2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

A total of 7 age-matched clinically healthy laboratory reared young adult beagles housed in a research facility were chosen for study. Blood in EDTA and serum were collected from each dog prior to supplementation and then monthly for 12 weeks. Flow cytometry was used to measure percentage of B cells expressing surface bound IgG or MHCII, the percentage of CD4 + T cells expressing MHCII, and the percentage of CD8 T cells expressing MHCII or CD11a. For each of these molecules, the amount of surface expression was also determined by calculating the geometric mean fluorescence index (GMFI). T lymphocyte proliferative responses of all dogs to a non-specific mitogen (Concanavalin A) were assessed by flow cytometry and the ratio between proliferation of unstimulated cells and stimulated cells determined. Sera were assessed for a panel of cytokines using a commercially available kit (Milliplex MAP Canine Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel; EMD Millipore). Differences between groups was assessed with significance defined as P < 0.05.