STIMULATION OF ROTAVIRUS IGA, IGG AND NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES IN BABOON MILK BY PARENTERAL VACCINATION

A rhesus rotavirus vaccine adjuvanted with ISCOMs was injected intramu scularly to 5 pregnant baboons, with repented doses 1-2 and 14 weeks a fter delivery. Maternal blood and milk samples and blood samples from their babies were collected at 2-weekly, intervals until 26 weeks afte r parturition. Samples were assayed for rotavirus antibodies by ELISAs and neutralisation tests. Vaccination produced statistically, signifi cant increases in maternal serum IgG and neutralising antibodies, and in milk IgA, IgG, and neutralising antibodies. Control baboon mothers sampled from 12 weeks after delivery, had lower serum and milk antibod y titres, but responded to vaccination at 16 weeks by producing a simi lar antibody profile in serum and milk to those previously, vaccinated . Because of the endemic nature of human rotavir al infections, simila r maternal vaccinations have potential as a means of increasing milk a ntibodies to a level at which they may be protective to infants.