patient’s serum caused by gamma irradiation were observed by ci-ELISA and immunoblotting. SDS-PAGEwas used for measuring the conformational change of gamma-irradiated PSA. The ability of 3-kGy-irradiated PSA to bindp-IgG and patient’s serum was decreased to 30% and 15%, respectively. The binding ability showed no significant differ-ences among all irradiated samples. SDS-PAGE showed that the irradiated PSA bands were degraded and aggregated.Immunoblotting of irradiated PSA revealed that IgG and patient’s serum were rarely recognized at 3 kGy. Therefore, gammairradiation could be applied to less-allergenic pork products. Key words: porcine serum albumin, allergenicity, gamma irradiation

The complement fixing capacity of porcine IgG-antibodies prepared from pseudorabies immune sera was examined in the presence and absence of preparations containing porcine Clq. Preparation of porcine Clq was performed by initial dialysis of normal swine serum against a 0.018 M EGTA buffer, pH 7.5, followed by purification on Sephadex G-200 and subsequently on QAE-Sephadex. The Clq activity in the different preparations was determined by haemolytic assay. Guinea pig complement depleted of Clq by dialysis in 0.018 M EGTA buffer was used as R-Clq. Cl activity was assayed, using guinea pig complement diluted in a Na2Mg-EDTA buffer as R-Cl. The purity of the C1q preparations was estimated by crossed immunoelectrophoresis and rocket immunoelectrophoresis, and it was found that porcine C1q of reasonable purity was obtained by the QAE-Sephadex separation. Whether a microtechnique using four units of haemolytic complement (100 per cent) or a quantitative technique using fifty units of haemolytic complement (50 per cent) were applied, porcine C1q was found to be of crucial importance for complement fixation with porcine antibody (IgG)-antigen complexes. This points to a selective requirement for porcine C1q as opposed to guinea pig C1q.

Inhibitors against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible enzyme that catalyzes prostaglandin synthesis, are widely used in clinical. However, the potential hepatic toxicity of COX-2 inhibitors remains incompletely investigated. We report in this study that a clinically available COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, exacerbates porcine serum (PS)-induced hepatic fibrosis and induces hepatocellular necrosis in an experimental liver fibrosis model. Histological results revealed that although celecoxib by itself did not cause notable hepatic damages, it markedly enhanced hepatic fibrosis that had been initiated by PS. While PS alone did not cause any necrotic change in liver cells, the addition of celecoxib resulted in hepatocellular necrosis in PS-treated animals. Notably, celecoxib enhanced reduction of plasma prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels induced by PS. Taken together, our results indicate that treatment with celecoxib may exacerbate liver fibrosis and cause hepatocellular necrosis. This may be associated with reduction in PGE(2) as an inheritance consequence of inhibition of COX-2.

BACKGROUND Cobalamin (vitamin B12 ) and folate (vitamin B9 ) are important for the amino acid metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis. Immunoassays for the measurement of both vitamins in serum are routinely used in people, cats, and dogs, serving as indicators for clinical disorders including cobalamin and/or folate deficiency, small intestinal dysbiosis, or inadequate dietary supply of these vitamins. The analysis of these analytes may also be clinically useful in pigs. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to analytically validate immunoassays for the measurement of cobalamin and folate concentrations in porcine serum, and to determine serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in healthy newborn pigs pre- and postweaning. METHODS Assay validation for both vitamins included the determination of linearity, accuracy, and intra- and inter-assay variability using serum samples from 10 pigs. Also, serum cobalamin and folate concentrations were compared in piglets between pre- and postweaning. RESULTS For both vitamins, observed-to-expected ratios for linearity and accuracy were 93.2 ± 14.3% and 100.3 ± 8.1% (mean ± standard deviation), respectively. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation for serum were ≤ 8.7% and ≤12.5%, respectively. Significantly higher serum cobalamin and lower folate concentrations were observed in piglets at the time of weaning than at postweaning (P < .0061; P < .0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Both immunoassays are linear, accurate, precise, and reproducible for measurement of porcine serum cobalamin and folate concentrations. Piglets differing in age by only 12 days had significantly different serum cobalamin and folate concentrations. The implications of differing serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in pigs at different stages of life should be further investigated.

The measurement of serum pepsinogen concentrations by enzymatic method and immunoassay provides diagnostic values and should be helpful in the detection of gastric diseases related to a rise of blood pepsinogen. In the present study, the correlation between a conventional enzymatic method and a recently developed radioimmunoassay (RIA) for serum pepsinogen A was investigated. A total of 123 sera samples of porcine foetuses (n = 28), adult healthy pigs (n = 56), pigs with parakeratosis (n = 25) and pigs with ulceration of the pars oesophagea (n = 14) were tested. Overall, there was a slight correlation between the two methods (r = 0.60). In relation to individual animal groups, the correlations (r) were 0.39 (P0.05), 0.74 (P0.001), 0.19 (P0.05) and 0.34 (P0.05) in foetuses, healthy pigs, pigs with parakeratosis and pigs with ulcers, respectively. In both methods, pepsinogen concentrations (means+/-SE) were significantly higher (P0.05) in pigs with parakeratosis (1778 +/- 86.00 mUTyr/L; 690 +/- 53.00 ng/mL) and in pigs with ulcers (2026 +/- 153.00 mUTyr/L; 1747 +/- 94.00 ng/mL) when compared to healthy pigs (935 +/- 58.00 mUTyr/L; 275 +/- 35.00 ng/mL). The proteolytic method gave a significant increased activity (P0.05) in foetuses (1150 +/- 82.00 mUTyr/L) vs. (935 +/- 58.00 mUTyr/L) in healthy adult pigs, indicating an additional proteolytic activity in the sera of foetuses or neonates.

