FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2020-06-24 PubMed ID: 32617073PubMed Central: PMC7316699DOI: 10.1294/jes.31.29Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Aoki T, Ishii M. Hematological and biochemical profiles in peripartum mares and neonatal foals (Heavy Draft Horse). J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2012;32:170–176.
  2. Aoki T, Kimura Y, Oya A, Chiba A, Ishii M, Nambo Y. Hematological and biochemical features of postpartum fever in the heavy draft mare.. J Equine Sci 2016;27(1):13-6.
    pmc: PMC4828247pubmed: 27073331doi: 10.1294/jes.27.13google scholar: lookup
  3. Chavatte P, Clément F, Cash R, Grongnet JF. Field determination of colostrum quality by using a novel, practical method. 44th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Baltimore 1998.
  4. Chiba A, Aoki T, Itoh M, Yamagishi N, Shibano K. Hematological and blood biochemical characteristics of newborn Heavy draft foals after dystocia. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2017;50:69–75.
  5. Erhard MH, Luft C, Remler HP, Stangassinger M. Assessment of colostral transfer and systemic availability of immunoglobulin G in new-born foals using a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system.. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2001 Jun;85(5-6):164-73.
    pubmed: 11686785doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0396.2001.00313.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  6. Frazer GS, Perkins NR, Embertson RM. Normal parturition and evaluation of the mare in dystocia. Equine Vet. Educ. 1999;11:41–46.
  7. Jeffcott LB. Duration of permeability of the intestine to macromolecules in the newly-born foal.. Vet Rec 1971 Mar 27;88(13):340-1.
    pubmed: 4102570doi: 10.1136/vr.88.13.340google scholar: lookup
  8. Jennings WE. Some common problems in horse breeding. Cornell Vet. 1941;31:197–215.
  9. Kenzig AR, O’Meara KM, Kremer CJ, Jogan KS, Jack NE, Cole K. Colostral, milk and serum immunoglobulin G concentrations in quarter horse mares and their foals. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2009;29:486–487.
  10. Kimura Y, Aoki T, Chiba A, Nambo Y. Effects of dystocia on blood gas parameters, acid-base balance and serum lactate concentration in heavy draft newborn foals.. J Equine Sci 2017;28(1):27-30.
    pmc: PMC5383628pubmed: 28400704doi: 10.1294/jes.28.27google scholar: lookup
  11. Knottenbelt DC, Holdstock N, Madigan JE. The role of colostrum in immunity. Equine Neonatology, Medicine and Surgery 2004;pp. 15−18.
  12. Kohn CW, Knight D, Hueston W, Jacobs R, Reed SM. Colostral and serum IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations in Standardbred mares and their foals at parturition.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989 Jul 1;195(1):64-8.
    pubmed: 2759897
  13. Koterba AM, Brewer BD, Tarplee FA. Clinical and clinicopathological characteristics of the septicaemic neonatal foal: review of 38 cases.. Equine Vet J 1984 Jul;16(4):376-82.
    pubmed: 6479139doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1984.tb01950.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  14. Krakowski L, Krzyzanowski J, Wrona Z, Siwicki AK. The effect of nonspecific immunostimulation of pregnant mares with 1,3/1,6 glucan and levamisole on the immunoglobulins levels in colostrum, selected indices of nonspecific cellular and humoral immunity in foals in neonatal and postnatal period.. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 1999 Mar 29;68(1):1-11.
    pubmed: 10231947doi: 10.1016/s0165-2427(99)00006-9google scholar: lookup
  15. LeBlanc MM, Tran T, Baldwin JL, Pritchard EL. Factors that influence passive transfer of immunoglobulins in foals.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1992 Jan 15;200(2):179-83.
    pubmed: 1559872
  16. McGuire TC, Crawford TB. Passive immunity in the foal: measurement of immunoglobulin classes and specific antibody.. Am J Vet Res 1973 Oct;34(10):1299-303.
    pubmed: 4355952
  17. McGuire TC, Crawford TB, Hallowell AL, Macomber LE. Failure of colostral immunoglobulin transfer as an explanation for most infections and deaths of neonatal foals.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1977 Jun 1;170(11):1302-4.
    pubmed: 863776
  18. Morris DD, Meirs DA, Merryman GS. Passive transfer failure in horses: incidence and causative factors on a breeding farm.. Am J Vet Res 1985 Nov;46(11):2294-9.
    pubmed: 4073639
  19. Otaki M. The policy concerning military horses in the imperial Japan and the modernization of horse-breeding, using and distribution. Jpn. J. Vet. Hist. 2016;53:32–40(in Japanese).
