ISD Immune Response from GSPCA

Immune Response from the GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER CLUB OF AMERICA

Acknowledgement of this article, which appeared in the GSP Club of America

Immunologists have learnt that various elements of an animals diet play an important role in development of the immune system.

For years, people in animal related work have talked about malnutrition and its effects on resistance on disease. Now they are looking at why this happens. Ronald Schultz Ph.D, professor and chairman of Department of Pathobiological Services at the school of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison said,

In an early study Dr Schultz learnt that diets deficient in selenium and vitamin E dramatically affects the immune response. Young animals are especially prone to this deficiency. Colostrum and milk from the female are low in vitamin E and selenium. At about two weeks of age, immunity received from the mother begins to wane. It is at that time the malnourished pup is at greatest risk, because its own immune system is not in full gear.
In immune-impaired dogs, even vaccination with live virus vaccine can cause disease. Improving the pups disease-fighting ability could reduce death rates in young pups.

Older animals, if they are on nutritionally adequate commercial food and have no digestive problems, which prevent absorption of the nutrients, seldom have deficiencies of selenium and vitamin E. (Feeding of rancid fat can impair absorption of vitamin E.) The scientists therefore will concern themselves mainly with pups just pre and post weaning.

During the study, they will examine different aspects of immunity to see if the problem lies in specific blood cells which are disease-fighters and also to determine if the impairment is at the level of a specific cell type, what the under laying mechanism may be. The deficiencies may affect all or only part of the immune system, which has several levels of over lapping protection.

Dr Schultz and co-investigators believe the most profound effect of the dietary deficiency is on the ability of lymphocytes cells in the blood, which protect against disease to respond to different stimuli. The membrane surrounding these cells seems to become more rigid and the cells are then unable to respond to microbial antigens, (disease producing organisms like bacteria, viruses and parasites.)

In earlier studies the scientists found an immunosuppressive substance in the serum of vitamin E and selenium deficient animals. Laboratory tests show that this substance seems to affect the lymphocyte membrane and suppress lymphocyte function.

They also saw a decrease in the response of lymphocytes to invasion by germs in Puppies at about 4 to 6 weeks of age, around the time of weaning. When these pups went onto nutritionally complete diets, the responsiveness of the lymphocytes increased.

Should the scientists be correct in their theory, that pups are in danger of being vitamin E and selenium defiant at weaning, Dr Schultz said it is simple to give supplements, either orally or by injection, to pups at about 3 to 4 weeks of age.

Vitamin E and selenium are not the solution to all disease-fighting however, the balance, Dr Schultz said is a delicate one. While supplements can enhance the immune response in all of the animals the team studied, an excess of the same supplement can depress the immune response, leaving the animal once again vulnerable to disease, and can even cause death if the level in the body is too high.

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