Effect of Supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and β-glucans to Mares During Late Gestation on Colostrum Quality and Passive Transfer of Immunity in Foals.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or β-glucan, in the maternal diet during late pregnancy affects the concentration of total IgG in the colostrum of mares and influences the concentration of IgG in its foals. A total of 21 pregnant mares were used, aged 6±2 years, 3±1 pregnancies, 450±50kg in weight, and they were distributed into three groups: the control group (n=7); the S. cerevisiae group (n=7), which received 10CFU of S. cerevisiae orally; and the β-glucan group (n=7), which received 0.35g of β-glucan orally. All groups started from the 300th day of their pregnancies until delivery. Samples of colostrum and serum from the mares were collected immediately after delivery. Blood samples from their foals were collected 12h after birth. The IgG measurement was performed using radial immunodiffusion. The results underwent a variance analysis. Higher concentrations of IgG were observed in the colostrum of mares that were supplemented with β-glucans (74.14±15.25 g/L) when compared to the control group (53.80g±10.95g/L). Serum IgG concentrations of foals born to mares supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (11.57±5.05 g/L) showed a significant difference, with a higher concentration of IgG in the serum compared to the control group. Therefore, this study provides evidence that manipulation of the mares' diets in late gestation to add β-glucan increased the IgG concentration in their colostrum. The addition of S. cerevisiae appears to improve the concentration of IgG in their foals within 12h after birth.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-12-02 PubMed ID: 36464034DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104168Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study examined the effects of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and a type of sugar (β-glucan) supplementations on pregnant horses’ colostrum quality and the immunity transfer to their offspring. The results suggested that addition of these supplements in late pregnancy improved immune response in the newborn foals.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed to evaluate the impact of supplementing the diets of pregnant mares with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (a type of yeast) or β-glucan (a sugar found in the cell walls of yeast) on the quality of colostrum (the initial milk produced by mammals following delivery) and the subsequent immune system development in the newborn foals.
Study Design and Methodology
- The study used a total of 21 pregnant mares, distributed into three groups: a control group, a group supplemented with S. cerevisiae, and a group supplemented with β-glucan.
- Supplementation started from the 300th day of pregnancy and continued until delivery.
- Colostrum samples from the mares and blood samples from newborn foals were collected and subjected to IgG measurement using radial immunodiffusion, a testing method that measures specific antibodies in biological fluids.
Findings of the Study
- The researchers found that the mares supplemented with β-glucan had higher IgG concentrations in their colostrum compared to the mares in the control group.
- It was also observed that the foals born to mares supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae had significantly higher concentrations of IgG in their blood within 12 hours of birth compared to foals born to the mares in the control group.
Conclusion of the Study
- The study confirms that dietary manipulation of mares during late pregnancy with β-glucan boosts the IgG (a type of antibody) concentration in their colostrum, providing better immunity for their newborns.
- The results also demonstrate the possibility of enhancing the concentration of IgG in foals within 12 hours of birth by supplementing the diets of pregnant mares with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The increase in IgG concentration in newborn foals strengthens their immune systems, helping them to better fight off infections early in life.
Cite This Article
APA
Sobral GG, Gomes Neto OC, Carneiro GF.
(2022).
Effect of Supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and β-glucans to Mares During Late Gestation on Colostrum Quality and Passive Transfer of Immunity in Foals.
J Equine Vet Sci, 121, 104168.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104168 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. Electronic address: gilvannyas@gmail.com.
- Central Monte Verde de Reprodução Equina, Sairé, PE, Brazil.
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Pregnancy
- Horses
- Animals
- Female
- Colostrum
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- beta-Glucans
- Immunoglobulin G / analysis
- Parturition
- Dietary Supplements
- Immunization, Passive / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- 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).
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