Volume 11
Issue 4
Veterinary Medicine
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume11/issue4/abs-32.html
THE LEVEL OF VITAMIN D-BINDING PROTEIN (DBP) IN SERUM OF FOALS*
Jan P. Madej
Department of Veterinary Prevention and Immunology,
Department and Clinic of Obsterics, Ruminant Diseases and Animal Health Care,
Wroclaw University of Environmental Sciences, Poland
ABSTRACT
Vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) facilitates removing of
actin from circulation, takes part in transport of vitamin D and its derivatives
and participates in immunological response. There were estimated the concentrations
of DBP in serum of foals: in 36-48th hour after birth (after intake
of colostrum), in 3-4th week of life and from weaned foals (8-9th month
of life). The samples were collected in four foaling seasons. Results indicate
that the highest concentration of serum DBP was observed in the group of 3-4
weeks old foals. The serum DBP level is similar in 8-9 months old foals and adult
horses. It is probable that physiological increase of serum DBP concentration
in 3-4th week of foal's life could
be connected with significant decrease of colostral passive
immunity acquired in the early life by colostrum ingestion. This study also provides
serum DBP level in healthy foals as a reference for further investigations of
the possible use of DBP as disease biomarker.
Key words: vitamin D-binding protein, DBP, Gc globulin, foal, ELISA.
Jan P. Madej
Department of Veterinary Prevention and Immunology,
Department and Clinic of Obsterics, Ruminant Diseases and Animal Health Care,
Wroclaw University of Environmental Sciences, Poland
Norwida 31, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
email: jan_madej@interia.pl
Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.