PASSIVE IMMUNIZATIONS OF SUCKLING MICE AND INFANTS WITH BOVINE COLOSTRUM CONTAINING ANTIBODIES TO HUMAN ROTAVIRUS

After immunizing 8-month pregnant Holstein cows with the human rotavirus MO strain, cow colostrum containing neutralizing antibody to four different serotypes of human rotavirus, designated Rota colostrum, was obtained. Oral inoculation of human rotavirus MO strain into 5-day-old BALB/c mice causes gastroenteritis characterized by diarrhea. Using this small animal model, passive protection of suckling mice against human rotavirus infection was achieved with the use of Rota colostrum. Rota colostrum completely protected against rotavirus infection, but purified IgG and IgA obtained from Rota colostrum were unable to protect against infection. After grouping randomly 20 infants from a baby care center, 10 infants received 20 ml of Rota colostrum per day for 2 weeks and 10 control infants did not. Rotavirus-associated diarrhea developed in 7 of 10 infants in the control group. None of the three infants in the every day recipient group of Rota colostrum had such symptoms, and one of three infants in the every other day recipient group developed rotavirus-induced diarrhea. All four infants who received Rota colostrum after symptoms appeared developed diarrhea. Oral administration of Rota colostrum seems to be an effective and safe means of preventing diarrhea caused by human rotavirus infection.