Medycyna Wet. 64 (7), 934-938, 2008
| Chmielowiec – Korzeniowska A., Babicz M., Drabik A. |
| Development of the immunoglobulin level in the serum of fatteners against the air microbial pollutants in the fattening house |
| The objective of the present study was to evaluate the activity of fatteners` immune system through the determination of changes in the serum immunoglobulin levels against the background of the microbial pollutants in the fattening house air. The studies performed revealed a very high level of microbial exposure in the air of a fattening house, where the total count of mesophylic bacteria reached the 2.5 x 106 CFU/m3 level. A high contribution of Gram-negative bacteria was established, whose mean concentration in the air was 5.2 x 103 CFU/m3. The first experimental series showed the immune activity level to be stable and similar in all the investigated animal groups. Age-dependent differences were noted within each class, the most marked within class G proteins. Moreover, the immunoglobulin concentrations differed statistically between the animal groups assessed and the differences referred mainly to the class M and G immunoglobulin. A level of IgA determined at similar levels may imply that, irrespective of a genotypic structure, a local humoral response of the animals was activated with the same force. A stable and high level of IgG concentration may prove the production of the secondary humoral immune response in fatteners. A simultaneous sustaining growth of IgA and IgM antibodies suggested that throughout the fattening period, the animals were exposed to ever newer antigens. |
| Key words: immunoglobulin, air microbial pollution, pig |