Evaluation of jennies' colostrum: IgG concentrations and absorption in the donkey foals. A preliminary study

Abstract

Immunoglobulin type G (IgG) concentration both in jennies' colostrum and in serum of donkey foals are mostly unknown in the first 24 h after delivery. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the IgG concentrations of colostrum during the first 24 h of lactation of Amiata jennies, the absorption of colostrum and the weekly body weight gain of the donkey foals. IgG concentrations were assessed in the jennies' colostrum and in the serum of donkey foals. Colostrum was collected in 9 jennies ready after delivery, and at 6, 12, 24 h after foaling from both halves. Serum was collected at the same sampling times from 9 donkey foals. Donkey foals were weighted at birth and then weekly until the 28 th days of life. Temporal changes of IgG concentrations in dam's colostrum and in donkey foal serum were analyzed by a linear regression model and a general linear model, respectively. Results showed that colostrum IgG concentration were similar between the left and the right half. Colostrum IgG concentrations decreased continuously throughout the time in all jennies by 0.0244 Log 10 mg/mL per hour. Serum IgG concentrations in donkey foals at birth was significantly lower compared to other times. No correlation was found between the colostrum IgG concentrations and the average weekly body weight gain of the donkey foal. The pattern of colostrum IgG levels in jennies and serum IgG concentration in donkey foals seem to be similar to what reported for equine. However, the donkey foals seem to be less agammaglobulinemic at birth compared to the horse foal. The pattern and both serum and colostrum concentrations evaluated in the Amiata donkeys were slightly different from results reported in other donkey breeds, underlying the importance of setting references specific to breed.

Evaluation of Different Methods to Estimate the Transfer of Immunity in Donkey Foals Fed with Colostrum of Good IgG Quality: A Preliminary Study

“…All the donkey foals were fed by their own dam with a good quality of colostrum within the first 3 h of life [ 23 , 24 ]. Colostrum has been evaluated as reported in Turini et al 2020 [ 3 ]. The mean ± standard deviation of the colostrum IgG concentration of the 9 Jennies before the foal’s nursing was 89.32 ± 26.43 g/L.…”

“…Despite donkey foals being born with a higher level of circulating antibodies compared to the equine foals, they still required a good amount of high quality colostrum due to the type of placentation [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Donkey placenta is diffuse and epitheliochorial with numerous microplacentomes consisting of a fetal microcotyledonary and a maternal microcaruncular part [ 1 ].…”

Survival rate of donkey foals: Status quo and improvement methods

“…Healthy foals are more likely to gain weight than those suffering from defects in immune passive transfer. Thus, colostrum quality and the degree of immune passive transfer must be evaluated (Turini et al, 2020).…”

Immunity transfer in mule foals fed with good IgG quality colostrum

“…Quality of colostrum and timing of first meal is crucial for a good transfer of immunity between mare and foal, representing the first challenge a mule foals must face and a critical point in new-born management. Colostrum concentration of immunoglobulins type G (IgG), the main actor of foals’ transfer of immunity, decreases dramatically 24 h after delivery, thus foals need to ingest an enough colostrum to absorb a sufficient amount of colostral IgG in the very first hours of life [ [5] , [6] , [7] ]. Unsuccessful feed timing, colostrum quality or quantity will lead to the failure of the Transfer of Passive Immunity (FTP) exposing the foal to potential severe infectious illnesses such as septicaemia, pneumonia, omphalitis, and septic arthritis [ [8] , [9] , [10] ].…”