Due to the specific binding activity and complementary action against Gastrointestinal pathogens by the colostrum, products may be targeted towards the treatment of Acute and Chronic Gastrointestinal Disease.
Infection of the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) is a very common occurrence. The GIT can be infected with bacterial, yeast and parasitic pathogens which can evoke an acute infection such as a passing gastroenteritis, or a chronic infection resulting in a chronic disability often characterised by diarrhoea, cramping, urgency, flatulence, nausea and vomiting.
For example, Salmonella, Shigella and acute viral infections can be transient and the body's immune system and the bowel flora are able to remove the infective agent. Other infections, such as Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium difficile and Yersinia enterocolitica can cause infections that last for months or even years. In many situations, such infections can also be cleared from the GIT by the body's own immune system and by the surrounding bacterial flora whose role - in part - it is to remove such infecting bacterial and parasitic pathogens from the GIT.
However, in other situations, some pathogens, for example Yersinia enterocolitica, Helicobacter pylori can enter the bowel flora and establish themselves so they are permanently in the bowel. The infected GIT therefore requires assistance in ridding itself of such infection. As the binding studies have shown, Colostrum may provide a helpful protective effect to the GIT due to the specific activity against the range of bacterial and yeast pathogens responsible for these GIT diseases.
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