[The development of the IgG concentration in the blood serum of newborn foals].

The study explores how the concentration of IgG, an immune response protein, changes in the blood serum of newborn horses. Researchers found that while the protein level stayed steady in mother horses, it varied in their offspring, significantly increasing after the intake of colostrum, or first milk, and then decreasing after some time.

Study Objective and Methodology

• The main goal of this study was to monitor and understand the changes in the concentration of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the blood serum of newborn foals or young horses.
• The researchers analyzed the IgG concentration in both mares (mother horses) and their newborns.
• They also examined the IgG concentration in the colostrum, the first type of milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals soon after giving birth, which is known to hold high nutrition and immune support.

Findings

• The study found that the IgG concentration in the blood serum of the mares remained relatively stable during the study period, disputing previous research by Jeffcott in 1974, but aligning with the findings of Eisenhauer in 1981.
• The colostrum’s IgG concentration was significantly high during birth, but drastically dropped 96 hours after birth. Despite the decrease, newborn foals benefited from the initial high concentration of IgG in colostrum as their IgG concentration significantly increased after its ingestion and reached a peak around 18 hours post-birth.
• The study further shows that the IgG level in foals’ blood plummeted to meanG = 1170 mg/dl, 96 hours after birth despite having reached a peak only a few hours after birth. This suggests the transfer of antibodies from the mare to the foal does not continue beyond the initial breast feeding.
• The correlation between the change in IgG concentration in foals’ blood and the IgG concentration in colostrum was found to be significant, indicating that the colostrum is vital in transferring immunity from the mares to the newborn foals.

Significance of the Study

• This research plays a key role in understanding the immune response of foals and provides insight into the importance of colostrum in immunological development in newborn horses.
• The findings can help guide breeders, vets, and horse owners in ensuring the health of newborn foals through effective monitoring of IgG levels and colostrum intake.
• It can also serve as a foundation for further research into the development and sustenance of immunoglobulin levels in newborn mammals.