Response of canine fetuses and neonates to antigenic stimulation
Shifrine, M.; Smith, J.B.; Bulgin, M.S.; Bryant, B.J.; Zee, Y.C.; Osburn, B.I.
Journal of Immunology 107(4): 965-970
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 4328592 Document Number: 34930
Canine foetuses of the same litter of beagles were injected with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), Mycoplasma gallisepticum, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus or chicken erythrocytes. Three litters injected at gestation days 41, 47 or 51 produced no antibodies. Foetuses of a litter injected at gestation day 55 with 10, 100 or 1000 mu g of KLH and challenged with 1000 mu g KLH 21 days after birth gave only a primary response. Foetuses of a litter infected with Brucella canis at the 50th day of gestation and killed 9 days later had produced agglutinating antibodies. When 1-day old pups were injected with KLH and challenged with the same antigen 40 days later, a secondary immune response was observed. When day-old pups were injected with IBR virus, neutralizing antibodies were produced within 2-weeks It is concluded that the canine foetus becomes competent for antibody production close to term.