Passive Acquisition of Protective Antibodies Reactive with Bordetella pertussis in Newborns via Placental Transfer and Breast‐feeding

Abstract

Although acquisition of anti‐pertussis antibodies by the newborn via placental transfer has been demonstrated, a subsequent recrudescence of pertussis infection is often observed, particularly in infants. The present study investigated the passive transfer of anti‐pertussis IgG and IgA antibodies to term newborns and their ability to neutralize bacterial pathogenicity in an in vivo experimental model using mice intracerebrally challenged with viable Bordetella pertussis. Forty paired samples of maternal/umbilical cord sera and colostrum were obtained. Anti‐pertussis antibodies were analysed by immunoenzymatic assay and by Immunoblotting. Antibody neutralizing ability was assessed through intracerebral B. pertussis challenges in mice. Anti‐pertussis IgG titres were equivalent in both maternal and newborn sera (medians = 1:225 and 1:265), with a transfer rate of 118%. The colostrum samples had variable specific IgA titres (median = 1:74). The immunoblotting assays demonstrated identical recognition profiles of paired maternal and newborn serum pools but different bacterial recognition intensities by colostrum pools. In the animal model, significant differences were always observed when the serum and colostrum samples and pools were compared with the positive control (P < 0.05). Unlike samples with lower anti‐pertussis titres, samples with high titres showed protective capacities above 50%. Pertussis‐absorbed serum and colostrum pools protected 30% of mice and purified IgG antibodies protected 65%. Both pooled and single‐sample protective abilities were correlated with antibody titres (P < 0.01). Our data demonstrated the effectiveness of anti‐pertussis antibodies in bacterial pathogenesis neutralization, emphasizing the importance of placental transfer and breast‐feeding in protecting infants against respiratory infections caused by Bordetella pertussis.

Prevalence of Antibody to Bordetella pertussis in Neonates and Prevalence of Recent Pertussis Infection in Pregnant Women in Catalonia (Spain) in 2003 and 2013

“…5,6 The prevalence of recent pertussis infections in pregnant women could be compared with the prevalence found in 2003 because of the equivalence between the cut-offs for detecting recent pertussis infections of both tests. 10,11,25,26 Nevertheless, the anti-PT titers found in recently infected women in this study (117−210 IU/mL) were significantly different than those in women who had not been recently infected (2−89 IU/mL). First, the prevalence of recent pertussis infections in pregnant women was determined using IgG-PT >100 IU/mL in cord blood samples.…”

Immunology of breast milk

“…These studies have demonstrated that human milk has antibodies against Shigella, Salmonella typhimurium, Campylobacter, Vibrio cholerae, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis, respiratory syncytial virus, HIV, and other pathogens. 7,75 Epidemiological data indicate that exclusively breastfed children are better protected against a variety of infections 76 and apparently also against celiac disease in childhood 77 as well as allergies and asthma, 78 although studies on the latter issue still show discrepant data. 79,80 It is known that the risk of death from diarrhea can be reduced from 14 to 24 times in infants fed human milk, and that the frequency of diarrhea increases as the milk is replaced by other sources, until full weaning.…”

Passive acquisition of anti-Staphylococcus aureus antibodies by newborns via transplacental transfer and breastfeeding, regardless of maternal colonization

“…The results were expressed in mg/dL. The total IgA antibodies present in the maternal colostrum were measured by ELISA as previously described 12, and the results were expressed in g/L.…”