Measurement of immunoglobulin G, A and M concentrations in boar seminal plasma.
How the immune system relates to the boar reproductive tract is not well defined. This is an important area of study because disease-causing agents may be transmitted through boar semen. We have previously identified porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in boar semen and wanted to identify PRRSV-specific antibodies within seminal plasma. However, literature documenting total immunoglobulin concentration or the predominant immunoglobulin isotype in boar semen was not available. Therefore, we developed a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) to quantitate total IgG, IgA and IgM in seminal plasma from 16 healthy, nonvaccinated, adult boars (n = 102 semen samples). In seminal plasma, IgG was the predominant isotype followed by IgA and IgM. Mean levels +/- the standard deviation followed by the 95% confidence interval of IgG, IgA and IgM were 23.2 +/- 14 microg/mL (15.5 to 31.0), 4.8 +/- 2.5 microg/mL (3.5 to 6.2) and 3.7 +/- 1.7 microg/mL (2.7 to 4.7), respectively. These concentrations of immunoglobulins in seminal plasma were considerably lower than in other swine secretions, which might allow for the survival of infectious agents in boar semen.
Kaiser
T J
TJ
Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007, USA.
Christopher-Hennings
J
J
Nelson
E A
EA
D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology*
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M