Homologous and heterologous immunoglobulins

Question

State the difference between homologous and heterologous immunoglobulins?

Answer 1

Homologous immunoglobulin is said to be the human immunoglobulin. In case of inoculation in the animals as in veterinary procedures homologous immunoglobulin is that from the blood of animals of same species of the animal undergoing treatment. Heterologous immunoglobulin is that which is obtained from the animals of different species from the individual into which it will be inoculated. The homologous immunoglobulin is considered as safer because it is collected from beings of same species of the individual where it will be inoculated and hence the risk of antibodies to be recognized as the foreign and to trigger an immune response is lower. Heterologous immunoglobulins are considered as more prone to being destroyed by own antibodies of individual.