STUDY OF EFFECT OF ANTIBODIES IN INTESTINAL TRACT OF GERM-FREE BABY PIGS

The effect of antibodies in the intestinal tract was studied in germ-free baby pigs whose intestinal barrier was closed to macromolecules by the peroral administration of modified cow's milk for the first 72 hours after birth. They were then all contaminated with the pathogenic strain Escherichia coli 055 in amounts of 109 bacterial cells per animal. The controls, which were not given any antibodies, all died within 24 hours. All the experimental animals given 12.5-50ml immune colostrum or serum survived, while of those given 50ml normal serum or colostrum containing natural antibodies reacting with the Escherichia coli test strain, 50% survived. No circulating antibodies were found in the serum of the experimental animals after the administration of serum or colostrum. The antibodies present in colostrum thus appear to protect the newborn organism directly in the intestinal tract, which is the first site of bacterial invasion, as well as after infiltration into the blood stream. © 1968 Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.