Transfer of antibodies to kittens from mother cats chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii.
By indirect immunofluorescence assay, anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody levels were examined in fetuses and kittens born from chronically infected cats. Titer of anti-T. gondii IgG in sera of kittens born from infected cats was significantly high on the seventh day post-birth, and decreased to a serologically non-detectable level at 8-12 weeks post-birth under continuous suckling of maternal milk. Littermates nursed by a non-infected cat showed a faster rate of IgG antibody depletion. In sera of fetuses obtained from infected cats, anti-T. gondii IgG titer was lower than that of offspring born from infected cats. Anti-T. gondii IgM titer was non-detectable in sera of all kittens and fetuses. Kittens born from infected cats inoculated with T. gondii oocysts on Day 35 after birth shed oocysts and showed a transient increase of anti-T. gondii IgM titer. Findings in this study suggest that anti-T. gondii antibody IgG in kittens is transferred mainly via colostrum and the kittens that receive maternal anti-T. gondii antibodies develop inadequate resistance to T. gondii infection.
Omata
Y
Y
Department of Veterinary Physiology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan.
Oikawa
H
H
Kanda
M
M
Mikazuki
K
K
Dilorenzo
C
C
Claveria
F G
FG
Takahashi
M
M
Igarashi
I
I
Saito
A
A
Suzuki
N
N
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M