Maternal antibodies to Sendai virus appeared to be transferred to newborn mice to a greater extent via colostrum and gastro-intestinal tract than via the placenta. Serum antibody reached a maximum within a week of birth and remained high for a few weeks before decreasing gradually. The immunoelectrophoretic analysis of serum globulins of suckling mice demonstrated IgG1 and IgG2 but no IgA, and suggested a selective transport of maternal globulins through the gastrointestinal epithelium of suckling mice. The maternal antibody effectively protected one-day-old newborn mice against intranasal challenge by a lethal dose of Sendai virus, but was less effective against the contact infection of 3-week-old mice. Thus, passive immunity appeared to be brief. Enzootic infections with Sendai virus are discussed on the basis of these experiments.
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