ABILITY OF A NEW INFANT FORMULA PREPARED FROM PARTIALLY HYDROLYZED BOVINE WHEY TO INDUCE ANAPHYLACTIC SENSITIZATION - EVALUATION IN A GUINEA-PIG MODEL

In the present study we evaluated the allergenicity and immunogenicity of a whey partially hydrolysate formula (PHF) in a guinea pig model. Nine groups of 10 guinea pigs received either a conventional milk form ula (CMF) or PHF for 37 days. After intravenous (i.v.) challenge with either beta-lactoglobulin (beta-L) or ultracentrifuged (u)CMF, animals fed CMF showed, respectively, 80% and 100% fatal reactions, whereas a nimals fed PHF showed no reactions when i.v. challenged both with beta -L and uPHF. Eighty percent fatal reactions, and 10%, respectively, of severe and mild reactions have been observed in the CMF-fed, casein-c hallenge group. In contrast, only one (10%) mild reaction occurred in the PHF-fed, casein-challenged group. When challenged with u-pasteuriz ed cow's milk (uPCM), CMF-fed animals showed 86% fatal reactions and 1 4% mild reactions, whereas PHF-fed ones presented 70% no reactions, 20 % mild reactions, and one (10%) fatal reaction. Animals fed CMF showed a significantly higher level of specific IgG against cow's milk antig ens than PHF-fed ones, which, however, presented higher levels of anti bodies than a water-supplemented control group. The present results co nfirm that PHF is less sensitizing than CMF in a guinea pig model.