Passive Transfer of Antibodies to Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O26, O111 and O157 Antigens in Neonatal Calves by Feeding Colostrum

Abstract

To study whether or not passive immunity of neonatal calves against Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26, O111, and O157 was obtained by colostrum administration, serum antibodies in calves after the feeding were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in comparison with antibodies in colostrum and sera from donor dams. The highest antibody titers to STEC in colostrum from dams were detected soon after parturition. The antibody titers were found to be elevated in sera of neonatal calves (4-9 hr after birth) orally administered with colostrum with high antibody titers, suggesting that passive immunity of neonatal calves to STEC infection may be obtained by feeding colostrum. These results suggest that colostrum administration to neonatal calves may play an important role in elevating serum antibodies against STEC in neonatal calves.