The formation of colostral immunity and its duration in calves during the first months of life

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a study on the formation of colostral immunity and the determination of its duration during the first months of life of calves according to the indications of the level of total IgG and antigen-specific antibodies to pathogens of рarainfluenza 3, respiratory syncytial infection and viral diarrhea of cattle. It has been established that blood serum of newborn calves does not contain antigen-specific immunoglobulins of class G to pathogens of viral diarrhea, respiratory syncytial infection and parainfluenza-3, and the level of total IgG is 2.2 ± 0.61 g/dm3. The concentration of total IgG is increased to 50.50 ± 6.33 g/dm3, and decreases to 27.25 ± 5.82 g/dm3 for 28 days, which contributes to the formation of the immunosuppressive state at the 7th day of a calf life. Starting from 35th day, there is an increase in the concentration of total IgG due to seroconverting of its own antibodies by the body of calves. Immunization of cows-mothers against viral diarrhea, respiratory syncytial infection and parainfluenza-3 contributes to the formation of antigen-specific colostral immunity in calves in the first days of life, which is preserved in diagnostic titers during 63 days after birth.