Antibody production in farm animals

Abstract

The present invention provides means and methods for obtaining an antibody in a mammary secretion product of a farm-animal comprising administering to said animal at least two compositions, which may be the same or different, comprising an antigen to which said antibody is to be raised, the method comprising administering at least a first of said compositions such that a high mucosal and/or systemic immune response is obtained and wherein at least a second of said compositions is administered to a mammary gland and/or a supramammary lymph node of said animal.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A method for the treatment of microbial infection of a mammary gland in an animal comprising administering to said animal an antigen such that a high immune response is obtained and administering said antigen to a mammary gland and/or a supramammary lymph node of said animal, wherein said antigen comprises at least a part of said microbe or a functional derivative and/or analogue thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said animal is suffering from or at risk of suffering from mastitis.  
   
   
       14 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the microbial infection causes mastitis.  
   
   
       20 . A method for the treatment of a mammary gland infection in a farm-animal, comprising: 
 hyperimmunizing the farm-animal for an antigen (i) via a mucosal passage of the farm-animal, the mucosal passage selected from the group consisting of an intravaginal passage, an intrarectal passage, and an intranasal passage of the farm-animal, or (ii) via inhalation through an airway of the farm-animal; and    administering the antigen to a mammary gland and/or a supramammary lymph node of the farm-animal;    wherein the antigen comprises at least part of, a functional derivative of, or an analogue of a microbe that causes the infection.    
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the hyperimmunizing step comprises administering the antigen via inhalation through an airway of the farm-animal.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the hyperimmunizing step comprises administering the antigen intranasally to the farm-animal.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising boosting an immune response to the antigen in the farm-animal.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the boosting step comprises administering the antigen to an airway, a mammary gland, and/or a supramammary lymph node of the farm-animal.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the antigen is administered at least once in the supramammary lymph node.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the antigen is administered at least twice in the supramammary lymph node.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the farm-animal is a cow or a goat.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the hyperimmunizing step further comprises administering an adjuvant to the farm-animal.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the mammary gland infection comprises a bacterial infection.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the mammary gland infection comprises a viral infection.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the mammary gland infection comprises mastitis.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the method induces a systemic immune response in the farm-animal.  
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the method induces a systemic immune response and a mucosal immune response in the farm-animal.  
   
   
       34 . A method for the treatment of a mammary gland infection in a mammal, comprising: 
 hyperimmunizing the mammal for an antigen (i) via a mucosal passage of the farm-animal, the mucosal passage selected from the group consisting of an intravaginal passage, an intrarectal passage, and an intranasal passage of the mammal, or (ii) via inhalation through an airway of the mammal; and    administering the antigen to a mammary gland and/or a supramammary lymph node of the mammal;    wherein the antigen comprises at least part of, a functional derivative of, or an analogue of a microbe that causes the mammary gland infection.    
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the mammary gland infection comprises mastitis.  
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the microbe comprises a bacteria or a virus.