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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Sci / Colostral and foal serum immunoglobulin G levels and associa...
Journal of equine science2020; 31(2); 29-34; doi: 10.1294/jes.31.29

Colostral and foal serum immunoglobulin G levels and associations with perinatal abnormalities in heavy draft horses in Japan.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the colostral and foal serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration values in heavy draft horses in Japan and to examine the effects of peripartum mare condition on colostral immunity. Colostrum was obtained 1 hr after foaling (pre-suckling; n=178). Blood was collected from the jugular vein of the foals (n=147) at 24 to 48 hr after birth. The foaling statuses of 73 mares were recorded. The average colostral IgG concentration was 10,540 ± 3,190 mg/dl (median=10,928; range 1,434-17,514 mg/dl). The average serum IgG concentration obtained from neonatal foals 24 to 48 hr after birth was 1,750 ± 919 mg/dl (median=1,890; range 0-3,510 mg/dl). Although colostral IgG did not differ between the normal foaling mare (n=59) and dystocial mare (n=14), foal serum IgG was lower in foals born in dystocia than in foals in normal foaling (P<0.05). This study demonstrates reference values for colostral and foal serum IgG specific to heavy draft horses in Japan and suggests that dystocia may interfere with the acquisition of colostral immunity in neonatal foals.
©2020 The Japanese Society of Equine Science.
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Publication Date: 2020-06-24 PubMed ID: 32617073PubMed Central: PMC7316699DOI: 10.1294/jes.31.29Google 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 concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in colostrum and serum of newborn foals and how a mare’s condition around birth impacts these levels. It revealed that foals born from dystocia (difficulty in giving birth) have lower IgG levels compared to those born normally, suggesting that dystocia can disrupt the transfer of immunity through colostrum.

Method of Research

  • The researchers collected 178 colostrum samples one hour after delivery and 147 blood samples from the newborn foals’ jugular veins, 24 to 48 hours after birth.
  • They also recorded the foaling statuses of 73 mares, whether they had normal foaling or suffered from dystocia.

Findings of the Study

  • The average colostral IgG concentration was 10,540 ± 3,190 mg/dl (median=10,928; ranging from 1,434 to 17,514 mg/dl).
  • The average newborn foal serum IgG level, recorded 24 to 48 hours post-birth, was 1,750 ± 919 mg/dl (median=1,890; ranging from 0 to 3,510 mg/dl).
  • The colostral IgG levels weren’t significantly different between normal foaling mares (n=59) and dystocial mares (n=14). However, the foals born from dystocia had significantly lower serum IgG compared to those born normally.

Implications of the Study

  • This research provides reference values for colostral and foal serum IgG specific to heavy draft horses in Japan. These insights could serve as benchmarks for further studies or for clinical applications in this particular breed.
  • The study indicates that dystocia may interfere with the acquisition of immunity in newborn foals through colostrum. This suggests a negative impact on the immunity of foals born from dystocia and might direct veterinarians to facilitate additional care and monitoring for such foals to enhance their health and immunity in early life.

Cite This Article

APA
Aoki T, Chiba A, Itoh M, Nambo Y, Yamagishi N, Shibano KI, Cheong SH. (2020). Colostral and foal serum immunoglobulin G levels and associations with perinatal abnormalities in heavy draft horses in Japan. J Equine Sci, 31(2), 29-34. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.31.29

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 31
Issue: 2
Pages: 29-34

Researcher Affiliations

Aoki, Takahiro
  • Research Center for Global Agro-Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Chiba, Akiko
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
Itoh, Megumi
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Nambo, Yasuo
  • Research Center for Global Agro-Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Yamagishi, Norio
  • Research Center for Global Agro-Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Shibano, Ken-Ichi
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • Present address: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
Cheong, Soon Hon
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, NY 14853-6401, U.S.A.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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  4. Simonin EM, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S, Freer H, Tarsillo J, Wagner B. Early allergen introduction overrides allergy predisposition in offspring of horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity. Front Immunol 2025;16:1654693.
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