  20. Pearson RC, Hallowell AL, Bayly WM, Torbeck RL, Perryman LE. Times of appearance and disappearance of colostral IgG in the mare.. Am J Vet Res 1984 Jan;45(1):186-90.
    pubmed: 6703455
  21. Raidal SL. The incidence and consequences of failure of passive transfer of immunity on a thoroughbred breeding farm.. Aust Vet J 1996 Jun;73(6):201-6.
    pubmed: 8893988doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1996.tb10035.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  22. Rouse BT, Ingram DG. The total protein and immunoglobulin profile of equine colostrum and milk.. Immunology 1970 Dec;19(6):901-7.
    pmc: PMC1455671pubmed: 4992198
  23. Rousseau É. Horses of the Far East and Southeast Asia. Horses of the World, Princeton University Press, Princeton 2017;pp. 337−390.
  24. Sedlinská M, Krejcí J, Vyskočil M, Kudláčková H. Postnatal development of blood serum concentrations of immunoglobulin IgG, IgA and IgM isotypes in suckling foals. Acta Vet. Brno 2006;75:175–182.
  25. Suh GH, Hur TY, Son DS, Choe CY, Jung YH, Ahn BS, Lee CY, Lee CG. Differences in the serum immunoglobulin concentrations between dairy and beef calves from birth to 14 days of age.. J Vet Sci 2003 Dec;4(3):257-60.
    pubmed: 14685031
  26. Threlfall WR. Retained fetal membranes. Equine Reproduction, 2nd ed. 2011;pp. 2520–2529.
  27. Tscheschlok L, Venner M, Howard J. Comparison of IgG concentrations by radial immunodiffusion, electrophoretic gamma globulin concentrations and total globulins in neonatal foals.. Equine Vet J 2017 Mar;49(2):149-154.
    pubmed: 27037614doi: 10.1111/evj.12575google scholar: lookup
  28. Vandeplassche M. Dystocia. Equine Reproduction 1993;pp. 578–587.
  29. Vivrette S. Assessment and modification of passive transfer. Equine Reproduction, 2nd ed. 2011;pp. 346−352.
  30. Waldner CL, Rosengren LB. Factors associated with serum immunoglobulin levels in beef calves from Alberta and Saskatchewan and association between passive transfer and health outcomes.. Can Vet J 2009 Mar;50(3):275-81.
    pmc: PMC2643452pubmed: 19436479

Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Bienboire-Frosini C, Muns R, Marcet-Rius M, Gazzano A, Villanueva-García D, Martínez-Burnes J, Domínguez-Oliva A, Lezama-García K, Casas-Alvarado A, Mota-Rojas D. Vitality in Newborn Farm Animals: Adverse Factors, Physiological Responses, Pharmacological Therapies, and Physical Methods to Increase Neonate Vigor. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 4;13(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13091542pubmed: 37174579google scholar: lookup
  2. Lanci A, Perina F, Donadoni A, Castagnetti C, Mariella J. Dystocia in the Standardbred Mare: A Retrospective Study from 2004 to 2020. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 8;12(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12121486pubmed: 35739823google scholar: lookup
  3. Turini L, Bonelli F, Nocera I, Meucci V, Conte G, Sgorbini M. Evaluation of Different Methods to Estimate the Transfer of Immunity in Donkey Foals Fed with Colostrum of Good IgG Quality: A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 15;11(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11020507pubmed: 33672086google scholar: lookup
  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.
    doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1654693pubmed: 41194920google scholar: lookup
  5. Gallacher K, Champion K, Denholm KS. Mare colostrum quality and relationship with foal serum immunoglobulin G concentrations and average daily weight gains. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):904-914.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14471pubmed: 39814454google scholar: lookup
  6. Terpeluk ER, Schäfer J, Finkler-Schade C, Rauch E, Rohn K, Schuberth HJ. Feeding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product to Mares in Late Gestation Alters the Biological Activity of Colostrum. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 24;14(17).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14172459pubmed: 39272244google scholar: lookup
  7. Turini L, Francesca B, Matilde V, Francesca B, Valentina M, Micaela S. Immunity transfer in mule foals fed with good IgG quality colostrum. Heliyon 2024 Feb 15;10(3):e25560.
    doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25560pubmed: 38327457google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,850 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.