Three foot-and-mouth disease virus non-structural protein antibody detection kits, CHEKIT FMD-3ABC, UBI FMD NS EIA and DVIVR NSP ELISA, were compared in the study. The results showed that the specificity of the kits ranged from 96.7 to 100% in nai;ve pigs and from 93.6 to 98.1% in vaccinated pigs, and that the DVIVR kit had the highest analytical sensitivity. The kappa statistics for the detection of 612 sera were 0.582, 0.447 and 0.658 for CHEKIT/UBI, CHEKIT/DVIVR and UBI/DVIVR, respectively. This study also revealed that measurable non-structural protein specific antibodies in some of infected pigs were sustained either for shorter periods or in intermittent patterns, thus aggravating the difficulties associated with the removal of pre-exposed pigs in the field.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of serum-derived immunoglobin (Ig) source and the effect of colostrum supplementation with serum-derived Ig on the attainment of passive immunity in newborn colostrum-deprived calves. In experiment 1, colostrum-deprived Holstein bull calves were fed pooled colostrum (PC, n = 9), spray-dried bovine serum (BS, n = 11), or spray- dried porcine serum (PS, n = 9). All treatments were balanced to provide 45 g of IgG in a 2-L volume at birth and again 12 h later. Calves receiving BS had higher 24-h serum IgG concentrations than did calves receiving PC or PS (8.3, 5.7, and 4.2 g of IgG/L for BS, PC, and PS, respectively). In experiment 2, the effect of supplementing bovine colostrum of varying quality with BS on Ig absorption was assessed. Thirty-two colostrum-deprived Holstein bull calves and four freemartin heifer calves were allotted by birth order to receive one of three treatments. Treatments consisted of 1) 2 L of pooled high quality colostrum (95.8 g of IgG, 0% from BS), 2) 2 L of pooled medium quality colostrum mixed with BS (95.2 g of IgG, 47% from BS), or 3) 2 L of low quality colostrum mixed with BS (98.8 g of IgG, 70% from BS). Serum IgG concentrations at 24 h after treatment were greater for calves receiving medium and low quality colostrum supplemented with BS (6.2, 9.6, and 9.6 g of IgG/L for high, medium, and low quality colostrum, respectively). Similarly, apparent efficiency of IgG absorption was greater for calves receiving medium and low quality colostrum supplemented with BS (25, 37, and 38% for high, medium, and low quality colostrum, respectively). The results of these studies suggest that dried BS contains a concentrated source of Ig, which is efficiently absorbed by newborn calves. Supplementation of marginal or low quality colostrum with dried BS is an effective means of improving passive transfer of IgG in newborn calves.

A simple competitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay was developed for the analysis of the boar taint steroid 5α-androst-16-en-3-one in serum and fat samples. Sensitivities of 30 ng/g and 0.8 ng/mL were obtained for fat and serum measurements, and the assays had mean recoveries of 97% and 103%, respectively. The average coefficients for intra- and interassay variation in fat analysis were 6.0%/8.9%, and in serum measurements 5.4%/8.1%, respectively. Boar fat samples contained androstenone in the range of 130−11570 ng/g (n = 106), and in the 108 kg boar group, 58% of samples exhibited fat androstenone levels above 500 ng/g. The serum androstenone concentrations in boars ranged from 1.5 to 237.3 ng/mL (n = 154), but were almost exclusively below the assay range in barrows (n = 124) and gilts (n = 83). A significant (p < 0.0001) correlation was observed between boar serum and fat androstenone concentrations (r = 0.89, n = 102). A direct serum analysis seems to give a reliable indication of the androstenone l...

A previously unreported anti-bacterial activity against Escherichia coli has been found in porcine and bovine sera, but not in human or chicken sera. The activity is not affected by heat inactivation of the complement system, and is bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal. Growth inhibition is reversible by addition of norepinephrine.

Double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (DAS-ELISA) have been developed for the assessment of IgM, IgG and IgA concentrations in porcine serum. Isotype-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were used for coating and detection. The DAS-ELISAs were examined for their ability to detect each isotype and for the assay variations. A computer programme was used to verify the parallelism of the slope of each serum sample with the slope of standard/reference serum, a prerequisite for reliable estimation of Ig concentrations. The DAS-ELISAs are easy to perform and highly specific, have adequate detection levels (ranging from 7 to 50 ng ml−1) and are very reproducible, as illustrated by the inter- and intra-assay variation coefficients (ranging between 4.9 and 7%). To illustrate the applicability of the ELISAs we assessed Ig concentrations in pig sera sampled from birth to young adulthood.

