Reply-To: feellis@ucdavis.edu
To: horsepreviews@exchangepublishing.com
Subject: colosltrum bank
Your site on the colostrum bank is a pleasure to see. Here at
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at UC Davis, we deal with Neonatal
Isoerythrolysis cases on a daily basis. Distraught owners and
veterinarians call from all over the country with this problem. Because
we perform the serum screen for this test, we often have these owners
asking us (once they get a positive diagnosis), where to get colostrum
for their soon-to-be-born foals?
I don't know how familiar you are with Neonatal Isoerythrolysis, but
basically it consists of a mare producing antibodies against her foal's
red blood cells (somewhat similar to erthorblastosis fetalis in humans),
and the only way to avoid it is not allowing the foal to nurse the
colostrum from the mare. This foal needs an alternative source of
colostrum.
However, this colostrum must be screened for alloantibodies against red
blood cells, or you might be dealing with the same problem you had
originally.
Even mares who don't have a foal with NI symptoms may be producing
alloantibodies (if previously exposed to a different blood type by way
of previous breedings or blood transfusions) which won't be detected if
her foal has the same blood type as hers, but could harm, even kill,
another mare's foal who has an incompatible blood type.
Therefore, you might consider recommending to people who do store
colostrum, to separate a small amount (5-10 mls) and send it in to a
laboratory for alloantibody screening.
There are a few laboratories in the U.S. which perform this test. We
routinely do colostrum and serum antibody screening here at VGL, along
with blood typing and crossmatching. If you have any questions
regarding this test or Neonatal Isoerythrolysis, please feel free to
e-mail me or call (530)752-9284.
Again, it is nice to know there is an effort being made to help horse
owners who need colostrum for their foals. We will be referring our
callers to your page.
Sincerely,
Fran Kammerer
feellis@ucdavis.edu