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.
El-Hatmi
Halima
H
Arid Land Institute, Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, 4119 Medenine, Tunisia.
Levieux
Annie
A
Levieux
Didier
D
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