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  Discussion on Immune deficiencies, IGG is 0, both 6 and 39 hrs after foaling, Arab
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2002 - 11:45 am:

We have just foaled an Arabian filly, delivery was fine, but IGG was 0 at 6 hrs, and also 30 hrs. SCID is an Arab problem, but should the foal be 0 and is a lack of cholestrum indicated? She and mother are now at Vet getting serum treatment. Any suggestions, and if the serum treatment fails, is she a candidate for euthanasia? Quick responses would be appreciated, as a decision is probably less than two days away. Thanks

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2002 - 5:27 pm:

Hello James,
There is some confusion here. SCID is not related to neonates IgG levels since the source of the IgG is the MARE's colostrum. He will absorb this whether he is SCID or not. Unfortunately IgG is not enough without a competent immune system to go along with it.

Then again that does not mean the foal is not SCID but this is no way to make the diagnosis. The only reason for the serum transfusion to "fail" is due to it not being a inappropriate product. If you put the IgG in the blood it will be there. Why would you run an IgG at 6 hrs, this strikes me as a waste of time and money as it is too early to get accurate results?
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2002 - 10:51 pm:

Results from the first serum treatment are encouraging, up to 600, and seems that it must have been a case of the mare's colostrum being milked out a week previous to foaling. The mare was spraying milk on the 5th of April. At that point we prepared for the foaling to commence within several hours. Later that evening a very hard cold front came through and she must have just suspended the project. Anyway, I consulted with my regular vet and he didn't seem too concerned. He also didn't suggest that I milk the mare and freeze it, as the colostrum normally is in the first lactations, so I could give it to the colt when the foaling did happen. This is not the first disappointment with this particular Vet, but most assuredly it will be the last.

Mom and foal are seeming well, but some bleeding is still occuring with the mare, so the new vet is doing a "D&C" type of procedure to clean up any remaining tissue.

Needless to say, we are relieved. Thanks Dr. O for the timely reply. I did a little research on the SCID issue in Arab horses, and will be having my mare and both filly's tested to see if they carry the gene. I will also require that any potential future sire candidate have a negative test result also.

Posted on Thursday, Apr 18, 2002 - 7:22 am:

Excellent James,
I was surprised when the surveys came in revealing what a prevalent problem this is in Arabs. I will reiterate from the article to all those who breed Arabs: have them tested. Good luck with the foal and mare.
DrO
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