The immunoglobulin variation profile in lavages from the broncoalveolar and tracheo-bronchial regions of 20 healthy newborn Holstein male calves was studied. They were fed with colostrum and distributed into 2 groups, 10 animals each. Group 1 underwent the nasotracheal catheterization technique to get the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and Group 2 underwent the tracheocenthesis to collect the tracheobronchial lavage (TBL), both procedures being carried out at a 7-day-interval, starting on the first days up to about one month of life. Higher IgG contents, as compared to IgA, were noted across the respiratory tract. These immunoglobulins were impacted by the site of the respiratory tract washed, as well as by the calves' life time in weeks. Higher immunoglobulin contents were detected in TBL, as well as higher IgM and IgA rates, as compared to BAL. The BAL immunoglobulins showed a tendency to be reduced in TBL.
Immunoglobulin; respiratory tract; calves
