Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Opsonic capacity of foal serum for the two neonatal pathogens Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus equuli.
Abstract: Two of the most commonly isolated foal pathogens are Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus equuli. The hypothesis tested in this study was that young foals carry a lower opsonic capacity for these bacteria compared to adult horses. A flow-cytometric method for the phagocytosis of these by equine neutrophils was established. The opsonic capacity of serum from healthy foals from birth to age 6 weeks was evaluated and related to the concentrations of IgGa and IgGb. Phagocytosis of yeast was used as a control. Serum was required for phagocytosis, with higher concentrations for E. coli than for A. equuli. Ingestion of colostrum led to a significantly higher serum opsonic capacity. After that, there was no consistent age-related trend for opsonic capacity for the different microbes. Foal serum showed similar or higher opsonisation of E. coli and A. equuli compared to serum from mature individuals. During the studied period, the predominance among IgG subisotypes switched from IgGb to IgGa. Although the overall correlation between concentrations of IgG subisotypes and serum opsonic capacity was poor, sera with IgGb levels below 1.9 mg/ml induced lower opsonisation of E. coli and yeast, but not of A. equuli. Complement activation was important for opsonisation of all tested microbes. The results of this study are significant to the understanding of a key immunological facet in the pathophysiology of equine neonatal septicaemia in clinical practice.
Publication Date: 2002-01-05 PubMed ID: 11770988DOI: 10.2746/042516401776249381Google 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.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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.
The research paper investigates the capacity of young foal serum to recognize and respond to two common pathogens, Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus equuli, in comparison to mature horses.
Objective of the Study
The experiment aims to test the hypothesis that young foals have a lower capability (opsonic capacity) to recognize and eliminate these common pathogens compared to mature horses.
Method
- The researchers established a flow-cytometric method to measure the process of phagocytosis, by which equine neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) ingest these bacteria.
- The study used serum from healthy foals sampled from birth until they were 6 weeks old. The opsonic capacity of these samples was measured and related to the concentrations of two classes of immunoglobulins (IgG), namely IgGa and IgGb.
- Phagocytosis of yeast served as a control in the experiment.
Results
- Results showed that serum is required for phagocytosis. Higher concentration of serum was needed for E. coli than for A. equuli.
- Ingestion of colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk produced after giving birth, significantly increased the opsonic capacity of the foal’s serum.
- No consistent age-related trends were found for the serum’s opsonic capacity towards the different microbes after the ingestion of colostrum.
- The concentration of IgG subisotypes switched from mainly IgGb to predominantly IgGa in the studied period. However, there was a poor overall correlation between concentrations of IgG subisotypes and serum opsonic capacity.
Conclusion
Foal serum exhibited a similar or even higher potential to opsonize E. coli and A. equuli in comparison to serum from mature horses. The study’s findings significantly contribute to understanding a vital aspect of immune response in the pathophysiology of equine neonatal septicaemia in veterinary practice. It underscores the importance of colostrum ingestion and complement activation in enhancing a foal’s immune defense against infectious microbes.
Cite This Article
APA
Gröndahl G, Sternberg S, Jensen-Waern M, Johannisson A.
(2002).
Opsonic capacity of foal serum for the two neonatal pathogens Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus equuli.
Equine Vet J, 33(7), 670-675.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516401776249381 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
MeSH Terms
- Actinobacillus / immunology
- Actinobacillus Infections / immunology
- Actinobacillus Infections / veterinary
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / blood
- Animals, Newborn / immunology
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
- Colostrum / immunology
- Complement Activation
- Escherichia coli / immunology
- Escherichia coli Infections / immunology
- Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Flow Cytometry / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Immunoglobulin G / immunology
- Neutrophils / immunology
- Opsonin Proteins / blood
- Opsonin Proteins / immunology
- Phagocytosis / immunology
- Sepsis / immunology
- Sepsis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Cohen ND, Kahn SK, Cywes-Bentley C, Ramirez-Cortez S, Schuckert AE, Vinacur M, Bordin AI, Pier GB. Serum Antibody Activity against Poly-N-Acetyl Glucosamine (PNAG), but Not PNAG Vaccination Status, Is Associated with Protecting Newborn Foals against Intrabronchial Infection with Rhodococcus equi. Microbiol Spectr 2021 Sep 3;9(1):e0063821.
- Folmar CN, Cywes-Bentley C, Bordin AI, Rocha JN, Bray JM, Kahn SK, Schuckert AE, Pier GB, Cohen ND. In vitro evaluation of complement deposition and opsonophagocytic killing of Rhodococcus equi mediated by poly-N-acetyl glucosamine hyperimmune plasma compared to commercial plasma products. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1493-1499.
- Erganis O, Sayin Z, Hadimli HH, Sakmanoglu A, Pinarkara Y, Ozdemir O, Maden M. The effectiveness of anti-R. equi hyperimmune plasma against R. equi challenge in thoroughbred Arabian foals of mares vaccinated with R. equi vaccine. ScientificWorldJournal 2014;2014:480732.
- Lewis MJ, Wagner B, Woof JM. The different effector function capabilities of the seven equine IgG subclasses have implications for vaccine strategies. Mol Immunol 2008 Feb;45(3):818-27.
- Lopez AM, Hines MT, Palmer GH, Alperin DC, Hines SA. Identification of pulmonary T-lymphocyte and serum antibody isotype responses associated with protection against Rhodococcus equi. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2002 Nov;9(6):1270-6.
- Villalba-Orero M, Gómez CA, Valero-Gónzalez M, Venegas N, Criado G, Martín-Cuervo M. Blood parameters in neonatal foal and colostrum quality as possible early markers for increased risk of developing Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1654052.
- Gao T, Liu X, Qiu D, Li Y, Qiu Z, Qi J, Li S, Guo X, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Gao X, Ma Y, Ma T. Ex Vivo Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Integration Model of Cefquinome Against Escherichia coli in Foals. Vet Sci 2025 Mar 22;12(4).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
