Antibodies play an important role in the immune response to Bb and bacterial clearance.
There is limited data available on the transmission of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) to kittens. In one study of two litters of kittens born to Bb positive queens, MDA remained low and was only detectable for two weeks [Coutts et al 1996]. In a second study, low levels of MDA remained detectable up to 8 weeks but were not assayed for longer [Jacobs et al 1993].
Following infection, serum antibodies rise rapidly [Coutts et al 1996]. There is no data on the duration of persistence of these antibodies.
IgA is the main immunoglobulin in mucus secretions. Clinical and experimental studies show that individuals deficient in the immunoglobulin A (IgA) isotype of antibodies, are more susceptible to certain sinopulmonary infections [Renegar et al 2004]. In mice it was shown that IgA is also essential for controlling Bb in the upper respiratory tract. Passive transfer of IgA-containing convalescent serum has also been shown to effectively reduces Bb numbers in the trachea. [Wolfe et al., 2007].
Adoptively transferred antibodies rapidly cleared only Bb, not the human Bordetella pathogens.