Question

A person was saved from poisonous snake bite by anti-venom injection. Which of the following immunities explains this form of protection?

(a) Naturally acquired active immunity

(b) Artificially acquired active immunity

(c) Naturally acquired passive immunity

(d) Artificially acquired passive immunity

Answer 1

Answer is : (d) Artificially acquired passive immunity

Antivenom injection provides artificial acquired passive immunity. Passive immunity is the transfer of active humoral immunity of readymade antibodies. It can occur naturally, when maternal antibodies are transferred to foetus through placenta and it can be induced artificially when high level of antibodies specific to a pathogen or toxin are transferred to non-immune persons through blood products that contain antibodies, such as antivenom injections are given.