Eight Beagle dogs were inoculated intrabronchially with 5 x 10(9) live, avirulent cells of Bordetella bronchiseptica L-414 strain (phase I cells) (B. bronchiseptica) to investigate the serum levels of their C-reactive protein, the white blood cell counts, the antibody responses to B. bronchiseptica in the sera and tracheal secretions, and the effects of prednisolone given to four of the dogs on C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC) and immune responses. In two Beagle dogs inoculated intrabronchially with sterile physiological saline, the concentrations of CRP and the WBC counts did not increase. CRP was markedly increased one day after inoculation in the dogs inoculated with B. bronchiseptica to 385.0-720.0 micrograms/ml (mean 498 +/- 132 micrograms/ml) in the group given the B. bronchiseptica inoculation only, and to 372.0-649.0 micrograms/ml (mean 551 +/- 106 micrograms/ml) in the group treated with prednisolone following inoculation of B. bronchiseptica, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CRP levels were 23-95 times the pre-inoculation values, which indicated that prednisolone had no effect on the production of CRP. In the prednisolone-treated group, the WBC count increased and stayed at an increased level for approximately 12 days. An indirect fluorescent antibody test led to the detection of anti-B. bronchiseptica IgM and IgG antibodies in the sera from 5 days after B. bronchiseptica inoculation and S-IgA and IgG anti-B. bronchiseptica antibodies in the tracheal secretions on the day after the challenge exposure to B. bronchiseptica. The increase in CRP after challenge exposure to B. bronchiseptica was significantly (p < 0.05) smaller than that found after the first inoculation of B. bronchiseptica.

A capillary reversed passive latex agglutination test (capillary RPLA) was developed which allows quantification of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) within approximately 15 min. The logarithmic regression line (calibration curve) obtained after measuring each CRP concentration three times in twofold dilutions of a standard canine serum containing 222 micrograms/ml of CRP was y = 6.394 + 0.030x (r = 0.995). Capillary RPLA permitted quantification of CRP in the range 6.9-222 micrograms/ml. The coefficients of variation ranged from 10.28% to 12.40%. The recovery rates (percentage recovery) of CRP by capillary RPLA were within the range 87% to 106%. On measuring the CRP concentrations in sera from 78 dogs by capillary RPLA, single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), close correlations were demonstrated between SRID and capillary RPLA (y = 7.250 + 1.109x, r = 0.978), between SRID and ELISA (y = 3.042 + 1.059x, r = 0.967), and between capillary RPLA and ELISA (y = 1.778 + 0.929x, r = 0.962). Capillary RPLA may be considered useful as a routine biochemical technique for measurement of serum CRP concentration in the dog.

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The concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were evaluated in 1-, 3- and 18-month-old dogs (four of each age) that had been inoculated with turpentine oil. The CRP and AAG in 3-month-old and younger dogs subjected to surgery or inoculated with either Staphylococcus aureus or a viral vaccine were also evaluated. The average CRP concentration in the sera peaked 2 days after inoculation of turpentine oil. The peak CRP concentrations in 3- and 18-month-old dogs were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than those in 1-month-old dogs. The average AAG concentration in the sera peaked 4 days after inoculation of turpentine oil. No significant difference was found in AAG concentrations between any of the age groups. When experimentally inoculated with S. aureus or subjected to oophorohysterectomy, the CRP and AAG concentrations increased in 3-month-old dogs, but they increased little in 1-month-old dogs. The CRP and AAG in dogs inoculated with the viral vaccine did not increase. In dogs with fractures or subjected to percutaneous gastrostomy, the CRP and AAG concentrations correlated with the condition of dogs.

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