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Equine veterinary journal2020; 52(5); 760-764; doi: 10.1111/evj.13237

Assessment of the immunocrit method to detect failure of passive immunity in newborn foals.

Abstract: In newborn foals the absorption of colostrum immunoglobulins in the small intestine is maximal up to 8 hours after birth and then progressively decreases to become null after 24 hours post-partum. Thus, equine practitioners need a simple, quick, inexpensive and reliable field test to identify foals affected by failure of passive transfer rather than an accurate method yielding quantitative results within the whole range of immunoglobulin concentrations. Objective: As the validity of the immunocrit method to detect failure of passive transfer in foals had not been evaluated before, the objective of this study was to test the ability of this method to detect the concentration of immunoglobulins in a large number of foal serum samples. Methods: Assay validation using samples collected for clinical purposes. Methods: The immunocrit test, using a 40% ammonium sulphate solution, was used to measure the concentration of immunoglobulins in serum samples from 211 newborn Thoroughbred foals. The results were compared, by statistical analysis, with those of agarose gel electrophoresis, a reference quantitative method. Results: The values obtained by the immunocrit method were significantly correlated (R = .871; P < .001) with those measured by agarose gel electrophoresis. A cut-off value of 8 g/L of serum immunoglobulins by agarose gel electrophoresis and its equivalent of 9.5% for the immunocrit test was indicative of failure of passive transfer. The sensitivity and specificity of the immunocrit method at this cut-off point were 94% (95% CI, 90-97.3) and 82% (95% CI, 72.13-91.8) respectively. Conclusions: Variable times of sample extraction after colostrum suckling, over the study period. Conclusions: The immunocrit test provides a quantitative, quick, inexpensive, reliable and objective method to detect failure of passive transfer of maternal immunity in newborn foals, which is easy to perform directly in horse farms, with minimum laboratory equipment.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-24 PubMed ID: 31975477DOI: 10.1111/evj.13237Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the effectiveness of the immunocrit method in the detection of the failure of passive immunity transfer in newborn foals. The study found that this cost-effective, quick, and reliable test shows significant correlation with agarose gel electrophoresis, a standard quantitative method, showing its potential use in equine practice.

Objective:

  • The aim of this research is to evaluate the validity of the immunocrit method in detecting failure of passive transfer of immunity in newborn foals. This is fundamental as failed passive transfer of immunity from mother to foal can result in severe health complications for the foal.

Methods:

  • The study used the immunocrit test with a 40% ammonium sulphate solution to measure the concentration of immunoglobulins in serum samples from 211 thoroughbred foal newborns.
  • The results of immunocrit were statistically compared with that of agarose gel electrophoresis, a standard quantitative method for estimating immunoglobulins.

Results:

  • The findings showed that immunocrit results significantly correlated with those measured by agarose gel electrophoresis with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.871.
  • A cut-off value of 8g/L of serum immunoglobulins by agarose gel electrophoresis and 9.5% for the immunocrit test was indicative of the failure of passive transfer.
  • The sensitivity of the immunocrit method, which is the ability of the test to correctly identify foals with the failure of passive transfer, was 94% and specificity, the ability to correctly identify those without failure was 82%.

Conclusions:

  • Due to variable times of sample extraction after colostrum suckling, the values obtained might slightly vary over the study.
  • The findings concluded that immunocrit test is a cost-effective, fast, reliable, and objective method for detecting the failure of passive transfer of maternal immunity in newborn foals that can be performed directly in horse farms with minimal laboratory requirements.

Cite This Article

APA
Mortola E, Miceli G, Alarcon L, Azcurra M, Larsen A. (2020). Assessment of the immunocrit method to detect failure of passive immunity in newborn foals. Equine Vet J, 52(5), 760-764. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13237

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 5
Pages: 760-764

Researcher Affiliations

Mortola, Eduardo
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
  • CEMIBA (Research Center for basic and Applied Microbiology), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
Miceli, Graciela
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
Alarcon, Laura
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
Azcurra, Mirian
  • Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
Larsen, Alejandra
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
  • CEMIBA (Research Center for basic and Applied Microbiology), Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Colostrum
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Immunity, Maternally-Acquired
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Pregnancy
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Sagrera M, Sibila M, Martínez-Boixaderas N, Llorens AM, Espigares D, Pastor J, Garza-Moreno L, Segalés J. Can immunocrit be used as a monitoring tool for swine vaccination and infection studies?. Porcine Health Manag 2024 Aug 23;10(1):30.
    doi: 10.1186/s40813-024-00380-ypubmed: 39180120google scholar: lookup
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