Comparison of the IgE titers to bovine colostral G immunoglobulins and their F(ab')2 fragments in sera of patients allergic to milk.

Colostral G immunoglobulins (IgGs) are described in many recent studies as having a beneficial effect for the treatment of viral, bacterial and parasitic diarrhea in animals and humans. The specific IgE titers to bovine colostral IgG, to bovine serum IgG, and to F(ab')2 fragments of IgG were immunoenzymatically quantified in sera of patients allergic to milk, to statistically evaluate and compare their relative immunoreactivity towards these purified antigens. The results clearly indicated that 36% of the population tested was potentially allergic to colostral IgG, and serum IgG globally elicited significantly lower IgE titers. The F(ab')2 fragments lead to a significantly decreased immunoreactivity as compared to colostral IgG. This study shows the interesting use of peptic hydrolysis of IgG in producing fragments with preserved therapeutic immunoactivity and reduced potential allergenicity.