Antibodies against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in colostrum isolated from infants with diarrhea

The role of certain types of Escherichia coli in infectious diarrhea in infants and young children is well known. Infants who are breast-fed are less prone to gastroenteritis during their first year of life. Antibodies against three types of fimbrial antigens (adhesions) of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in the colostrum were studied. The hemagglutination inhibition test method was used to detect antibodies against ETEC adhesions, i.e. colonization factors, I and II and fimbria type I. The colostrum of mothers on the 1st and 3rd day post partum was standard for the presence of antibodies. The results show that most of the colostrum samples contained antibodies against adhesions of the types of ETEC that we worked with. This study will enhance the knowledge as to why mothers should breast-feed their babies.