This came in the Medscape Pediatric email newsletter.

Anna Swisher
Austin, TX
---------------------------------------------
Bovine Milk Formulation Shows Promise as Alternative to Oral Rotavirus
Vaccine

ARLINGTON, VA (Reuters Health) Apr 24 - In the wake of recent concerns about
complications with the oral rotavirus vaccine, an Australian company has
developed a bovine milk formulation that achieves passive immunity.
In two studies presented Monday at the Fourth Annual Conference on Vaccine
Research, Dr. Janina Pacyna, from NorthField Laboratories in North Adelaide,
South Australia, and colleagues assessed the immune-related effects of
hyperimmune bovine colostrum containing antirotavirus antibodies (HBC-R).
In the first study, 742 children from 22 childcare centers were randomized
to receive HBC-R, whole milk, or neither product, three times daily for 20
weeks. The researchers found that the incidence of rotavirus-associated
diarrhea was significantly lower in the HBC-R group than in the other
groups.
In the second study, the investigators assessed rotavirus antibody activity
in fecal samples from children given different doses and formulations of
HBC-R. Eighty-six percent of samples from children given HBC-R showed
antibody activity. In addition, there was a strong direct association
between the amount of antibody ingested and the level of antibody activity.
"The association of the oral rotavirus vaccine with an increased risk of
intussusception has created a backlog of work for everybody," Dr. Pacyna
told Reuters Health. "We are not trying to compete with the vaccine, but
rather complement it," she added. "Our product can be used to provide
passive immunity until the child reaches an age when the vaccine can be
given safely."
Dr. Pacyna noted that "children who breast-feed from vaccinated mothers do
achieve passive immunity, but HBC-R provides a means of acquiring protective
antibodies when breast-feeding is not available." She added that "children
who are hospitalized are at increased risk of rotavirus infection, and HBC-R
is a way of protecting them during their stay."
HBC-R can be given in a liquid form alone or in a powdered form that can be
added to infant formula. Dr. Pacyna emphasized that HBC-R "must be taken on
a regular basis" and that the protection will stop when it is discontinued.
She noted that, on average, antibody levels are detectable in the feces 8
hours after HBC-R ingestion.
Dr. Pacyna mentioned that her company has had talks with researchers in the
US and that trials may be forthcoming.

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html