Specific antibody in milk whey and phagocytosis of Actinomyces pyogenes by neutrophils in vitro.

Milk samples were collected from 21 non-pregnant cows to study the ability of milk whey to support in vitro bactericidal activity of neutrophils against Actinomyces pyogenes. Significant differences (P less than 0.01) existed in opsonising ability of milk whey samples from individual cows. Antibody titres to A pyogenes in milk whey were determined using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Bactericidal activity of neutrophils incubated with milk whey was positively correlated (P less than 0.05) with titres of IgG2 and IgM antibodies but not with IgG1 or IgA antibodies.