Camel (Camelus dromedarius) immunoglobulin G, alpha-lactalbumin, serum albumin and lactoferrin in colostrum and milk during the early post partum period.
Colostrum and milk samples from twelve Tunisian camels were analysed for concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG), alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-la), serum albumin (CSA) and lactoferrin throughout the first 14 milkings post partum (7 days of lactation) using single radial immunodiffusion assay. Concentrations (mg/ml, means+/-SD) at first milking were IgG, 100.7+/-60.4; alpha-la, 2.2+/-0.7; CSA, 8.5+/-3.6 and lactoferrin, 1.2+/-0.3. Large variations were recorded for IgG and CSA concentrations (11.8-211.1 mg/ml and 2.9-13.8 mg/ml respectively) Concentrations of IgG and CSA dropped abruptly in the subsequent milkings while alpha-la concentration increased until milking 5 and then decreased slowly. Lactoferrin dropped only from milking 7. Mean IgG concentrations were 3.6 and 2.5 mg/ml at milking 9 and 13 respectively. However, IgG concentration did not differ significantly, at the 1% level, from milkings 11 to 14. The contribution of CSA to the increase in whey proteins in early milks was greater than that described in the bovine and caprine species.
Arid Land Institute, Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, 4119 Medenine, Tunisia.
Halima
H
El-Hatmi
Annie
A
Levieux
Didier
D
Levieux
D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000032:analysis; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D000067816:Whey Proteins
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008894:Milk Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D007768:Lactalbumin; D007781:Lactoferrin