Oral and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in neonatal foals

Newborn foals, deprived of colostrum and its rich supply of immunoglobulin G (IgG), were supplemented both orally and intravenously with purified equine immunoglobulin G (Lyphomune(R)). Data were obtained from 18 foals given oral administration of IgG at Colorado State University and 26 foals given IgG intravenously an the Jockey Club de Sao Paulo in Brazil. Oral administration of 10-gm doses of Lymphomune(R) in 18 colostrum-deprived Arabian foals, at various intervals within the first 24 hours after birth, resulted in increased serum concentrations of IgG. Administration of one 10-gm dose of Lyphomune(R) immediately following birth provided a mean serum IgG level of 125 mg/dl after two hours. The recommended dosage of two 10-gm doses per 15 kg of body weight produced mean IgG serum concentrations of approximately 400 mg/dl by 14 hours. It was determined that an early bolus of IgG was most effective, although administration at any period during the first 24 hours would increase IgG levels significantly and in direct relationship to grams of Lyphomune(R) administered. After the 24-hour study period, colostrum from each respective mare was provided by bottle feeding (200 ml) to 10 of the foals that were then allowed to nurse their dams normally. Significant increases in circulating IgG were observed in nine of these ten animals at four and eight hours after colostrum administration. No interfering effect was noted when colostrum and Lyphomune(R) were given to the same foal. Intravenous administration of 10-gm doses of Lyphomune(R) in Thoroughbred foals, immediately after birth, resulted in serum concentrations of IgG of 200-300 mg/dl six hours later. A second intravenous dose, at six hours after the initial dose, resulted in an additional average increase of 184 mg/dl. Four of six foals administered 10 gm of Lyphomune(R) for each 15 kg of body weight reached serum concentrations greater than 400 mg/dl. It was demonstrated that Lyphomune(R) was able to increase circulating levels of IgG, by either oral or intravenous administration, to levels considered protective in the newborn foal.