Therapy of suspected septicemia in neonatal foals using plasma-containing antibodies to core lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

The research investigated the efficacy of treating suspected septicemia in newborn horses using plasma that contains antibodies to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). It was found that this treatment did not significantly increase survival rate in the tested horses.

Introduction and Methodology

• The study was designed as a double-blind, prospective trial to assess the potential therapeutic benefit of equine antiserum to core lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in neaonatal foals manifesting signs of septicemia – a systemic infection often caused by the presence of bacteria or their toxins in the bloodstream.
• Forty neonatal foals, all under 7 days old and showing clinical and laboratory signs indicative of gram-negative septicemia, were included in the study.
• The treatment group consisted of 22 foals that received core LPS antiserum. This was plasma derived from horses that were hyperimmunized with a specific form of gram-negative mutant bacterin.
• A control group of 18 foals received “nonimmune” plasma, which was sourced from horses prior to immunization against core LPS.
• All the foals in the study also received additional treatments including antimicrobials, fluids, and other supportive care measures dictated by their symptomatic presentation and in accordance with current veterinary practice.
• Data was consistently collected over a 14-day period on the clinical signs and laboratory findings for each foal, or until death if it occurred within this timeframe.

Findings

• The overall survival rate observed among the 40 foals diagnosed with septicemia was reported to be 52.5%.
• Other common diagnoses alongside septicemia included conditions like enteritis and pneumonia.
• Out of the 30 positive bacterial cultures derived from the foals, it was found that 93% were due to gram-negative organisms.
• No statistically significant increase in survival rate was detected in the group of 22 foals that were administered the core LPS antiserum.

Conclusion

• The lack of a significant increase in survival rate following treatment with core LPS antiserum suggested that this therapeutic strategy may not be effective for suspected cases of septicemia in neonatal foals.