Previous experience suggests that cetaceans are born without detectable levels of circulating immunoglobulins. Young cetaceans appear to be dependent upon the intestinal absorption of colostral antibodies as there is no evidence of placental transfer. Failure to nurse within the first few days of life will place the neonate at great risk to a wide variety of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. A male beluga calf was born on 8 August 1992 at Sea World of Texas. An IV injection of 36 mg (approx. 7.2 ug/ml of blood) of purified homologous IgG was given on 12 August in response to lack of observed nursing. No adverse reactions were noted and some confirmed nursing was observed several hours after the injection. No nursing was observed on 13 August; however on 14 August, 49 minutes of nursing was noted. A second intravenous injection of 76 mg (9.5 ug/ml of blood) of immunoglobulin was given on 21 September, 44 days post birth, after nursing and activity had started to decline. No adverse reactions were noted with the second injection.

Multiple blood samples from the calf were evaluated during the course of therapy. There were no detectable levels of serum immunoglobulins prior to the initial administration of the concentrate. Immunoglobulins were observed on 14 August but were undetectable on 17 August. No circulating immunoglobulins were found in blood samples collected on 21 or 24 August nor on I September. A serum sample collected on 21 September, immediately prior to the administration of the IgG concentrate, revealed low levels of immunoglobulins present. These immunoglobulins are felt to be of calf origin, Subsequent blood samples have shown a continuing rise in immunoglobulin levels. We conclude from this data that antibody production began between 24 and 44 days after birth.