Protective Effects of IgG contained WPC Administration on E. coli O157 Infection

Cases of the infectious disease bowel hemorrhagic E. coli (O157) are repeatedly reported in tropical regions. In the near future it is expected that this will be one of the main infectious bowel diseases in these areas. The development of an infection prophylaxis is required immediately. In this research using mice we tested whether administration of bovine colostrum is effective as effective as a prevention for colonization and infection by E. coli O157.

Streptomycin resistant plasmid E. coli O157 induced Streptomycin resistant O157 (O157-SMR) was supplied by Dr. Arakawa of the International Medical Center of Japan, Department of Infectious Diseases. A 5% solution of freeze-dried bovine colostrum was used. 4 weeks old balb/c mice were orally infected with O157-SMR (1×105 CFU/mouse). One hour after the mice were infected the colostrum administration was started. Colostrum was administered from feeding bottles from which the mice were made to drink independently. After infection, the weight, symptoms and O157- SMR viable cell count in the mice feces were measured for 3 weeks.

In order to reduce the normal bacteria flora in their bowels the mice were given colostrum, skim milk or water containing SM (5g/L) for three days before infection. After infection they were given the same products without SM. The fecal cell count of O157- SMR 24 Hours after infection in the mice given skim milk or water had increased to over 109/g. Three weeks later a viable count of 108/g could be detected. Also 50% of the mice in this group died within 2-11 days of infection. On the other hand, in the group given bovine colostrum the viable count in the feces 24 hours after infection was 108/g and three weeks after that it had decreased dramatically to 104/g. All the mice in this group survived. The above results strongly suggest that the administration of bovine colostrum is effective as protection against colonization and infection by E. coli O157.