Use of adult cat serum to correct failure of passive transfer in kittens.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of adult cat serum as an immunoglobulin supplement in kittens with failure of passive transfer.


METHODS
Randomized controlled study.


METHODS
11 specific pathogen-free queens and their 43 kittens.


METHODS
Kittens were removed from the queens at birth, prior to suckling colostrum, and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: colostrum-deprived, colostrum-fed, colostrum-deprived and administration of pooled adult cat serum i.p., and colostrum-deprived and administration of pooled adult serum s.c.. Colostrum-fed kittens were returned to the queen and allowed to suckle normally. Colostrum-deprived kittens were isolated from the queen and fed a kitten milk replacer for 2 days to prevent absorption of colostral IgG. All colostrum-deprived kittens were returned to the queen on day 3. Serum IgG concentrations were measured by radial immunodiffusion in the kittens at birth and 2 days and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after birth.


RESULTS
None of the kittens had detectable serum IgG at birth. Both i.p. and s.c. administration of adult cat serum resulted in peak serum IgG concentrations equivalent to those in kittens that suckled normally. Untreated colostrum-deprived kittens did not achieve serum IgG concentrations comparable to those for kittens in the other groups until 6 weeks of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that adult cat serum may be used as an immunoglobulin supplement in colostrum-deprived kittens. Although the minimum concentration of IgG necessary to protect kittens from infection is unknown, concentrations achieved were comparable to those in kittens that suckled normally.
Levy
J K
JK
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
Crawford
P C
PC
Collante
W R
WR
Papich
M G
MG
D000367:Age Factors; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000592:standards; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D007074:Immunoglobulin G