Clin. exp. Immunol. (1978) 33, 136-141.
Serum immunoglobulins in aborted and non-aborted bovine foetuses W. A. ELL I S, E. F. LOGA N & J. J. O'BR IEN Veterinary Research Laboratories, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast Northern Ireland
(Received 20 February 1978)
SUMMARY
The concentration of immunoglobulin classes G, M and A (IgG, IgM and IgA) in the sera of 233 aborted and 201 non-aborted foetuses was measured. IgM was first detected in a foetus at day 90 of gestation while IgG and IgA were first detected on day 111 of gestation. Immunoglobulins were detected in 81-5% of aborted foetuses and 32 8% of non-aborted foetuses. Total immunoglobulin concentrations of 20 mg/100 ml or greater were found in 35-2% of aborted foetuses but only in 4-5 % of non-aborted foetuses. It is suggested that factors resulting in antigenic stimulation of the foetus may play an important part in bovine abortion.
INTRODUCTION There is believed to be no transplacental transfer of immunoglobulins from cow to bovine foetus (Brambell, 1970), therefore any immunoglobulins found in a foetus result from an active immune response by the foetus to antigenic stimulus, and specific antibodies to a variety of antigens have been demonstrated in foetal sera (Schultz, 1973). Single radial immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis studies of the sera of non-aborted foetuses and precolostral newborn calves have shown that some foetuses and newborn calves have detectable levels of immunoglobulin (Kniazeff, Rimer & Gacta, 1967; Klaus, Bennett & Jones, 1969; Penhale & Christie, 1969; Schultz, Confer & Dunne, 1971; Horner et al., 1973). Sawyer et al., (1973) carried out a quantitative study of IgG and IgM values in the sera of naturally and experimentally infected foetuses, abattoir foetuses and precolostral calves and found markedly higher immunoglobulin values, especially of IgG, in the infected foetuses. They suggested that the presence of increased immunoglobulin concentrations may be the first indication of foetal infection, occurring even before specific antibodies are produced. Subsequently, Miller & Quinn (1975) and Kirkbride, Martinovich & Woodhouse (1977) found IgG and IgM in a greater proportion of aborted foetuses than non-aborted foetuses. While Miller & Quinn, (1975) found IgM to occur most commonly, Kirkbride et al., (1977) found IgG to be present most frequently and usually in larger concentrations than IgM. In this report a quantitative study has been made of IgG, IgM and IgA levels in the sera of naturally aborted foetuses and non-aborted foetuses.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Foetuses. Blood samples were taken from the heart, aorta and posterior vena cava of 233 aborted foetuses collected dnring a bovine abortion field study. Blood samples were also obtained from 201 non-aborted control foetuses which were supplied by two local abattoirs. The separated serum was stored at -20°C until immunoglobulin determinations were carried out. The exact age of many of the aborted foetuses was known, whilst the ages of the other foetuses were estimated from crown-rump measurements and body weights (Committee on Bovine Reproductive Nomenclature, 1972). All foetuses in the study had a gestational age of 90 or more days. Correspondence: Dr W. A. Ellis, Veterinary Research Laboratories, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland. 0099-9104/78/0700-0136$02.00 (0 1978 Blackwell Scientific Publications
136
Immunoglobulins in bovine foetuses
137
Quantitative and qualitative immunoglobulin determinations. Immunoglobulin determinations were carried out using the single radial immunodiffusion method of Fahey & McKelvey (1965). Bovine IgG and IgM were isolated and their specific antisera prepared as previously described by Penhale & Christie (1969). The preparation of bovine secretory IgA and its specific antiserum was similar to the method of Logan & Penhale (1972). Total immunoglobulin values were calculated by the addition of IgG, IgM and IgA values for each foetus.
