title: Short communication: Evaluation of serum immunoglobulin G concentrations using an automated turbidimetric immunoassay in dairy calves.
abstract: The absorption of maternal antibodies associated with colostrum feeding is critical to the health of calves. Multiple assays have been described to assess serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations in calves. However, none are ideal for routine use on farms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a new commercially available immunoassay and portable analyzer for measuring serum IgG concentrations in dairy calves. Serum from 100 Holstein calves that had received colostrum was collected for this study. Immunoglobulin G concentrations were run on each calf using both the rapid immunoassay method and radial immunodiffusion assay. Serum IgG concentrations in calves from this study ranged from 460 to 3,640 mg/dL (mean ± SD: 1,515 ± 71) as measured by radial immunodiffusion and 402 to 3,586 mg/dL (mean 1,473 ± 70) as measured by the immunoassay. Based on regression analysis, the automated results closely paralleled those obtained by radial immunodiffusion with a coefficient of determination value of 0.98. Based on the results of this study, the immunoassay technique using the portable analyzer represents a reliable method that can be run within 15 min and provide an accurate serum IgG level. Although the cost is not insignificant, this assay could be easily implemented on a dairy farm to help monitor transfer of passive immunity.
authors: Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607, USA. Mark_alley@ncsu.edu
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Alley
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Haines
authors: G W
authors: GW
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000662:veterinary*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G