Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase and serum gamma-glutamil transferase activities in horses used for production of hyper immune sera.

The activities of leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (l-AP) and serum gamma-glutamil transferase (gamma-GT), and total leukocyte counts were determined in horses submitted to the production of hyper immune sera against tetanus (Clostridium tetani). The purpose of this work was to investigate the prospective changes of mentioned parameters in horses under the described circumstances. In addition, the suitability of these parameters in assessing the health condition of the same horses had to be evaluated. The average total leukocyte count increased in one month from the values considered as physiological (8.8 x 10(9)/L, Schalm et al. 1975) to the value of 12 x 10(9)/L and remained at this level up to the end of the trial. The I-AP activities fell after 30 days of the trial for 100 units, and showed permanent slight decreasing tendency thereafter. On the contrary, the serum gamma-GT activity was increasing gradually throughout the whole trial. The results indicate the possibility of reflecting the dynamics of intensified leukocyte metabolism in the course of its function within the chronic inflammation, and development of accompanying pathological changes in the liver. In addition, the initialisation period of pathological changes in the organism of horses in experiment could be between the fourth and sixth month following exposure to antigen.