In order to develop veterinary serological multiplex assays, a singleplex bead-based array on the Luminex platform was developed, and with this experience the study was expanded by building a multiplex serological assay. First a serological Luminex assay was developed for Trichinella in swine. As the developed assay performed comparable to commercial ELISA’s, work on this platform was continued by developing a serological multiplex assay for Salmonella in swine. This assay is based on five LPS variants of the most important serogroups occurring in pigs. The serological multiplex assay for Salmonella performed comparable to a commercial ELISA. The results from this study demonstrate the feasibility of the Luminex platform for multiplex serology. Ultimately, this type of assay can be used for routine screening of porcine serum samples for immune responses against multiple pathogens in one assay.

The patterns of secretion of bioactive and immunoactive LH during prepubertal development were examined in four groups of 12 gilts each at approximately 3, 4, 5, and 6 mo of age. The rat interstitial cell testosterone assay was validated for the determination of bioactive LH (BLH) in porcine serum. Serum concentrations of immunoactive LH (ILH) were determined by RIA. Blood samples were collected via indwelling jugular catheters every 20 min for a 6-h period of spontaneous secretion. GnRH (0.5 Ipg/kg BW) was injected i.v. and blood samples were taken for an additional 4 h at 20-min intervals. Mean serum and baseline concentrations of ILH and of BLH were greater (p < 0.05) in 3-mo-old gilts than in gilts of other ages. Three-month-old gilts also secreted more ILH and more BLH in response to GnRH than 6-mo-old gilts (p < 0.05), but the biopotency of GnRH-induced LH was reduced (p < 0.05) in 3-mo-old gilts. Elevated serum concentrations of ILH and of BLH in 3-mo-old gilts may be inherently necessary to give follicles the maximum opportunity to respond to LH. During the period of prepubertal development, estimates of ILH accurately reflected BLH concentrations except when LH release was stimulated by exogenous GnRH. The age-related increase observed in the biopotency of LH released in response to GnRH may reflect a maturational process whereby the biopotency of LH increases as gilts approach puberty.

SUMMARY: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antibody to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in porcine serum is described. The results are presented as an ELISA ratio, calculated by dividing the absorbance of the test sample by the mean absorbance of control negative sera. In known infected pigs, the ELISA ratio was highest when the serum concentration applied to the ELISA plate was diluted 1 in 20 in PBS - Tween. Mean ELISA ratios ranged from 1.2

It is widely recognized that tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), especially TIMP-1 and -2, play a key role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, we examined the changes in TIMP-1 and -2 expressions in the early stage of porcine serum (PS)-induced liver fibrosis in Brown Norway (BN) and Wistar rats. The rats were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 ml/head of PS twice a week for up to 8 weeks and examined at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Hepatic fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration developed at 4 and 8 weeks in BN and Wistar rats, respectively, and formation of pseudolobules was detected at 8 weeks in rats of both strains. The expression of liver TIMP-1 and -2 mRNAs significantly increased at 8 weeks in rats of both strains. At the same time, TIMP-1 and -2 activities were also detected in the liver of both strains. On the other hand, the expression of serum TIMP-1 and -2 proteins increased earlier (at 4 weeks for TIMP-1 and at 2 or 4 weeks for TIMP-2) than that of liver TIMP-1 and -2 mRNAs did. Although there are some reports suggestive of why the elevation of serum TIMP-1 and -2 proteins preceded that of liver TIMP-1 and -2 mRNAs, the exact reason is still obscure. In conclusion, the present study showed for the first time the mode of TIMP-1 and -2 expression and activity in the early stage of PS-induced rat liver fibrosis model.

Measurement of porcine C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum is an important tool for monitoring health and welfare in pigs. In this study, an immunoturbidimetric method from Olympus System Reagent (OSR 6147) used to measure human CRP in serum that employ a human traceable calibrator has been evaluated in porcine serum samples. Intra- and inter-assay imprecision were lower than that obtained with the porcine-specific commercially available ELISA. The expected difference in serum CRP between healthy and non-healthy pigs was detected. CRP values measured by the immunoturbidimetric method showed a good correlation with those obtained by ELISA, although differences in absolute CRP values were observed. When an in-house porcine standard was used a better agreement was obtained. In conclusion, the immunoturbidimetric method of Olympus can be used with porcine samples. The easier use of this method should facilitate the implementation of CRP serum determination for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in swine medicine. The results emphasize the need to establish species-specific standard and methods to decrease inter-laboratory discrepancies.

