ABSTRACT
Several studies, both controlled and anecdotal, indicated that rotavirus antibodies may be effective in the prevention and treatment of acute rotavirus infection. The antibodies applied were homologous human IgG as available in immunoglobulin products for intramuscular use, as well as bovine antibodies, obtained from the colostrum or milk. Barnes et al. (35) reported results of a randomized trial of oral gammaglobulin in low-birth-weight infants infected with rotavirus. By feeding human immunoglobulins they concluded that gammaglobulin administration was associated with delayed excretion of rotavirus and milder symptoms of infection. Guarini et al. (44) described similar results and also showed a reduction in the time for viral shedding in two patients. Several other investigations (45-47) demonstrated the beneficial effect of bovine antibodies, using milk or colostrum, by documenting a significant reduction in clinical symptoms-e.g., in the number of days with diarrhea and/or a reduction of time of viral shedding. Furthermore, according to an Australian study, bovine antibodies were also effective prophylactically in protecting against rotavirus infection (46). Respiratory Syncytial Virus Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the single most important respiratory pathogen in infancy and early childhood. Predictable yearly outbreaks of RSV disease last from the late fall into the spring months and are frequently occurring in hospital units. Primary RSV infection results in bronchiolitis and pneumonia in ca. 40% of the cases in children less than 6 months of age, and preterm infants and infants with underlying pulmonary or cardiac disease are unduly susceptible. Epidemiological studies demonstrated protection against RSV in babies born to mothers with high levels of RSV antibodies. Specificity against fusion or F protein appeared important in protection against disease (48). Different studies in full-term infants (49-54) indicate that high serum titers of RSVneutralizing antibody (between 1:200 and 1 :400) prevent RSV infection in the lower respiratory tract. Studies performed in experimental animals (55-60) clearly indicated that serum titers of RSV -neutralizing antibodies are associated with prevention of RSV infection of the lower respiratory tract, and that protection against nasal challenge can be achieved by moderate titer immunoglobulin in cotton rats (61).
