Assessment of neutrophil migration, phagocytosis and bactericidal capacity in neonatal foals.

This research study compares the function of neutrophils – immune cells that fight infection – between newborn foals (young horses) and their mothers. The results showed differences in how these cells move but found no difference in their ability to consume and kill bacteria.

Objective of the Research

• The objective of the research was to examine and compare the function of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, between neonatal foals and their dams (mothers).
• The researchers aimed to evaluate their random movement, stimulated movement towards zymosan-activated serum (a substance designed to stimulate immune cells), ability to ingest bacteria (phagocytosis) and their bacteria-killing ability (bactericidal capacity).

Methodology

• The study was based on a comparison model, where 8 healthy newborn pony foals (aged 3 to 7 days) and their mothers were examined.
• In vitro tests were applied to evaluate the aforementioned characteristics of neutrophils, meaning that they were conducted outside of the living organisms in a controlled laboratory environment.

Key Findings

• The neutrophils of the neonatal foals displayed greater random movement (P less than 0.01) and less stimulated movement (P less than 0.01) in comparison to those of their mothers.
• However, there was no significant difference (P greater than 0.05) among foals and their mothers when it came to the ability of their neutrophils to phagocytose and kill bacteria.

Conclusion

• Based on the data, the researchers suggested that neonatal foals have alterations in the locomotion capability of their neutrophils when compared to their mothers.
• However, this change does not impact the neutrophils’ fundamental bactericidal functions, as the ability of cells from both groups to ingest and destroy bacteria was similar.