Specific immunoglobulins in serum of newborn lambs fed with a single dose of colostrum containing anti-peroxidase IgG

Abstract

The apparent efficiency of absorption and the decrease of specific colostral IgG after its passage into the blood stream were determined in newborn lambs fed with a single dose of colostrum containing anti-peroxidase IgG at 30 minutes, 12 hours and 24 hours after birth. When colostrum was given at 30 minutes after birth, a value of 16¶9 ° 4¶0 per cent of anti-peroxidase IgG ingested appeared in lamb circulation. This percentage was reduced to 9¶8 ° 0¶8 per cent when the feeding was done at 12 hours after birth and no specific IgG was detected in lambs fed at 24 hours after birth. The concentration of anti-peroxidase IgG in lambs’ serum declined quickly within 96 hours of age to about 48 per cent of the initial value, and afterwards the level decreased slowly reaching a value of 10 per cent at 32 days of age. This behaviour probably reflects the protein distribution and use of absorbed anti- peroxidase IgG.