Abstract
Expression of acquired immunity to gastrointestinal parasites usually breaks down during the periparturient period, which is characterised by an increased worm burden and nematode egg excretion. A possible nutritional basis of this phenomenon has been addressed in a rat model, as lactating rats exhibit a breakdown of immunity to the gastrointestinal nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Houdijk et al., 2005). Indeed, increasing protein supply and reducing protein demand at times of protein scarcity improved resistance to N. brasiliensis (Houdijk et al., 2005; Normanton et al., 2006) but did not affect associated local immune responses. The latter may have been due to the single sampling point used. Therefore, the objective of the current experiment was to assess temporal effects of increased protein supply on resistance and immune responses to N. brasiliensis in lactating rats.
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