Persistence of passively transferred antibodies in porcine Taenia solium cysticercosiss

We evaluated the presence and persistence of anticysticercal antibodies in piglets born to Taenia solium infected sows. Infected sows from a disease-e ndemic area of Peru were transported to a nondisease-endemic area and impre gnated, Serum samples were collected from sows and piglets on Day 2 through Week 35 after birth. Using an immunoblot specific for cysticercosis, Ig is otypes to 7 cyst antigens were measured and quantified. Serum samples from the piglets contained detectable antibodies from Week 1 through Week 35 (27 weeks after weaning). The primary Ig isotype present in bath sows and pigl ets was IgG. Antibodies did not appear in piglet serum samples until after suckling, demonstrating that anti-cysticercal antibodies are transferred so lely via colostrum. Our data have shown that maternally transferred antibod ies to cyst antigens may persist through much of a pig's life. Therefore, t he presence of passively transferred antibodies must be considered in studi es that examine the prevalence of cysticercosis in pigs, Furthermore, when designing control strategies for cysticercosis, careful evaluation and sele ction of sentinel pigs becomes a crucial component of sentinel selection. P ublished by Elsevier Science B.V.