通常に採血した豚血清の溶血の割合と溶血程度が, 血清生化学成分の測定値にどのような影響をおよぼすのかについて検討し, 以下の成績を得た。1. 溶血程度の内訳血清の溶血程度は溶血血清色見本 (CSH) により5段階に区分した。採血した豚74頭分の血清のうち, 非溶血血清 (-) は15検体で20.3%であり, 溶血程度 (±) は29検体で39.2%, 溶血程度 (+) は12検体で16.2%, 溶血程度 (廾) は15検体で20.3%, 溶血程度 (卅) は3検体で4.0%であった。溶血程度 (+) 以上の検体は約4割を占めた。2. 測定値への影響1) 溶血程度 (±) では測定値が非溶血血清に比べ, 過大, 過小とならない項目: 総蛋白量, 蛋白分画, BUN, ALP, GOT, GPT, LDH活性値, LDH分画, グルコース, 総コレステロール, トリグリセリド, リン脂質, 鉄, カルシウム, マグネシウムおよび無機リン2) 溶血程度 (+) より測定値が非溶血血清に比べ, 有意に過小となる項目: LDH13) 溶血程度 (廾) より測定値が非溶血血清に比べ, 有意に過大となる項目: LDH活性値, LDH54) 溶血程度 (卅) で測定値が非溶血血清に比べ, 有意に過大となる項目: GOT, GPT,β-分画, LDH45) 溶血程度 (卅) で測定値が非溶血血清に比べ, 有意に過小となる項目: トリグリセリドおよびリン脂質6) 溶血程度 (卅) でも測定値が非溶血血清に比べ, 過大, 過小とならない項目: 総蛋白量,β-分画を除く他の分画, A/G比, BUN, ALP, LDH2, LDH3, グルコース, 総コレステロール, 鉄, カルシウム, マグネシウムおよび無機リン

The present study evaluated whether a specific androstenone-binding protein is present in porcine and human serum, and in the cytosolic fraction of porcine testis. The binding of [(3)H]-androstenone to serum and testicular cytosol was measured in the absence (total binding) and presence (non-specific binding) of unlabelled androstenone. The optimization of the assay is described. As a part of the assay validation, the binding of [(3)H]-dihydrotestosterone ([(3)H]-DHT) to porcine and human serum was also examined. As expected, specific binding of [(3)H]-DHT was detected in human serum, but not in porcine serum. No specific androstenone-binding protein was detected, either in porcine or human serum, or in the cytosolic fraction of porcine testis. The amount of non-specific binding of [(3)H]-androstenone was slightly lower in porcine serum compared to human serum. Between-animal variations in [(3)H]-androstenone binding were studied in plasma samples from 15 animals with androstenone concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 23.1 ng/mL. Mean values+/-standard deviations of binding in these samples were 15.2+/-0.9% for total binding and 15.9+/-0.8% for non-specific bindings. Low between-animal variations indicate that androstenone binding does not affect androstenone accumulation in fat.

Rat strain differences in the early development of porcine serum (PS)-induced hepatic fibrosis were histologically and immunohistochemically examined using Brown Norway (BN), Sprague Dawley (SD) and Wistar rats. They were injected i.p. with 0.5 ml sterile PS twice a week for 4 and 8 weeks. In addition, rats treated with physiological saline in the same way served as controls. At 4 weeks, hepatic fibrosis accompanying fibrous septa mainly composed of type III collagens developed in BN and SD rats but not in Wistar rats. In addition, the numbers of eosinophils, CD3-positive cells and ED-1-positive cells significantly increased in BN and SD rats, that of CD45RA-positive cells in BN rats, and that of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive cells in SD rats, respectively. Such differences in the number of inflammatory cells may be related with the absence of hepatic fibrosis in Wistar rats at 4 weeks. At 8 weeks, hepatic fibrosis with formation of many small-sized pseudolobules was observed in all strains at almost similar degree, and the numbers of infiltrating cells increased in all strains of rats with some exception. In addition, the main location of inflammatory cells was different, suggesting a different role of each inflammatory cell in the process of hepatic fibrosis.

Toxoplasmosis is an important food-borne parasitic disease. In the present study, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in slaughtered pigs and cattle was surveyed in Liaoning Province, northeastern China in May and June 2011. In total, 1,164 porcine serum samples and 646 bovine serum samples were collected from 5 counties and examined for T. gondii antibodies by an indirect hemagglutination test. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 12.0% (140/1,164) of pigs, with some regional differences. The highest prevalence of 14.4% (47/326) was found in Fuxin followed by 12.5% (62/497) in Jinzhou; overall, 6.0% (39/646) was observed in cattle but with no regional difference (P > 0.05). Prevalence of T. gondii infection in pigs was also significantly higher compared to cattle (P < 0.05). The results of the present study indicate that infection with T. gondii in pigs and cattle is widely spread in China including Liaoning Province, northeastern China, and is, therefore, of public health concern.

The increase in steroid hormone blood levels in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) appears to be an important mechanism by which mammalian species regulate inflammation. This study examined changes in serum concentrations of cortisol, progesterone, and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) in diestrous pigs following the intravenous injection of LPS and determined whether indomethacin would attenuate these changes. Serum cortisol and progesterone concentrations increased (P0.05) within 30 min after the administration of LPS, and the increases in steroid hormones were accompanied by a sharp, transient increase (P0.05) in PGFM levels. In the presence of indomethacin, serum PGFM levels did not change (P0.05); however, LPS enhanced (P0.05) cortisol and progesterone concentrations, although the increases were delayed. Serum concentrations of cortisol acutely increased (P0.05) immediately following both infusions of indomethacin. In summary, cortisol and progesterone concentrations increased irrespective of serum PGFM concentrations, thereby indicating that prostaglandin F2 alpha was not the sole mediator of LPS-induced changes in cortisol and progesterone concentrations.

