Complement and Conglutinin in the Serum of Germ-Free and Conventional Piglets

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Abstract
The sera of piglets raised as germ-free and colostrum-deprived or as conventional colostrum-fed animals were examined for their levels of complement and conglutinin. The level of hemolytic complement was higher in germ-free animals in the first 3 days of life and again from days 20 to 56. The data indicate that natural contact with bacteria after birth or monoinfection of 56-day-old germ-free piglets caused an increased complement activity in the serum. Feeding of colostrum may stimulate increased serum complement levels but direct absorption of complement components from the colostrum is considered to be unlikely. Conglutinin levels were higher in the serum of germ-free pigs from 10 to 42 days of age. A decrease in conglutinin activity of the serum and significant variations in conglutinin titers followed exposure of the newborn to a conventional environment or monoinfection of 56-day-old germ-free animals with a strain of Escherichia coli.

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