Effect of different levels of whole corn germ on energy values and ileal digestibility in broilers.

This study evaluated the effects of broiler age (A) and levels of replacement (L) of control diet (CD) on the utilization of energy and nutrients of whole corn germ. 720 one-day-old broilers (b) were allocated at completely randomized design to six treatments and six replicates, in three assays: pre-starter (1-8 days, 10 b/cage), starter (15-22 days, 6 b/cage), and grower (28-35 days, 4 b/cage) phases. The treatments were: CD and four test diets (L): 100, 150, 200, 250, or 300 g kg-1 of the CD replaced by WCG levels. The data were adjusted to the response surface model. The stationary points for apparent energy metabolizable (AME) and AME corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) were: 4173 and 3591 kcal kg-1, respectively, and coefficients of gross energy (AMCGE), crude protein (AMCCP), dry matter (AMCDM), and ether extract (AMCEE) were: 49.3, 40.4, 72.6, and 61.3%, respectively; and Ileal digestibility coefficient of crude protein (IDCCP), dry matter (IDCDM), digestibility crude protein values (DCP), and digestibility dry matter value (DDM) were: 78.0, 57.96, 8.50, and 56.17%, respectively. The EP for AMEn was at 18 days of age, 28 g kg-1 WCG. There was a correlation between A and L on digestibility and metabolisability of nutrient's WCG.

Maternal Immunization with Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine: Persistence of Maternal Antibodies in Infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level and the persistence of maternal antibodies in infants after maternal immunization with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pn23V). METHODS: Pregnant women were assigned to two groups, during routine low-risk pre-natal visits. The first Group (VAC) received the Pn23V vaccine shortly after enrolment at 28 weeks or later, and the second Group (NO_VAC) received no vaccine. To investigate the antibody persistence, we collected blood samples from the mothers after 1 month of delivery and from the infants at 1 and 6 months of age. RESULTS: Antibody titers were measured for serotypes 1, 6B and 14. Geometric mean antibody concentrations of specific immunoglobulin G were significantly higher in the vaccinated group compared with unvaccinated controls for all three serotypes tested. CONCLUSION: Despite the antibody level's decline, at 6 months of age, proportions >0.35 µg/ml remained higher in the infants of vaccinated mothers than controls for all three serotypes.

Pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage in infants of mothers immunized with 23V non-conjugate pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

To assess the effects of maternal immunization on pneumococcal colonization in infants, pregnant women were assigned into three groups. The group Pregn Vac received the Pn23V during pregnancy, the group Puerp Vac received vaccine during immediate puerperium and the group No Vac received no vaccine. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected at 3 and 6 months. A total of 150 pregnant women were selected during the prenatal period. The proportion of pneumococcal carriage in at least one evaluation was in group Pregn Vac 22.2% (10/45), group Puerp Vac 23.4% (11/47) and group No Vac 21.2% (10/47), respectively. The most frequently isolated serotype in group Puerp Va and group No Vac was 6B and 6A. In the Pregn Vac, the most important serotype was 19F. Although this study was unable to demonstrate any effect of maternal vaccination in reducing pneumococcal colonization, reduction of colonization for serotype 6B in infants may be an important effect.