V. Shkap et al., BOVINE BESNOITIOSIS - TRANSFER OF COLOSTRAL ANTIBODIES WITH OBSERVATIONS POSSIBLY RELATING TO NATURAL TRANSMISSION OF THE INFECTION, Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research, 61(3), 1994, pp. 273-275
Colostral antibodies to B. besnoiti were detected by immunofluorescenc
e in four calves born to two Besnoitia-infected dams, with titres rang
ing from 1:64 to 1:1024. A specific antibody titre of 1:1024 was found
in colostrum collected from one of the dams. Two of the newborn calve
s, when sampled immediately after birth, were serologically negative t
o B. besnoiti, but became positive on the next day. In all the calves,
antibodies were detectable up to the age of 4 months. Observations co
ncerning passive transfer of antibodies from Besnoitia-infected dams t
o offspring, and transmission of the infection among infected and non-
infected closely kept cows, are discussed.