Comparison of Serum IgG Concentration, Total Protein, Glutaraldehyde Coagulation Test and Gamma Glutamyl Transferase in Neonatal Foals

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to detect the passive transfer status in healthy neonatal foals by comparing serum immunoglobulin G (sIgG) concentration, serum total protein (STP), glutaraldehyde coagulation test (GCT) duration and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity . Fifteen neonatal foals (0-15 days old)’ blood samples were collected before suckling (day 0), 12th hour (hr), 24th hr (1st day), 7th and 15th days. Serum IgG and STP levels significantly increased after the 12th hr. Conversely, serum GCT duration significantly decreased (p< 0.05) in neonatal foals after the 12th hr. The result of the present study was shown that measurements of sIgG, STP concentration and GCT duration are useful parameters to detect Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) in neonatal foals. While GCT and STP provide a simple and inexpensive field test, serum GGT measurement is not a beneficial test to determine colostrum intake in newborn foals.

Keywords

• Foals
• Newborn
• Failure of Passive Transfer
• serum Immunoglobulin G

References

1. 1.Clabough DL, Conboy HS, Roberts MC. Comparison of four screening techniques for the diagnosis of equine neonatal hypogammaglobulinemia. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989;194(12): 1717-1720.
2. 2. Hines MT. Immunodeficiencies of foals. In. Robinson NE, ed. Current Therapy in Equine Medicine. 4th ed. Philederphia, W.B. Saunders Company; 2003:692-697.
3. 3. McCue PM. Evaluation of a turbidimetric immunoassay for measurement of plasma IgG concentration in foals. Am J Vet Res. 2007;68(9):1005-1009.
4. 4. Cohen ND. Causes of and farm management factors associated with disease and death in foals. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1994;204(10):1644-1651.
5. 5. Hurcombe SD, Toribio RE, Slovis N, et al. Blood arginine vasopressin, adrenocorticotropin hormone, and cortisol concentrations at admission in septic and critically ill foals and their association with survival. J Vet Intern Med. 2008;22(3):639-647.
6. 6. Davis R, Giguère S. Evaluation of five commercially available assays and measurement of serum total protein concentration via refractometry for the diagnosis of failure of passive transfer of immunity in foals. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2005;227(10):1640-1645.
7. 7. Beetson SA, Hilbert BJ, Mills JN. The use of the glutaraldehyde coagulation test for detection of hypogammaglobulinaemia in neonatal foals. Aust Vet J. 1985;62(8):279-281.
8. 8. LeBlanc MM, Hurtgen JP, Lyle S. A modified zinc sulfate turbidity test for the detection of immune status in newly born foals. J Equine Vet Sci. 1990;10: 36–39.

9. 9. Pusterla N, Pusterla JB, Spier SJ, et al. Evaluation of the SNAP foal IgG test for the semiquantitative measurement of immunoglobulin G in foals. Vet Rec. 2002;151(9): 258-260.
10. 10. Metzger N, Hinchcliff KW, Hardy J, et al. Usefulness of a commercial equine IgG test and serum protein concentration as indicators of failure of transfer of passive immunity in hospitalized foals. J Vet Intern Med. 2006;20(2): 382-387.
11. 11. Korosue K, Murase H, Sato F, et al. Correlation of serum IgG concentration in foals and refractometry index of the dam’s pre- and post-parturient colostrums: an assessment for failure of passive transfer in foals. J Vet Med Sci. 2012;74(11): 1387-1395.
12. 12. Baird AN, Pugh DG, Rupp GP, et al. Detection of immunoglobulin G in the neonate. J Equine Vet Sci. 1987;7: 124-129.
13. 13. Knottenbelt DC, Holdstock N, Madigan J. Equine neonatology medicine and surgery. London, Saunders; 2004.
14. 14. Tyler-McGowan CM, Hodgson JL, Hodgson DR. Failure of passive transfer in foals: incidence and outcome on four studs in New South Wales. Aust Vet J. 1997;75(1):56-59.
15. 15. Yalcin E, Temizel EM, Yalcin A, et al. Relationship with gamma glutamyl transferase activity and glutaraldehyde coagulation test of serum immunoglobulin G concentration in newborn goat kids. Small Rumin Res. 2010;93:61-63.
16. 16. Saikku A, Koskinen E, Sandholm M. Detection of hypogammaglobulinaemia in neonatal foals using the glutaraldehyde coagulation test. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B. 1989;36(3):168-174.
17. 17. Maden M, Altunok V, Birdane FM, et al. Blood and colostrum/ milk serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity as a predictor of passive transfer status in lambs. J Vet Med. B, Infectious Diseases and Veterinary Public Health. 2003;50(3):128-31.
18. 18. Parish SM, Tyler JW, Besser TE, et al. Prediction of serum IgG1 concentration in Holstein calves using serum gamma glutamyltransferase activity. J Vet Intern Med. 1997;11(6):344-347.
19. 19. Braun JP, Tainturier D, Bézille P, et al. Transfer of gamma glutamyltransferase from mother colostrum to newborn goat and foal. Enzyme. 1984;31(4):193-196.