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  Discussion on At what point is a foal out of danger?
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Posted on Friday, Aug 3, 2001 - 8:49 am:

Hi Dr. O, and help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I read the article on failure of passive transfer and I have a couple of questions.

My roommate's mare foaled on July 12. The foal is a large healthy colt, who seems healthy. The only problem is his IgG test is around 400. He's had 3 plasma infusions and his IgG hasn't gone any higher. My roommate is worried sick that he's going to get an infection and die. The article says that the foal with a poor immune system will usually sicken and get infections by day 14. Is this a hard and fast number? This colt is now 3 weeks old, and hasn't had a single illness or infection. When will he be considered to be out of danger? Right now he is turned out to pasture with the other mares and foals, and is bright and active.

Thanks again for any help you can give.

Heidi

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2001 - 8:06 am:

No the two week number is not hard and fast and if the problem is lack of maternal antibodies infections can occur as early as day 2 and as late as a couple of months. After this the foals own immune system is generating antibodies. If his IgG is not improved immediately following infusion, something is wrong with the plasma I would think. Singly your best defense other than maintaining the IgG at around 400 is a very clean stress free environment.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 9, 2001 - 8:26 am:

Thanks for the information. I was wondering about the plasma when the number didn't go up. They gave him another plasma transfusion, but we haven't gotten the test results yet.

I have one other question. Does a foal that has low IgG levels have a greater chance of poor immunity when he's an adult? I was trying to find info. on this on the internet, but I couldn't find any studies.

Thanks again

Heidi

Posted on Monday, Aug 13, 2001 - 10:32 am:

No, the two are unrelated as a newborn's numbers are all passively derived from the mare's colostrum.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 13, 2001 - 4:35 pm:

Thanks for the info. Dr. O. That's what I thought, but my roommate didn't want to take just my work for it.

Heidi
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