ANTIBODIES TO A COLONIZATION FACTOR OF HUMAN ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA-COLI IN COWS MILK AND COLOSTRUM

This manuscript reports the finding of antibodies to the Colonization FactorAntigen I (CFA I) of human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in c ows' colostrum and milk. This colonization factor is responsible for t he adherence of certain strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli to the inte stinal epithelium and antibodies to this factor are known to have a pr otective effect. Samples of cows' milk and colostrum were examined for the presence of antibodies to CFA I, by agglutination inhibition and ELISA. Relative amounts of specific antibodies were estimated and comp ared to that found in samples of an immunoglobulin concentrate obtaine d from the milk of vaccinated cows. The concentrations of antibodies t o CFA I ranged from 0.55 to 5.2 mu g/ml in colostrum samples of non-va ccinated cows.