A prospective study of septicaemia in colostrum-deprived foals.

The research focuses on studying the impact of colostrum deprivation on foal health, specifically the development of septicaemia. In their experiment, 8 foals were denied colostrum intake and their health was thereafter compared to 6 colostrum-fed foals.

Methodology of Research

• The researchers witnessed the birth of fourteen foals from their respective mares.
• Post the bonding period between the mare and the foal, eight of the foals, known as colostrum-deprived (CD) foals, were prevented from having colostrum and received an alternative milk source for the initial 24 hours life.
• Their respective mares were milked out regularly every two to four hours in the initial 24-hour period, after which these CD foals were allowed to go back to their mares and commence feeding.
• A group of six colostrum-fed (CF) foals were allowed to consume colostrum in the natural way.
• The concentration of IgG in the serum of these baby horses was ascertained using single radial immunodiffusion. The average IgG was 0mg/dl for CD foals and 1,508mg/dl for CF foals.

Research Findings

• Among the eight CD foals, seven exhibited symptoms related to sepsis. In five of these septicaemic CD foals, septicaemia was verified via blood culture taken before death or via tissue culture at autopsy.
• Bacterial species such as Actinobacillus equuli, Escherichia coli, unspecified coliforms, Pseudomonas spp., and Actinomyces pyogenes were detected.
• When these foals became clinically ill they were treated with antimicrobial medicines, intravenous fluid therapy, flunixin meglumine, and anti-endotoxin hyperimmune serum.
• Out of the seven septicaemic CD foals, three survived, while four either died or were destroyed.
• Detailed study of lesions found after death revealed infections such as bacterial embolic pneumonia, glomerulonephritis/nephritis, lymphoid depletion/atrophy, splenic and lymphoid necrosis, hepatitis, septic arthritis and systemic bacterial embolism.
• Among the CF foals, none developed septicaemia. A single CF foal experienced foal heat diarrhoea and another exhibited a serum IgG level of 160 mg/dl, which indicates a failure of passive transfer, however, both foals appeared otherwise healthy.