Neonatal respiratory syncytial virus infection: role of transplacentally and breast milk-acquired antibodies.
The effect of transplacentally and breast milk-acquired antibodies on respiratory syncytial virus infection was studied in neonatal and 2-month-old cotton rats. Adult female rats infected intranasally with live virus regularly produced virus-specific antibodies in the serum, colostrum, and breast milk. By using foster feeding techniques, we showed that both transplacentally and breast milk-acquired antibodies were effective in reducing the replication of respiratory syncytial virus in the lungs of neonatal animals when they were challenged with live virus via the nasal route at 3 days of age. However, the protection provided by these antibodies was rather brief. There was no difference in the replication of respiratory syncytial virus in the lungs of 2-month-old animals that were delivered and nursed by seropositive (immunized) or seronegative (control) cotton rats.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D003411:Arvicolinae; D005260:Female; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines