Comparison of the reliability of snap foal Ig test, Gamma-Check E test, refractometry and electrophoresis for determining the immune status of newborn foals in the first hours of life.

This research compares the reliability of four methods for assessing the immune status of newborn foals. It indicates that while all four methods are reasonably reliable, the glutaraldehyde test performed marginally better than the others.

Research Methodology

• The conducted study involved 28 warmblood mares monitored during their late pregnancy at the Teaching Hospital of Ghent University.
• Two commercial assays were utilized to determine the IgG concentrations of the newborn foals. These assays were enzyme immunoassay and glutaraldehyde coagulation test.
• Mammary secretions from the mares were examined at the time of foaling, then 4 and 8 hours after foaling using refractometry and electrophoresis.
• Foals’ blood IgG levels were measured at the time of birth and 4 hours afterwards, using the two commercial test kits, SNAP Foal Ig and Gamma-Check E.
• Samples taken at birth, 4 hours after, and 8 hours after, were stored for immunoglobulin determination by electrophoresis.

Research Findings

• The study found discrepancies between the results of refractometry and electrophoresis in about 27.8% of the colostrum analyses.
• Serum IgG could be detected immediately postpartum in 75% of the foals.
• Around 42.82% of the newborn foals acquired a serum concentration of more than 800 mg/dl IgG within 8 hours of birth.
• When comparing to electrophoresis, the glutaraldehyde test performed better, with a success rate of 85%, versus 74% for the enzyme immunoassay.

Conclusion

• Despite minor discrepancies, the research concludes that both the enzyme immunoassay and glutaraldehyde coagulation test are practical and safe for use, as they accurately distinguish between safe and unsafe IgG concentrations.
• However, the study indicates that the glutaraldehyde test offers a slightly higher accuracy rate as compared to the other methods tested.