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Home / Equine Research Bank / Heliyon / Evaluation of jennies’ colostrum: IgG concentrations a...
Heliyon2020; 6(8); e04598; doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04598

Evaluation of jennies’ colostrum: IgG concentrations and absorption in the donkey foals. A preliminary study.

Abstract: Immunoglobulin type G (IgG) concentration both in jennies' colostrum and in serum of donkey foals are mostly unknown in the first 24 h after delivery. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the IgG concentrations of colostrum during the first 24 h of lactation of Amiata jennies, the absorption of colostrum and the weekly body weight gain of the donkey foals. IgG concentrations were assessed in the jennies' colostrum and in the serum of donkey foals. Colostrum was collected in 9 jennies ready after delivery, and at 6, 12, 24 h after foaling from both halves. Serum was collected at the same sampling times from 9 donkey foals. Donkey foals were weighted at birth and then weekly until the 28 days of life. Temporal changes of IgG concentrations in dam's colostrum and in donkey foal serum were analyzed by a linear regression model and a general linear model, respectively. Results showed that colostrum IgG concentration were similar between the left and the right half. Colostrum IgG concentrations decreased continuously throughout the time in all jennies by 0.0244 Log mg/mL hour. Serum IgG concentrations in donkey foals at birth was significantly lower compared to other times. No correlation was found between the colostrum IgG concentrations and the average weekly body weight gain of the donkey foal. The pattern of colostrum IgG levels in jennies and serum IgG concentration in donkey foals seem to be similar to what reported for equine. However, the donkey foals seem to be less agammaglobulinemic at birth compared to the horse foal. The pattern and both serum and colostrum concentrations evaluated in the Amiata donkeys were slightly different from results reported in other donkey breeds, underlying the importance of setting references specific to breed.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-03 PubMed ID: 32775752PubMed Central: PMC7399250DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04598Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research studies the concentration of Immunoglobulin type G (IgG) in colostrum produced by Amiata jennies (female donkeys), and how this colostrum is absorbed by donkey foals in their first 24 hours after delivery. Results indicate that the concentration of IgG in colostrum remains similar between the left and right halves of the jennies and decreases continuously over time. Foals show significantly lower serum IgG concentration at birth compared to other times, and there is no correlation between colostrum IgG concentrations and foals’ weekly body weight gain.

Evaluating IgG Concentration in Jennies’ Colostrum

  • The researchers tested the colostrum of 9 Amiata jennies after birth, and then again every six hours for 24 hours.
  • IgG concentration was measured in both halves of the jennies, with results showing consistency between the left and right halves.
  • The concentration of IgG was seen to decrease at a steady rate of 0.0244 Log mg/mL per hour. This decline was consistently observed in all examined jennies.

Assessing IgG Absorption in Donkey Foals

  • Serum was collected from 9 donkey foals at the same intervals as conducted for the study of the jennies. This allowed the researchers to assess the absorption of the colostrum by the foals.
  • The study observed that the serum IgG concentration in these foals was significantly lower at birth in comparison to later times.
  • A general linear model was used to their analyze the temporal changes in the foals’ serum IgG concentration.

Correlating Colostrum IgG Concentrations and Foal Body Weight Gain

  • In addition to testing IgG concentration, the researchers also recorded the body weight of the donkey foals at birth and then weekly for the first 28 days of their lives.
  • Contrary to what might be expected, no correlation was observed between the colostrum IgG concentrations and the average weekly body weight gain of the donkey foals.

Comparison with Previous Studies and Consideration of Breed

  • The pattern of colostrum IgG levels in jennies and the serum IgG concentration in donkey foals were found to be similar to those reported in equine studies.
  • However, the research noted that donkey foals seemed to be less agammaglobulinemic (having low gamma globulin or antibody levels) at birth compared to horse foals.
  • Despite these similarities, the IgG concentrations in colostrum and serum evaluated in the Amiata donkeys were slightly different from results reported in other donkey breeds. This highlighted the idea that breed-specific reference points may be necessary when conducting such studies.

Cite This Article

APA
(2020). Evaluation of jennies’ colostrum: IgG concentrations and absorption in the donkey foals. A preliminary study. Heliyon, 6(8), e04598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04598

Publication

Heliyon
ISSN: 2405-8440
NlmUniqueID: 101672560
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 6
Issue: 8
Pages: e04598
PII: e04598

Researcher Affiliations

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Nocera I, Bonelli F, Turini L, Madrigali A, Aliboni B, Sgorbini M. Evaluation of Ultrasound Measurement of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness in Dairy Jennies during the Periparturient Period. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 26;12(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12111359pubmed: 35681823google scholar: lookup
  2. 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
  3. Roncaglia-Pereira VA, Dumard CH, Monteiro-Machado M, Melo PA, Fonseca J, Meirelles L, Cunha-Ribeiro L, Souza P, da Silva JL, Castilho L, de Oliveira AC, Gomes AMO, Strauch MA. Long-Term Maintenance of High Neutralizing Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Titres in Mares' Milk and Offspring Serum After Pregnant Mares Immunization With SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Vet Med Sci 2025 Sep;11(5):e70488.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.70488pubmed: 40699548google scholar: lookup
  4. 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.
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