INFLUENCE OF ORGANIC SELENIUM ON RABIES HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE OF EWES

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of mineral supplementation with organic selenium (Se) on rabies humoral immune response in ewes. It was randomly selected 18 Texel ewes without antirabic vaccination in the last 12 months and divided into 2 groups: treated group (TG) supplemented with a mineral mixture additioned of organic selenium and immunized against rabies and a control group (CG) supplemented with mineral mixture without organic selenium addition and immunized. Determination of Se serum was obtained by the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in two moments, the title and the persistence of anti-rabies neutralizing antibodies in five times by the Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT). The mean values found in D210 GSH-Px were higher in TG with 981.8 ± 105.2 U/g Hb and 628.2 ± 188.2 U/g Hb in the CG (p-value < 0.001). The mean values of titers of anti-rabies neutralizing antibodies 30 days after primary vaccination, demonstrated statistically similar titles in the GT and GC, 1,020 IU/ mL in GT and 1,885 IU/ mL CG. Oral mineral supplementation of organic selenium during 210 days did not enhance the humoral immune response and persistence of evidence of rabies neutralizing antibodies, however caused increased serum retention of selenium in ewes.