Administration of commercial Rhodococcus equi specific hyperimmune plasma results in variable amounts of IgG against pathogenic bacteria in foals

• Published in: Veterinary record 2014-11, Vol.175 (19), p.485-485
• Main Authors: Sanz, M. G., Oliveira, A. F., Page, A., Horohov, D. W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn - blood; Animals, Newborn - immunology; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Bacteria; Bacterial Proteins - blood; Bacterial Proteins - immunology; E coli; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - veterinary; Female; Horse Diseases - prevention & control; Horses; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulins; Plasma; Plasma - immunology; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Bacterial - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Bacterial - veterinary; Polyvinyl alcohol; Rhodococcus equi; Rhodococcus equi - immunology; Vaccines; Virulence Factors - blood; Virulence Factors - immunology
• ISSN: 0042-4900; 2042-7670
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.102594

Rhodococcus equi is the most common cause of pneumonia in young foals. A vaccine is not available and the use of R equi-specific hyperimmune plasma (HIP) is common. Despite its widespread use, the efficacy of HIP in preventing disease remains controversial. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the virulence associate protein A (VapA)-specific IgG and IgG subclasses in commercially available R equi HIP and (2) to evaluate serum VapA-specific IgG and IgG subclasses in foals following administration of commercial R equi HIP. Three different lots from four commercial R equi HIP were sampled. VapA-specific IgG and IgG subclasses were evaluated in all samples using an ELISA. Serum was collected from newborn foals either after commercial R equi HIP was administered (n=97) or not (n=70). Serum was also collected from each mare. Administration of HIP significantly (P