RESULTS Stage ofgestation at which immunoglobulin wasfirst detected IgM was first detected in the serum of a non-aborted foetus whose gestational age was approximately 90 days. IgG and IgA were detected in an aborted foetus with a gestational age of 111 days and in two non-aborted foetuses of approximately 90-120 days. Prevalence ofimmutnoglobulins infoetuses A significantly higher proportion (P
Serum immunoglobulins in aborted and non-aborted bovine foetuses W. A. ELL I S, E. F. LOGA N & J. J. O'BR IEN Veterinary Research Laboratories, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast Northern Ireland
(Received 20 February 1978)
SUMMARY
The concentration of immunoglobulin classes G, M and A (IgG, IgM and IgA) in the sera of 233 aborted and 201 non-aborted foetuses was measured. IgM was first detected in a foetus at day 90 of gestation while IgG and IgA were first detected on day 111 of gestation. Immunoglobulins were detected in 81-5% of aborted foetuses and 32 8% of non-aborted foetuses. Total immunoglobulin concentrations of 20 mg/100 ml or greater were found in 35-2% of aborted foetuses but only in 4-5 % of non-aborted foetuses. It is suggested that factors resulting in antigenic stimulation of the foetus may play an important part in bovine abortion.
INTRODUCTION There is believed to be no transplacental transfer of immunoglobulins from cow to bovine foetus (Brambell, 1970), therefore any immunoglobulins found in a foetus result from an active immune response by the foetus to antigenic stimulus, and specific antibodies to a variety of antigens have been demonstrated in foetal sera (Schultz, 1973). Single radial immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis studies of the sera of non-aborted foetuses and precolostral newborn calves have shown that some foetuses and newborn calves have detectable levels of immunoglobulin (Kniazeff, Rimer & Gacta, 1967; Klaus, Bennett & Jones, 1969; Penhale & Christie, 1969; Schultz, Confer & Dunne, 1971; Horner et al., 1973). Sawyer et al., (1973) carried out a quantitative study of IgG and IgM values in the sera of naturally and experimentally infected foetuses, abattoir foetuses and precolostral calves and found markedly higher immunoglobulin values, especially of IgG, in the infected foetuses. They suggested that the presence of increased immunoglobulin concentrations may be the first indication of foetal infection, occurring even before specific antibodies are produced. Subsequently, Miller & Quinn (1975) and Kirkbride, Martinovich & Woodhouse (1977) found IgG and IgM in a greater proportion of aborted foetuses than non-aborted foetuses. While Miller & Quinn, (1975) found IgM to occur most commonly, Kirkbride et al., (1977) found IgG to be present most frequently and usually in larger concentrations than IgM. In this report a quantitative study has been made of IgG, IgM and IgA levels in the sera of naturally aborted foetuses and non-aborted foetuses.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Foetuses. Blood samples were taken from the heart, aorta and posterior vena cava of 233 aborted foetuses collected dnring a bovine abortion field study. Blood samples were also obtained from 201 non-aborted control foetuses which were supplied by two local abattoirs. The separated serum was stored at -20°C until immunoglobulin determinations were carried out. The exact age of many of the aborted foetuses was known, whilst the ages of the other foetuses were estimated from crown-rump measurements and body weights (Committee on Bovine Reproductive Nomenclature, 1972). All foetuses in the study had a gestational age of 90 or more days. Correspondence: Dr W. A. Ellis, Veterinary Research Laboratories, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland. 0099-9104/78/0700-0136$02.00 (0 1978 Blackwell Scientific Publications
136
Immunoglobulins in bovine foetuses
137
Quantitative and qualitative immunoglobulin determinations. Immunoglobulin determinations were carried out using the single radial immunodiffusion method of Fahey & McKelvey (1965). Bovine IgG and IgM were isolated and their specific antisera prepared as previously described by Penhale & Christie (1969). The preparation of bovine secretory IgA and its specific antiserum was similar to the method of Logan & Penhale (1972). Total immunoglobulin values were calculated by the addition of IgG, IgM and IgA values for each foetus.
RESULTS Stage ofgestation at which immunoglobulin wasfirst detected IgM was first detected in the serum of a non-aborted foetus whose gestational age was approximately 90 days. IgG and IgA were detected in an aborted foetus with a gestational age of 111 days and in two non-aborted foetuses of approximately 90-120 days. Prevalence ofimmutnoglobulins infoetuses A significantly higher proportion (P
