Page 757 - Veterinary Immunology, 10th Edition

than twice those of calves with higher IgG levels. A minimum of
VetBooks.ir 150 to 200 g of colostral IgG is required for optimal passive transfer.

Three liters of colostrum should be administered by oropharyngeal
tube to calves within 2 hours of birth. Substantially larger quantities

of IgG must be administered after 2 hours to achieve optimal
protection. A plasma transfusion may be of benefit. Commercially
available colostrum may be enriched in specific antibodies to
protect the calf against potential pathogens such as K99 Escherichia

coli, rotaviruses, and coronaviruses, the major causes of calf
diarrhea.
Colostral transfer of immunity is essential for the survival of
young mammals, but it may also cause disease. If a mother becomes

immunized against the red cells of her fetus, colostral antibodies
may cause erythrocyte destruction in the newborn, a condition
called hemolytic disease (Chapter 31).

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