Summary Protein and eicosanoid concentrations and procoagulant activity were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 32 Standardbred racehorses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD) and 6 control horses. Total protein, albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were high (P<0.05) in the BALF from horses with IAD, a finding consistent with exudation of plasma protein into the airway. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations also were increased (P<0.05) which may signify local immunoglobulin production. Difference was not detected in prostaglandin E2 and 6‐ketoprostaglandin F1α concentrations in BALF of IAD‐affected and control horses. Procoagulant activity was identified in the majority (66%) of BALF samples from IAD‐affected horses and was not detected in control horses. Natural human interferon‐alpha (nHuIFNα) (placebo, 50, 150, or 450 units) was administered orally for 5 days to IAD‐affected horses in a double‐blind, randomised block design. Total protein, IgG, and IgA concentrations in BALF were reduced (P<0.05) 8 days after administration of 50 u and 150 u nHuIFNα, and 15 days after administration of 50 u nHuIFNα. Procoagulant activity and albumin concentrations in BALF were lower 8 days after administration of 50 u nHuIFNα. Oral administration of low‐dose nHuIFNα appeared to ameliorate these parameters of lower respiratory tract inflammation in Standardbred racehorses with IAD.

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The relationship between serum minerals and stress and(or) disease has not been fully evaluated in beef cattle. Two trials were conducted to determine the changes in serum Cu and Zn during market-transit stress and(or) disease. Two additional trials were conducted to determine the changes in serum Cu and Zn after inoculation with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV), with one of the trials determining the changes in serum Ca and P. Trials 1 (n = 80) and 2 (n = 100) utilized calves that were handled through a normal market-transit system and transported 1,967 km to the feedlot. Trials 3 (n = 37) and 4 (n = 8) used calves that were sero-negative to IBRV and then challenged with 2.7 x 10(5) plaque-forming units of the virus. Serum samples were collected at specified intervals and serum minerals were measured for each trial. Serum Zn for morbid or IBRV-challenged calves was decreased by 34, 57, 29 and 15% (P less than .05) for the four trials, respectively, at peak morbidity. Serum Cu of morbid or IBRV-challenged calves increased 5, 15, 40 and 33% for the four trials, respectively, at peak morbidity. Feed intakes were lower during morbidity for market-transit trials and after IBRV inoculation. Lower feed intake could partially explain the decrease in serum Zn; however, when feed intake was held constant, serum Zn concentration still decreased. Serum Zn decreased and serum Cu increased during market-transit morbidity or after IBRV.