In lymphocyte culture work, apart from human serum, animal serum was in use for a long time. Foetal calf / bovine ,goat serum were the common ones used. Porcine serum has not been commonly used though it is said that the constituents of the porcine and human blood are more of the same. Porcine serum in lymphocyte culture for chromosomal studies has been tried and found to be good. It worked better than the goat serum. GTG bands were well seen in the metaphase spreads. Hence, it is suggested that porcine serum could also be used in setting up peripheral lymphocyte cul- ture for karyotyping.

A complement fixation test modified by the addition of porcine serum and an indirect hemagglutination test were used to detect antibodies to Pseudomonas pseudomallei in pigs. These tests together with cultural examinations were carried out with 250 pigs. The sensitivity and specificity values were 79.3 and 99.5% and 82.8 and 93.2% for the modified complement fixation and hemagglutination tests, respectively. When results from the combination of both tests were considered, the values were 86.2 and 92.8%, respectively.

CULTURE of porcine pancreatic islets is considered to be difficult because of their fragility and for other unknown reasons. Improvement of islet culture is very important for the purpose of pretransplant conditioning of islet allografts or xenografts. From our previous experience of porcine lymphocyte culture, better results were obtained by adding fetal pig serum instead of fetal calf serum (FCS) to the culture medium. In this study, therefore, we examined the effect of allogeneic and autologous porcine sera on islet culture as compared with FCS.

The role of Mac-1 as a receptor for Bordetella bronchiseptica infection of alveolar macrophages (AMphi) was examined using 6 strains (2 ATCC and 4 pathogenic field isolates) to assess B. bronchiseptica binding, uptake and replication in primary porcine AMphi. All B. bronchiseptica strains were rapidly killed by porcine serum in a dose- and time-dependent manner. However, heat-inactivated porcine serum (HIS) did not demonstrate any bacterial-killing activity, suggesting that complement may have a direct killing activity. All field isolates were more resistant to direct complement-mediated B. bronchiseptica killing. The uptake of B. bronchiseptica into AMphi was inhibited approximately 50% by anti-Mac-1 monoclonal antibodies in the medium. However, B. bronchiseptica phagocytosed in the presence of serum or HIS was not altered by anti-Mac-1 antibodies although more bacteria were internalized by addition of serum or HIS. These data suggest that Mac-1 is a target for direct uptake of B. bronchiseptica via opsonin-independent binding. The phagocytosed B. bronchiseptica, either via direct or serum-mediated binding, were efficiently killed by AMphi within 10 hr postinfection. This demonstrates that Mac-1-mediated B. bronchiseptica uptake is a bacterial killing pathway not leading to productive infections in AMphi.

This study was conducted to determine whether an antimicrobially induced (ASP-250) increase in serum IGF-I was the result of differences in feed intake. Serum IGF-I concentrations were measured in crossbred pigs that were fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with ASP-250 either for ad libitum consumption or limited to 85% of the control pigs' consumption. The pigs that consumed either diet ad libitum, control or ASP-250, consumed similar quantities of feed. The ASP-250 ad libitum-intake pigs had serum IGF-I concentrations that were greater (P

Bovine and porcine serum immunoglobulins were obtained from abattoir blood by sodium polyphosphate fractionation and mixed with sow milk replacer to provide an IgG level of 20 mg mL−1 for diets fed on day 1 and 4 mg mL−1 for diets fed on days 2–14. Control piglets received only sow milk replacer. The control group had a survival rate of 22% compared to 75% for the piglets receiving bovine immunoglobulins and 92% for those receiving porcine immunoglobulins. Diarrhea was more severe in the control group for the first 21 d than in the other two groups. The bovine and porcine groups did not differ in the incidence of diarrhea at any time during the experiment. The average daily gains measured over the 28-d period were significantly different between the three treatments with the controls gaining 83.9 g d−1, bovine immunoglobulin fed piglets 140.6 g d−1 and porcine immunoglobulin fed piglets 169.8 g d−1. Serum immunoglobulins were not detectable until 7 d of age in the controls and the concentration rose to 14.6 mg d−1 on day 21. Porcine immunoglobulins were absorbed to a much higher degree than bovine immunoglobulins. Piglets receiving porcine immunoglobulins had a serum IgG concentration of 19.7 mg d−1 at 1 d of age compared to 5.0 mg d−1 for the bovine treatment piglets. Procine serum immunoglobulins were judged superior to bovine immunoglobulins in providing passive immunity to colostrum-deprived piglets. Key words: Immunoglobulins, colostrum-deprived, piglet, milk replacer

1. A solid phase immunoradiometric assay using anti-serum coated polystyrene tubes, is described for the assay of porcine serum ferritin. 2. The mean concentration of ferritin in the serum of both male and female pigs (Sus scrofa) was 12.1 micrograms/l +/- 8.7 micrograms (range less than 1-35 micrograms/l) and no sex differences were observed in 40 pigs from 1 day to 4 years old. 3. Serum ferritin increased with increasing body iron stores in iron loaded pigs as assessed by hepatic iron concentration. 4. The assay is sensitive (detecting less than 1 microgram/l), reproducible, specific and it does not cross-react with human or rat ferritin.

