Immunoglobulins and antibodies in colostrum and milk of Guatemalan mayan women
Wyatt, R.G.; Garcia, B.; Cáceres, A.; Mata, L.J.
Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 22(4): 629-644
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-0622 PMID: 4578125 Document Number: 53552
The mean level of IgA in colostrum of women in a Guatamalan village where malnutrition and infection were prevalent was 333 mg/100 ml. The level fell gradually to 147.8 mg/100 ml at the end of the 4th wk of lactation and then remained at that level until late lactation (52 wk) when it rose to 242 mg/100 ml. The IgM was present only in colostrum (36 mg/100 ml). Passive haemagglutinating antibodies to the 'O' polysaccharide of Shigella dysenteriae 2, Shig. flexneri (serotypes 1a and 6), Shig. sonnei, Salmonella panama and Escherichia coli O111 were measured in the colostrum and milk samples. The % of samples containing antibodies to Shig. flexneri remained high throughout lactation, whereas that for the other test organisms fell during lactation. 5 of 7 colostrum samples inhibited growth of E. coli. A direct correlation was observed between inhibitory bacterial activity and haemagglutinating antibody titres. 8 of 9 colostrum samples had titres against poliovirus 1, and 6 had titres against Coxsackie B5. The importance of breast feeding in pre-industrial societies is discussed.