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Progressive improvement in the transfer of maternal antibody across the order Primates
Author(s) -
Coe Christopher L.,
Lubach Gabriele R.,
Izard Kay M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.1350320106
Subject(s) - offspring , primate , antibody , biology , placenta , fetus , pregnancy , physiology , passive immunity , immunology , immunity , zoology , immune system , ecology , genetics
Antibody levels were determined in adults and newborn offspring of five primate species. This cross‐species comparison of intant IgG levels indicated that prosimians and New World monkeys transfer lower levels of maternal antibody via placental transmission than do Old World monkeys, apes, and humans. The evolutionary trend toward an increased reliance on prenatal antibody transfer in the higher primates appears to be most pronounced in the human infant, because our placenta has evolved an active transport process that elevates IgG in the full‐term fetus over maternal levels. Higher IgG levels in the young infant ensure a more prolonged and successful period of passive immunity against pathogens previously encountered by the mother. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.