The lipolytic activity of porcine lipid mobilizing factor, a pituitary peptide, was potentiated by porcine serum when measured in a rabbit fat-cell suspension. The potentiation caused by sera from 54 individual pigs which had been bred using backfat thickness and growth rate as selection criteria was examined. No significant correlation was found between the potentiation and either of these parameters.

Three experiments were conducted to study growth, incidence of scouring and mortality of 2- and 3-wk weaned piglets fed immunoglobulins (IMG) derived from abbatoir porcine serum. In experiment 1, 20 piglets weaned at 2 wk of age were randomly divided into a control and an IMG-treated group. In both groups 1 × 1012 organisms of a pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli was administered by stomach tube. The IMG-treated group had a faster (P

The effect of culture system and protein supplementation on the development of one-cell porcine embryos was investigated. One hundred and sixty-four one-cell embryos were collected at slaughter from 19 handmated gifts. Culture systems evaluated were microdrops of Whitten's medium (WM) under paraffin oil (M) or tubes with 4.0 ml of WM (T). Also tested was T with a 2.0 ml paraffin oil overlay (O). Media evaluated were WM with: no bovine serum albumin (-BSA), 15 mg/ml BSA (+BSA) or 10% (v/v) heat-treated porcine serum (+HTPS). Twenty-nine, 29, 28, 29, 28 and 21 one-cell embryos were assigned to treatments T + BSA + O, T - BSA, M + BSA, M - BSA and M + HTPS, respectively. All cultures were conducted at 37 C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. At the cessation of division, embryos were fixed and stained, and each was assigned a cleavage index bases on the number of divisions completely in culture. The mean cleavate indexes for embryos cultured in T + BSA + O (2.07) and T + BSA (1.97) were not significantly different, but both were greater (P less than .05) than the indexes for T - BSA (1.09), M + BSA (1.12), M - BSA (.82) and M + HTPS (.86). Mean cleavage indexes for embryos cultured in T - BSA, M + BSA, M - BSA and M + HTPS were not significantly different. More (P less than .05) embryos developed to the blastocyst stage in T + BSA + O (6/29) than in either T - BSa (0.28) or M BSA (0.28). Fragmentation was greater (P less than .05) in embryos cultured in M - BSA than in embryos cultured in tubes. These results suggest that culture tubes of WM with 1.5% BSA are superior to microdrops and WM with 10% HTPS in supporting the in vitro development of one-cell porcine embryos.

1. 1. An acid-stable IGF binding protein was isolated and purified from porcine serum. 2. 2. The protein comprised two major species with M r s of 45 and 41 kDa determined using SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. 3. 3. The IGFBP preparation specifically bound both IGF-I and II. 4. 4. Four distinct protein bands ( M r s of 23, 45, 50 and 75 kDa) in the porcine IGFBP preparation specifically bound radiolabelled IGF-I. 5. 5. The porcine IGFBP exhibited sequence homology with IGFBPs from human plasma and rat serum. 6. 6. This is the first report of the purification and characterization of the acid-stable IGFBP from porcine serum.

A close molecular relationship exists between the protease inhibitors of porcine serum and those of human serum as shown by studying their immunological cross-reactivities with gel diffusion and immunoelectrophoretic methods. On studying seven different antisera to human protease inhibitors, five were found to cross-react with porcine serum, and on this bisis it was possible to identify alpha 2 -macroglobulin f, alpha 2 -macroglobulin s, alpha 1 -protease inhibitor, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, antithrombin and alpha 2 -antiplasmin in porcine serum. Antisera to four of these porcine serum inhibitors (alpha 2 -macroglobulin f, alpha 2 -macroglobulin s, alpha 1 -protease inhibitor and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor) were produced and were shown to react immunologically with their human serum protease inhibitor counterparts.

Summary and Conclusions1. Some of the nutritional requirements for the in vitro cultivation of hog kidney epithelial cells were determined. The data indicate that cultures grown in a “simple” medium containing Synthetic Mixture #199 (92.5%) and hog serum (7.5%) were consistently more proliferative than cultures cultivated in more complex media containing embryo extract, serum ultra-filtrate and serum of homologous and heterologous origin. 2. None of the media tested adequately supported growth of either splenic or testicular fibroblasts. 3. The influence of various Porcine Serum Fractions (II, IV, V and IV + V) on growth of hog kidney epithelial cells was also investigated. When Fraction IV -f- V was used, excellent growth was achieved. When Fraction II, IV or V was used independently, growth inferior to that of whole serum resulted.

Swine with a hemophilia-like disease characterized by a long bleeding time and low antihemophilic factor (AHF, factor VIII) level were infused with porcine plasma and porcine serum. Unlike the response of classical hemophiliacs, but similar to that of patients with von Willebrand's disease, the initial postinfusion levels of AHF were sustained with some fluctuation for 24 hr. Serum infusion resulted in a delayed increase in AHF which reached a maximum concentration between the 12th and 24th hr after infusion. Within 75 hr the effects of both the plasma and serum infusions had vanished. No correction of the prolonged bleeding times was observed following the infusions. The AHF levels encountered after the infusion of plasma and serum cannot be accounted for by the AHF activity contained in the infused materials; new AHF synthesis or AHF release from storage are suggested as possible mechanisms.

