Antibody reactivity and fecal recovery of bovine immunoglobulins following oral administration of a colostrum concentrate from cows (Lactobin) to healthy volunteers.

Using immunoblot techniques, we investigated the immunoglobulin G (IG) reactivity present in Lactobin, an immunoglobulin concentrate (prepared from colostrum pools from non-immunized cows) against potential pathogenicity factors from Yersinia enterocolitica and Campylobacter jejuni. A strong reactivity against Yersinia outer proteins (Yops), against the Yersinia adhesin A (Yad A) as well as a high reactivity against flagellin and the outer membrane proteins (OMP) of C. jejuni was demonstrated. The IgG antibody reactivity against these antigens was also assessed in vitro after incubation of IG with stools from healthy adults for different time intervals. Minimal loss occurred within 2 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C and complete loss after 24 hours. In a clinical study stool specimens from 8 healthy volunteers were analyzed 1-4 days after oral administration of the drug for the presence of bovine IgG and its antibody reactivity against Yersinia antigens. Small amounts of the bovine immunoglobulins were detected in stools from 3 of the 8 subjects, however, without antibody reactivity. Additional pharmacokinetic investigations in patients with gastrointestinal diseases are necessary to determine the optimal therapeutic regimen for these patients.