Key Points
- To determine the route, duration, and specificity of maternal immunity transferred against Coxsackie viruses in infant mice.
- Immunized female mice with specific Coxsackie virus strains before mating and delivery.
- Assessed passive transfer of protective and complement-fixing antibodies by fostering offspring with immune or non-immune mothers for defined suckling windows (24 to 48 hours).
- Challenged suckling infant mice with known virus strains to evaluate type-specific immunity.
- Maternal protection against Coxsackie virus is transmitted predominantly through colostrum and breast milk for the entire duration of lactation, rather than via the placenta.
- Non-immune infant mice acquire complete type-specific protection after suckling with a vaccinated mother for 24 to 48 hours.
- Complement-fixing antibodies are reliably transferred from vaccinated dams to their young, permitting virus strain identification via challenge experiments in infant mice.
Structured PICO
PPopulationNewborn mice and their mothers
IInterventionVaccination of mothers with Coxsackie virus and suckling of infants by immune mothers
CComparatorNon-immune mothers
OOutcomeTransfer of maternal antibodies and immunity to newborn micesurrogate
Demonstrates that immunity to Coxsackie viruses in mice is transferred from vaccinated mothers to offspring via milk and colostrum.