Pseudo-peptides (pGlu-His-amphetamine, pGlu-His-pro-Amphetamine and pGlu-amphetamine) were subjected to enzymatic degradation by porcine serum and brain homogenate. The enzymic digests were (qualitatively) analyzed by the "Finger-prints" technique to provide evidence for the presence of free pyroglutamic acid and also quantitatively by HPLC to provide evidence for the presence and yield of free amphetamine. The stability in vitro toward enzymes of serum and brain homogenate of a new type of drug based on the combination of a peptide moiety (TRH) with a non peptide psycho-tropic moiety (amphetamine) is also considered and discussed.

A serological survey was carried out to detect hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody against hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) from the serum of pig. A total of 6, 797 porcine serum samples were collected from 45 prefectures in Japan. As a result, 3, 393 samples (49.9%) had the antibody. Of them, 1, 992 samples (58.7%) had an HI titer of 1:1280 or high. The positive rate varied from 39.6 to 72.0% in each age-group. It was 53.7, 47.0, 39.6, 52.5, 54.4, and 72.0% in the 0-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-l2, and over-12-month groups, respectively. In short, the positive rate became higher in accordance with the advance in age. The occurrence of such a high positive rate as 53.7% in the 0-2 month group, and the same HI titers of suckling piglets as those of their mother sows may be due to the absorption of antibodies from colostrum. The breed of pigs may not be a factor to induce HEV infection. The positive rate was high in the Kinki and Chugoku districts (66.1 and 65.1%, respectively) and low in the Tohoku and Kanto districts (26.6 and 27.8%, respectively). Antibodies against HEV were proved in Japan in 1965 and confirmed in every subsequent year. In 1973, more than 60.0% of the pigs examined were found to possess those antibodies. Therefore, it is concluded that HEV infection may be widespread in Japan.

Four methods used for the detection of antibodies to Aujeszky's disease virus in porcine sera were compared. The serum neutralisation test, countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis test, micro-immunodiffusion test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) were assessed with particular regard to their use in large scale screening of porcine serum samples. The Elisa test was found to be the most suitable on the grounds of sensitivity, speed and cost.

SUMMARY Porcine serum or 5% dextrose in physiological saline was injected at different levels by the intraperitoneal route into normal neonatal piglets. Since tolerance to commercial anti-erysipelas serum was very restricted, serum from slaughter pigs was sterilized with 99% beta-propiolactone (BPL). This serum was tolerated at least as well as the dextrose-saline mixture. No mortality occurred when piglets were injected with either the dextrose-saline or the BPL-sterilized porcine serum at 8% of their body weight administered in equally divided doses 8 h apart and repeated 24 h later.

The antibodies in serum samples from an outbreak of low-virulent hog cholera in Spielbach, West Germany, 1966, as well as serum samples from pigs inoculated with hog cholera (HG) virus and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus, respectively, were examined by means of 3 different methods: A good correlation was found in their ability to detect the antibodies. Generally neutralizing antibodies could be found 2 weeks after inoculation. By CF and PLA antibodies could be detected at the same time or up to 2 weeks later. All sera were tested by the 3 methods against both HG viral antigen and BVD viral antigen. HC-antibodies could not be distinguished from BVD-antibodies by CF but to a certain degree by PLA. BVD-antibodies could to a certain degree be distinguished from HG-antibodies by CF but not by PLA. This means that CF and PLA together provide a good possibility for differentiation between the two types of antibodies. NPLA could to a high degree of reliability distinguish between HG-antibodies and BVD-antibodies.

During the period 1 April 1983 to 31 July 1984, 214,700 swine were processed in a slaughterhouse in Poznań, Poland. Of these pigs, 122 (0.057%) exhibited macroscopical kidney changes typical for mycotoxic porcine nephropathy. Ochratoxin A was found in kidneys from 52 of these pigs. Porcine serum samples not biased for nephropathy were collected at random in the same slaughterhouse. Of 388 samples, 148 exhibited ochratoxin A residues from 1 to 520 ng/ml. Significant increases in nephropathy and ochratoxin A frequencies were observed during the spring of 1984.

In two radioimmunoassay systems with iodinated human growth hormone as tracer and anti-human growth hormone or anti-porcine growth hormone as binding site, the standard curves for human and for porcine growth hormone were parallel. In both systems the porcine growth hormone preparation had to be added in about the same excess as compared to the human hormone. It was concluded that the human and the porcine hormones behave in an identical way and that the values obtained in radioimmunoassay for human growth hormone represent the amount of immunologically active molecules in the porcine growth hormone preparation. As parallel standard curves were obtained with porcine serum, the concentration of growth hormone is porcine serum may be determined by radioimmunoassay for human growth hormone.

