Transplacental Transfer Of Maternal Antibodies Research Articles

Gamma-globulin foetal bovine sera: significance in virology.

IT has been generally accepted that the transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies to the foetus normally does not occur in species of Bovidae1–5. Nevertheless, many investigators have noted that pooled foetal bovine sera neutralize certain viruses and that the sera of 1 day old, colostrum-deprived calves occasionally contain γ-globulin. Not infrequently such findings have been attributed to the contamination of foetal serum with adult serum and to unobserved suckling of the newborn. In our investigations with certain bovine viruses we also have noted the appreciable, and apparently specific, virus neutralizing capacity of pooled foetal bovine sera procured from commercial sources. We have therefore examined the occurrence of γ-globulin in individual samples of foetal sera and evaluated the capacity of such sera to neutralize virus.

Congenital rubella. Clinicopathologic, virologic, and immunologic studies.

WHEN maternal rubella occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, rubella virus can be detected in products of conception, in the fetus throughout pregnancy, and in the infant for several months after birth. 1 Further, sera from children with the congenital rubella syndrome have been found to contain rubella neutralizing antibody in high titers. 2 Although these data clearly show that a state of immunologic tolerance does not exist, it is not known if the elevated levels of neutralizing antibody in the younger infant represent de novo synthesis of antibody by the infant or the transplacental transfer of maternal antibody. Following epidemic rubella occurring in the United States during the winter and spring of 1964, congenital rubella was observed in several centers. The neonatal syndrome consists of congenital heart disease, cataracts, hepatosplenomegaly, and thrombocytopenic purpura. It is the purpose of this report to present the significant clinical, hematologic, virologic, pathologic,

Isoimmune Neonatal Thrombocytopenic Purpura Clinical and Therapeutic Considerations

Abstract 1. Serologic tests utilizing complement fixation have allowed differentiation of isoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia from other forms of congenital thrombocytopenia. 2. The pathogenesis of the isoimmune disease involves fetal-maternal incompatibility of platelet antigens, and destruction of fetal platelets by a transplacental transfer of maternal antibody. 3. Three different platelet antigens have been implicated in neonatal purpura. None of these antigens correspond to known erythrocyte antigens, but two of the platelet antigens are shared by granulocytes and lymphocytes. 4. Review of the literature of probable isoimmune neonatal purpura and our own cases reveals that in untreated cases death occurs in approximately 12 per cent of cases, and platelet counts usually do not remain below 60,000/ mm.3 longer than 21 days. 5. In two of three instances in which neonatal thrombocytopenia was anticipated as a result of serologic tests done on the mothers, antepartum steroids may have benefited the infant. 6. Steroid therapy to the infant appears to shorten the duration of thrombocytopenia, and in one instance exchange transfusion led to immediate cessation of hemorrhage and rapid return of platelets to normal.

The Immunologic Behavior of Baby Pigs

Summary Colostrum-deprived pigs formed tetanus, but not diphtheria antibodies following intraperitoneal inoculation of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids at birth. Colostrum-fed pigs formed diphtheria antibodies after intraperitoneal inoculation of the toxoid at birth, but their antibody response to tetanus toxoid was depressed. The interpretation of these results is discussed in the light of the assumption that a degree of transplacental transfer of maternal antibody took place and that antibodies against tetanus, but not against diphtheria are present in the sow's blood. γ-Globulin was found in the serum of newborn, colostrum-deprived pigs.