transfer of passive immunity has been proposed (Van
Dijk et al., 2001), but only in one case specific anti-F4
antibodies were found in SDPP (Owusu-Asiedu et al.,
2002).
The objectives of the present study were (1) to
establish the effect of addition of SDPP and spray
dried immune plasma (SDIPP) to the weaning diet on
prevention of enterotoxigenic E. coli F4 post-weaning
diarrhoea (PWD); (2) to get insight into the role of
specific antibodies in the pathogenesis of ETEC, and
(3) to determine the influence of the F4R status on this
process.