Prevalence of anti-red blood cel antibodies in the serum and colostrum of mares and its relationship to neonatal isoerythrolysis.

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Abstract

The sera of 390 pregnant Standardbred mares and 409 pregnant Thoroughbred mares were tested for anti-red blood cell (RBC) antibodies. Of the Standardbred mares and Thoroughbred mares, 20% and 10%, respectively, had anti-RBC antibodies detectable in hemolytic or saline agglutination tests. Most of the antibodies were specific for the CA blood-group antigen of horses. Other antibodies were specific for the Aa, Ab, Aa, Ab, Da, Df, Ka, Ua, or Qa blood-group antigens. The occurrence of these antibodies in the serum and colostrum was compared for 268 mares. With 3 exceptions, whenever antibodies were found in 1 sample, they were found in the other. When a mare had antibodies to the Aa or Qa blood group antigens which were reactive at serum dilutions of 1:16 or greater, colostrum was withheld from that mare's foal. This practice seemed justified, because 1 foal which accidently received colostrum with anti-Aa antibodies developed neonatal isoerythrolysis. All other foals were allowed to nurse their mares' colostrum. None of them developed neonatal isoerythrolysis, even when anti-RBC antibodies were found for blood-group antigens other than Aa or Qa which reacted with the foals' RBC in in vitro tests.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1917-1921
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Veterinary Research
Volume43
Issue number11
StatePublished - Nov 1982

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Veterinary

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