title: Inadequate passive immune transfer in puppies: definition, risk factors and prevention in a large multi-breed kennel.
abstract: The prevalence of neonatal mortality is high in the canine species and far from well-studied. In most domestic neonates, an appropriate colostrum intake is a key element of the control of neonatal mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of passive immune transfer on puppy mortality, assessed through serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration at 2 days of age. Factors impacting passive immune transfer and the value of an oral immunoglobulin supplementation to prevent it were also analyzed. A total of 149 puppies from 34 litters (12 breeds) within one breeding kennel were included. Blood samples were collected at 2 days of age and colostrum was collected from their dams 1 day after whelping to assay IgG concentration. Puppies were weighed at birth and at 2 days of age for calculation of growth rate. Mortality was recorded until 3 weeks of age. Seventy randomly assigned puppies were orally supplemented with hyper-immunized adult plasma twice within the first 8h of life. IgG concentration at 2 days of age was significantly correlated with weight gain during the first 2 days of life. The multivariable model with litter as a random effect demonstrated that neonatal mortality was not influenced by breed size, sex, supplementation, litter size, nor colostrum IgG concentration, but by puppy IgG concentration at 2 days of age. According to the ROC curve, the minimal IgG concentration at and below which puppies were at higher risk of death was determined at 230 mg/dl. Puppy IgG concentration was significantly associated with growth rate, but not with breed size, sex, supplementation, litter size or colostrum IgG concentration in a multivariable model with litter as a random effect. This study demonstrates that neonatal mortality in puppies is related to the quality of passive immune transfer. The oral supplementation with hyper-immunized canine plasma neither decreased risk of mortality, nor improved serum IgG concentration at 2 days of age in puppies. Attention must thus be paid to early colostrum intake to control the neonatal mortality in puppies.
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225, IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France; INRA, UMR1225, IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France; Royal Canin, 650 Avenue de la Petite Camargue, Aimargues, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mila
authors.affiliation: Royal Canin, 650 Avenue de la Petite Camargue, Aimargues, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feugier
authors.affiliation: Royal Canin, 650 Avenue de la Petite Camargue, Aimargues, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grellet
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225, IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anne
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225, IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonnier
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225, IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225, IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossig
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, UMR 1225, IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France; INRA, UMR1225, IHAP, F-31076 Toulouse, France. Electronic address: s.chastant@envt.fr.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chastant-Maillard
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality*; D004285:Dogs / Q000254:growth & development; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000662:veterinary*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Colostrum; Immunoglobulin G; Mortality; Passive immune transfer; Puppy; Supplementation