author(s)
Awni KJ, Alwan MJ and Afaf Abdulrahman Yousif

abstract
This study was designed to detect the efficiency of immunization with culture filtrated antigen (CFAg) and whole sonicated antigen (WSAg) prepared from a local strain of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and improvement of the fertility in female. Eighty female mice were divided into 4 groups equally: Group1 & G2 of mice were immunized with (CFAg) & (WSAg) respectively at dose 0.3 ml subcutaneously in Two doses, 2 weeks interval of each Ag. Group 3 served as a control. At 28 days post immunization skin test was done, then at 30 days blood sample used for the serum interferon Ƴ Elisa test. The mice in G1, G2, and G3 were challenged virulent C. pseudotuberculosis (5×10⁹) CFU/ ml I/P. At 30 days post infection, 10 mice from each group were scarified to determine serum hormones (estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH), record the numbers of ovarian follicles, in addition to this; small pieces from ovary, oviduct and uterus were processed for histopathology. The results revealed that the antigens stimulate cellular immunity in immunized mice. The serum levels of estrogen, progesterone were high and FSH and LH were low levels in G3 as compared with those good values of G1 & G2 in addition, there is variation in the number of types of ovarian follicles between the mice groups. This study concluded that immunization with C. pseudotuberculosis antigens leads to increase immunity that lead to protect of genital female organs in immunized mice in comparison with infected mice which caused different changes which may lead to infertility.