Serum Protein Reference Values in Foals During the First Year of Life: Comparison of Chemical and Electrophoretic Methods

Abstract

Normal reference values for serum proteins of foals from birth to 1 year of age have been established. Chemical and electrophoretic/refractometric methods for total protein, albumin, total globulin and Albumin/Globulin (A/G ratio) have also been compared. The biuret total protein method and Bromcresol Green (BCG) method on the Technicon SMA 12/60 autoanalyzer were used and compared with total protein determined via refractometry and albumin determined by Cellulose Acetate (CA) electrophoresis/densitometry. Globulin and A/G ratios were calculated from the chemical method data and compared with that obtained electrophoretically. Total protein, albumin, total globulins and A/G ratios all were in agreement at all sample times studied. Data on the subfractionation of serum globulins via CA electrophoresis is also presented. Wide variations in alpha and beta globulin levels were noted among the foal sera early in life. As a result, two distinct populations of foals with respect to both globulin content and A/G ratio were identified. One of these populations (Group A) appeared to have obtained passive immunity more slowly than the other (Group B) animals. Comparison of these data with clinical cases of foals in which failure of passive transfer was a part suggests that the A/G ratio may be useful in assessing adequate colostral antibody levels in the newborn foal.

Serum proteins profile in Comisana lambs during the first month of life

“…According to other authors that studied the course of these parameters in calf, foals (Bauer et al 1985, Piccione et al 2009) and lambs (Eales & Small 1981, Chen et al 1999, Arguello et al 2004, Nowak & Poindron 2006, total proteins and serum immunoglobulin levels showed the highest peak on the first day of life. In particular, our data showed that in the development from birth to the first months of life, total proteins exhibited a decrease on day 4 and then increase progressively until the end of the first month of life.…”

Haematology: Haematological and blood biochemical characteristics of Dutch warmblood foals managed under three different rearing conditions from birth to 5 months of age

“…Reference values are mainly influenced by animal species, breed, and age (2,3,6,8,10,11,15,16,19,20). Age-related changes have been shown to be important, especially in the first year of life (1)(2)(3)7,10,19,20).…”

Serum total proteins and related electrophoretic fractions in growing foals

“…It is known that the immune system in mammals is poorly developed at birth; thus newborns are characterized by minimal quantities of immunoglobulins (Bauer et al, 1985;Knottenbelt et al, 2004;Hurcombe et al, 2012) and are dependent on antibodies transfer from the mother through the colostrum (Bauer et al, 1985;Sjaastad et al, 2003). The colostrum contains substances that block trypsin's action and exert a suppressive effect on the foal's endogenous immunoglobulin production (Giguère and Polkes, 2005).…”

“…Wide variations in the serum levels of total proteins and their fractions were showed during the first year of life in newborn animals (Sato et al, 1979;Bauer et al, 1985;Piccione et al, 2009Piccione et al, , 2013a.…”