Complement activity and selected hematologic variables in newborn foals fed bovine colostrum.
Serum complement activity and selected hematologic variables were evaluated in 5 newborn foals fed bovine colostrum (principal group) and 6 foals allowed to nurse their dam (control group). Also, bovine colostrum was evaluated for anti-equine antibodies. Precolostral serum hemolytic and conglutinating complement activities were low and increased similarly in foals of both groups to reach adult values between 1 and 3 weeks after birth. Bovine colostrum strongly agglutinated, but did not hemolyse principal foals' RBC and blood containing all known equine blood group alloantigens. Hemolysis was not detected after administration of bovine colostrum. Physiologic anemia developed in foals of principal and control groups during the first week of life. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility in foals of the principal group prior to and after the ingestion of colostrum remained unchanged. However, at 36 hours after birth, there was a significant decrease in erythrocyte osmotic fragility in foals fed homologous colostrum.
Lavoie
J P
JP
Department of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
Spensley
M S
MS
Smith
B P
BP
Bowling
A T
AT
Morse
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D015941:Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D009996:Osmotic Fragility
D001798:Blood Proteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins