The Effects of Germanium biotite Supplement as a
Prophylactic Agent against Respiratory Infection in Calves
Myunghwan Jung1, Bock-Gie Jung2,
Seung Bin Cha1, Min-Kyoung Shin1, Won-Jung Lee1,
Seung Won Shin1, Jin-A Lee2, Yeon-Kwon Jung3,
Bong-Joo Lee2 and Han Sang Yoo1*
1Department of Infectious Diseases, College of
Veterinary Medicine, KRF Zoonotic Disease Priority Research
Institute and Brain Korea 21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul
National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea; 2College of
Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, 300 Yongbong-dong,
Buk-gu, Gwangju 550-757, Korea; 3Seobong BioBestech. Co.,
Ltd., Hyechon Building #401, 831 Yeoksam-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul,
Korea *Corresponding author: yoohs@snu.ac.kr
Abstract
Germanium biotite, a natural mineral, is
comprised of mainly silicate. This mineral showed activities of increase in feed
efficiency and non-specific immunostimulation in previous studies. The aims of
the present study were to evaluate the prophylactic effects of germanium biotite
against respiratory diseases in calves as a feed supplement and investigate the
possibilities of the substitution of antibiotics with germanium biotite as feed
additive. To achieve these purposes, bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) and
Mannheimia haemolytica serotype A1
were experimentally inoculated into the calves. After challenge, germanium
biotite showed a lower cumulative clinical score (CCS) than the control group.
In accordance with these clinical results, enhanced clearance of BHV-1, a low
infection rate of Mannheimia haemolytica
serotype A1, tempered superficial lesions, and moderated histopathological signs
were observed in the germanium biotite group, compared with the control group.
The results of the present study indicated that germanium biotite had
prophylactic effects against bovine respiratory disease and could be a candidate
for a new alternative feed supplement in calves, through its effects as a non-specific immune stimulator.