Use of immunoglobulin enriched bovine colostrum against oral challenge with enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in mice

• Published in: Microbiology and immunology Vol. 46; no. 11; p. 761
• Main Authors: Funatogawa, Kenji, Ide, Takayuki, Kirikae, Fumiko, Saruta, Katsutoshi, Nakano, Masayasu, Kirikae, Teruo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia 01.01.2002
• Subjects: Aging - immunology; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Cattle; Cecum - microbiology; Colony Count, Microbial; Colostrum - immunology; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Escherichia coli Infections - prevention & control; Escherichia coli O157 - drug effects; Escherichia coli O157 - pathogenicity; Escherichia coli Vaccines - immunology; Female; Immunoglobulins - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Streptomycin - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0385-5600
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2002.tb02761.x

An immunoglobulin enriched bovine colostrum preparation, IMMULAC (New Zealand Dairy Group, Cambridge, New Zealand), contains antibodies against various bacterial antigens. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of a commercial bovine colostrum preparation against infections with enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 in a murine model. Balb/c mice were given drinking water containing streptomycin for 3 days before and following oral challenge with streptomycin-resistant EHEC O157:H7 strain (O157-SM(R)). In mice pretreated with streptomycin, EHEC O157:H7 maintained stable levels of bacterial colonization in the intestines for the 3-week experimental time period. Oral administration of colostrum resulted in rapid decrease in the bacteria numbers compared with administration of skim-milk. Colostrum showed no direct in vitro bactericidal properties against either EHEC O157:H7. When sections prepared from cecum walls of streptomycin-pretreated mice were incubated in vitro with EHEC O157:H7, the colostrum significantly prevented the attachment of the organisms to the sections when compared with skim-milk. These results indicate that oral administration of bovine colostrum effectively protects mice against food-borne infections by inhibiting bacterial attachment to the intestinal mucous membrane, colonization and growth in the intestinal tract.