Medycyna Wet. 65 (4), 237-240, 2009
full text
| Pomorska – Mól M., Markowska-Daniel I. |
| Colostrum as a source of humoral and cellular immunity in newborn piglets |
| The way by which immunoglobulins and other components of passive immunity are transmitted to the fetuses and newborns is determined by the structure of the placenta. Because of the epitheliochorial nature of the porcine placenta the maternal immunity is transferred to piglets only with colostrum and milk. In fact, without colostrum piglets are immunologically defenseless. Along with the mammary secretion piglets receive elements of both the humoral immunity (antibodies, cytokines) and cellular immunity (lymphocytes, macrophages, epithelial cells). Immunoglobulins prevalent in colostrum, after their absorption within the first 24-36 hours of life, pass on to the blood and offer systemic immunological protection against pathogens. It seems they play an important role in regulation and active protection, mainly in the digestive tract, during the critical, postnatal period of life. It is probable also the immunological memory could be transmitted from mother to offspring in this way. |
| Keywords: pigs, colostrum, lactogenic immunity |