Passive immunity to bovine rotavirus in newborn calves fed colostrum supplements from immunized or nonimmunized cows

Abstract

Colostrum was collected and pooled from each of five cows in three experimental groups: group I cows received intramuscular and intramammary inoculations of adjuvanted modified live Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center rotavirus vaccine; group II cows were injected intramuscularly with a commercial modified-live rota-coronavirus vaccine; and group III cows were uninoculated controls. Pooled colostrum from group I cows had higher (P less than 0.05) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) immunoglobulin G (IgG1) and virus neutralization (VN) rotavirus antibody titers (ELISA IgG1 = 2,413,682; VN = 360,205) than did colostrum from group II (ELISA IgG1 = 8,192; VN = 4,395) or group III cows (ELISA IgG1 = 5,916; VN = 2,865). The antibody titers of these last two colostrum pools did not differ (P greater than 0.05). Samples of these colostrum pools were fed as daily supplements (percent [vol/vol] in cow's milk infant formula) to 28 newborn, unsuckled, antibody-seronegative, male Holstein calves. Eight calves received no supplemental colostrum. The calves were orally challenged with virulent bovine rotavirus and monitored daily for diarrhea and fecal rotavirus shedding. Diarrhea and rotavirus shedding occurred in the eight calves fed no supplemental colostrum and persisted longest in this group. The pooled colostrum from group I cows protected eight of eight calves from both rotavirus diarrhea and shedding when fed as a 1% supplement. The pooled colostrum from neither group II nor group III cows protected 12 other calves against rotavirus diarrhea or shedding when fed at the same concentration (1%). Six rotavirus-challenged calves fed 0.1% supplemental colostrum from group I cows and two calves fed 10 and 50% supplemental colostrum from control cows displayed partial passive immunity, exemplified by delayed onset and shortened duration of rotavirus-associated diarrhea and virus shedding.

Equine rotaviruses—Current understanding and continuing challenges

“…Studies conducted in calves and lambs have shown that, while colostral antibody absorbed prior to gut closure may have a limited protective effect against rotaviral diarrhoea, maximal protection is achieved by the continued presence of neutralising antibodies in ingested milk, indicating that maximal protection from dam vaccination depends on induction of lactogenic immunity (Fahey et al, 1981;Parreno et al, 2010;Saif et al, 1983;Snodgrass et al, 1980). It is not clear from studies reported to date how effective any of the commercial vaccines are in inducing lactogenic immunity in mares.…”

Rotaviruses: Immunological Determinants of Protection Against Infection and Disease

“…Rotavirus replication in mature villus epithelial cells of the small intestine induces virus-specific B cells among intestinal lymphocytes that travel to the mammary gland (Goldblum et al, 1975). Therefore, colostrum and milk from animals exposed to wild-type viruses contain rotavirusspecific binding and neutralizing antibodies (Woode et al, 1975;Saif et al, 1983). Colostrum obtained from cows previously exposed to wildtype bovine rotavirus protected calves against rotavirus disease when fed in large quantities; smaller quantities of colostrum did not protect against severe disease (Snodgrass and Wells, l976,1978a,b;Saif et al, 1983).…”

Modulation by colostrum-acquired maternal antibodies of systemic and mucosal antibody responses to rotavirus in calves experimentally challenged with bovine rotavirus

“…Given the early susceptibility of calves to BRV infection, local passive Abs (IgG1 and IgA) in the gut lumen acquired through colostrum and milk play an important role in protection against BRV infection and disease (Saif et al, 1983(Saif et al, , 1987. In addition, high titers of passive circulating Abs have been shown to have a complementary role in protection against BRV diarrhea due to transfer of serum IgG1 into the intestine of neonatal calves (Besser et al, 1988a,b;Saif et al, 1983Saif et al, , 1987. A direct correlation between virus neutralizing (VN) Ab titers in serum of neonatal beef calves and protection against BRV disease under field conditions, has been described (Kohara and Tsunemitsu, 2000).…”

“…The kinetics of primary antibody responses of different isotypes to BRV, as well as VN Ab responses have been described in colostrum-fed and colostrumdeprived gnotobiotic and conventional calves (Fernandez et al, 1998;Saif et al, 1983Saif et al, , 1987Saif and Smith, 1985). However, the magnitude and distribution of antibody secreting cells (ASC) involved in the development of systemic and mucosal antibody-mediated immunity in the presence of passive maternal Abs, have not been evaluated in cattle.…”