Failure of Passive Transfer in Horses

Infectious disease is a major cause of death in neonatal foals. The foal is born immunocompetent, meaning it probably is able to initiate an immune response to organisms to which it is exposed. However, a newborn foal lacks

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Infectious disease is a major cause of death in neonatal foals. The foal is born immunocompetent, meaning it probably is able to initiate an immune response to organisms to which it is exposed. However, a newborn foal lacks protective immunoglobulins at birth, and that lack of protection can allow organisms to overwhelm the foal before it can mount a suitable defense. The most important host defense in the newborn horse is the passive transfer of antibodies in the form of immunoglobulins from the mare to the neonate through colostrum.

Mare and Foal

Approximately 25 percent of newborn foals will experience some level of failure of passive transfer. Barbara D. Livingston Photo

Unlike humans, in horses there is no natural transfer of antibodies through the mother’s placenta. It therefore is necessary for the newborn foal to obtain antibodies through the mother’s milk shortly after birth. The early milk (colostrum) is rich in immunoglobulins provided by the mother. The ingestion of colostrum by the newborn allows for passive transfer of immunoglobulins, which provide almost immediate immunity to the foal. Foals which do not receive these antibodies are at high risk and are diagnosed as having a condition known as failure of passive transfer (FPT). Approximately 25% of newborn foals will experience some level of FPT

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Written by:

Edward Squires, BS, MS, PhD, is a professor at University of Kentucky and the Director of Industry Relations for The Gluck Equine Research Center. Squires authored Understanding The Stallion

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