Summary The development of indirect haemagglutinins against M. hyopneumoniae in serum and tracheobronchial secretions was investigated in experimentally inoculated pigs. IHA-antibodies against M. hyopneumoniae were demonstrated in serum 2–4 weeks p. i. and reached maximum levels about 8–9 weeks p. i. Immunochemical characterization of the serum antibody response in one pig showed that the IHA-antibodies were both IgG and high molecular IgA. IHA-antibodies were present in tracheobronchial secretions of all pigs investigated 2 weeks p. i. These pigs and 2 pigs investigated 4 weeks p. i. had IHA-titres in the tracheobronchial secretion without having detectable amounts of antibodies in serum. Immunochemical characterization of this early antibody response in one pig showed that the IHA-antibodies were high molecular IgA probably secretory IgA. Later in the experiment the IHA-titres in tracheobronchial secretions were as high as or higher than those found in serum. When the experiment was finished at 13 weeks p. i. the IHA-antibodies in tracheobronchial secretions of one pig investigated were predominantly high molecular IgA. Zusammenfassung Immunreaktionen im Serum und Tracheobronchialsekret von experimentell mit Mycoplasma hyopneumonia infizierten Schweinen An experimentell infizierten Schweinen ist die Entwicklung von Antikorpertitern gegen M. hyopneumonias untersucht worden. Zum Nachweis der Antikorperwerte wurde der indirekte Hamagglutinationstest (IHA) verwendet. 2–4 Wochen p. inf. konnten Antikorper bereits im Serum nachgewiesen werden. Die Serumtiter erreichten in der 8. und 9. Woche ihren Hohepunkt. Die immunochemische Charakterisierung der Serumantikorper eines Schweines zeigte, das die IHA-Titer von IgG und hoch-molekularen IgA gebildet wurden. Im Tracheobronchialsekret liesen sich IHA-Antikorper bei allen Schweinen ab der 2. Woche p. inf. nachweisen. Diese Tiere, sowie 2 Schweine, die in der 4. Woche p. inf. untersucht worden waren, besasen noch keine Serumantikorper. Immunochemisch wurde festgestellt, das diese fruhen Antikorper im Tracheobronchialsekret ausschlieslich hochmolekulare, wahrscheinlich sekretorische IgA waren. Im weiteren Verlauf der Versuche waren die IHA-Titer im Tracheobronchialsekret entweder genauso hoch oder hoher als im Serum. Schlieslich ist in der 13. Woche p. inf. nochmals das Tracheobronchialsekret eines Schweines untersucht worden. Auch dieses Sekret enthielt vorwiegend hochmolekulare IgA. Resume Reactions immunitaires dans le serum et la secretion tracheobronchiale chez des porcs infectes experimentalement avec Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae On a examine le titre des anticorps contre M. hyopneumoniae chez des porcs infectes experimentalement. On a utilise le test d'inhibition de l'hemagglutination (IHA) pour la recherche des anticorps. On a pu montrer la presence d'anticorps dans le serum deja 2–4 semaines apres l'infection. Les titres serologiques ont atteint leur maximum dans la 8eme et 9eme semaine. La caracterisation immunochimique des anticorps seriques d'un porc a montre que le titre d'inhibition de l'hemagglutination dependait des Ig G et des IG A a poids moleculaire eleve. Les anticorps inhibant l'hemagglutination ont ete trouves dans la secretion tracheobronchiale chez tous les porcs des la 2eme semaine apres l'infection. Ces animaux et 2 porcs, examines 4 semaines apres l'infection, ne possedaient encore aucun anticorps serique. L'analyse immunochimique a etabli que ces anticorps precoces des secretions tracheobronchiales etaient exclusivement d'un poids moleculaire eleve et vraisemblablement des Ig A de secretion. Les titres des anticorps inhibang l'hemagglutination des secretions tracheobronchiales furent au cours des recherches soit aussi elves soit plus eleves que ceux des anticorps seriques. On a enfin encore examine la secretion tracheobronchiale d'un porc dans la 13eme semaine apres l'infection: cette secretion contenait avant tout des Ig A de poids moleculaire eleve. Resumen Reaccion inmunologica en el suero sanguineo y secrecion traqueobronquial de cerdos infectados experimentalmente con Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae En cerdos infectados experimentalmente se estudio el desarrollo de los titulos de anticuerpos frente a M. hyopneumoniae. Para la deteccion de los valores de anticuerpos se utilizo la prueba de hemoaglutinacion indirecta (HAI). De 2–4 semanas p. inf. ya se pudieron identificar anticuerpos en el suero sanguineo. Los titulos sericos alcanzaron su fastigio durante la 8° y 9° semana. La caracterizacion inmunoquimica de los anticuerpos sericos de un cerdo revelo que los titulos HAI eran formados por IgG e IgA polimolecular. En la secrecion traqueobronquial se pudieron identificar anticuerpos HAI en todos los cerdos a partir de la 2° semana p. inf. Estos animales, asi como 2 cerdos que se examinaron en la 4° semana p. inf., aun no poseian anticuerpos sericos. Se comprobo inmunoquimicamente que estos anticuerpos precoces en la secrecion traqueobronquial eran exclusivamente IgA polimolecular, tal vez secretorio. En el curso subsiguiente de los ensayos eran los titulos HAI en la secrecion traqueobronquial bien igual o mas elevados que en el suero sanguineo. Por ultimo, se analizo de nuevo en la semana 13° p. inf. la secrecion traqueobronquial de un cerdo. Tambien esta secrecion contenia sobre todo IgA polimolecular.