EFFECTS OF PORCINE IMMUNE GLOBULIN ADMINISTRATION ON THE SURVIVAL AND SERUM PROTEIN COMPOSITION OF COLOSTRUM-DEPRIVED PIGS REARED IN A NON-ISOLATED ENVIRONMENT

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Abstract
Five experiments involving 90 newborn colostrum-deprived pigs were conducted in an attempt to develop a method of rearing applicable in a non-isolated environment. Immune globulins, prepared by ammonium sulphate fractionation of porcine serum, and comprised of a mixture of approximately 75 per cent γ-globulin and 25 per cent β-globulin, were administered orally or parenterally in varying amounts and for varying periods of time. In two experiments porcine albumin, in serum or in a semi-purified solution, was provided in addition to the immune globulins. The distribution of serum proteins in the pigs was studied from birth to 12 weeks of age by paper strip electrophoresis.Parenteral administration of immune globulins did not provide an effective passive immunity, nor did oral administration for 1 day post-partum. A marked improvement in survival occurred when oral administration was continued for 5 days, and it was further found that this treatment provided apparently complete protection against infection during the 5-day period of administration. Albumin appeared to further improve survival.These results, together with the relatively poor survival obtained with positive control pigs (nursed 24 hours) suggested a continuing need for a supply of immune globulins in the lumen of the intestinal tract. Presumably these globulins were active as coproantibodies.The percentage survival in pigs weighing 3 pounds or more at birth was substantially higher than in smaller pigs. Mortality in these experiments was usually attributable to colibacillosis.Serum immune globulin levels at 2 days of age in the artificially reared pigs were elevated in proportion to the amount of globulins given. The effect of albumin was to create a serum protein pattern resembling that of suckled pigs. A marked decline in γ-globulin levels from 2 days to approximately 6 weeks was observed.