Evaluation of treatment of colostrum-deprived kittens with equine IgG.

The study evaluates the effectiveness of horse immunoglobulin G (IgG) in treating kittens deprived of colostrum, with results indicating that while horse IgG can raise serum IgG concentrations in the kittens, it’s unable to enhance bacterial cell engulfment by feline neutrophils and thus may not be the best treatment for kittens with a failure in passive immunity transfer.

Research Methodology

• The study involved 13 pathogen-free queens and their 77 kittens.
• The kittens were divided into 9 groups: one group of kittens fed colostrum and eight groups of colostrum-deprived kittens were given either feline or equine IgG via orally or subcutaneously during the first 12 hours of birth.
• Blood samples were collected from birth to 56 days to monitor serum IgG concentrations.
• The ability of equine IgG to mark bacteria for destruction by feline neutrophils was assessed using flow cytometry.

Study Findings

• Kittens that received feline or equine IgG subcutaneously had significantly higher serum IgG concentrations than those of kittens that received the supplements orally.
• Only in kittens that were administered supplemental IgG subcutaneously were serum IgG concentrations deemed ample for protection against infection.
• In terms of lifespan, IgG in kittens treated with equine IgG lasted shorter than that in kittens treated with feline IgG.
• Feline IgG considerably boosted the engulfment of bacteria by feline neutrophils, but equine IgG did not exhibit this capability.

Conclusion

• While the administration of equine IgG can achieve serum concentrations considered protective against infection in kittens, its ineffectiveness in encouraging bacterial engulfment by feline neutrophils suggests that it may not be a suitable treatment for kittens with passive immunity transfer failure.