Infectious gastroenteritis does not act as a triggering mechanism for the synthesis of serum IgG antibody to beta-lactoglobulin

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1991 Nov;13(4):402-8. doi: 10.1097/00005176-199111000-00011.

Abstract

beta-Lactoglobulin (BLG)-specific serum IgG antibody was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 1,392 serum samples from newborn to 5-year-old Ecuadorian children enrolled into a representative nutrition and health survey. At a 1:100 serum dilution, 62% of the children showed specific antibody (blank-corrected optical density greater than or equal to 0.1). This prevalence did not change with increasing age. More specifically, we did not observe a prevalence or titer increase of BLG-specific antibody in age groups where the majority of these Ecuadorian children experienced infection with rotavirus (8-24-month age groups) and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (8-12-month age group). In addition, BLG-specific antibody did not differ between children who did or did not experience an episode of diarrhea 15 days before blood sampling. We observed a small but statistically significant difference in BLG-specific antibody between subsamples of Ecuadorian children regularly or only occasionally ingesting milk. Titers were higher in the group consuming more milk.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Blood Donors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Ecuador
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Escherichia coli Infections / immunology*
  • Female
  • Gastroenteritis / immunology*
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis*
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lactoglobulins / immunology*
  • Male
  • Milk
  • Rotavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Rural Population
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Lactoglobulins