Equine Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (2018)

Summary

The video script discusses neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI), a condition affecting newborns like foals and kittens, where maternal antibodies ingested through colostrum destroy the newborn's red blood cells. It can lead to hemolytic anemia and requires careful monitoring for symptoms like lethargy and tachycardia. Diagnosis involves blood tests, and prevention is possible through knowledge of the mare's blood type and administering alternative colostrum if incompatible. Treatment may include fluid support and blood transfusions if necessary.

Takeaways

• 🐎 Neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) is a disease that affects newborn foals, causing the destruction of red blood cells by maternal antibodies.
• 🔍 NI can also be known as hemolytic disease or hemolytic anemia, which are symptoms caused by the destruction of red blood cells.
• 👀 Symptoms of NI include weakness, lethargy, depression, and decreased responsiveness, but these can be common to many diseases.
• 👁️ Secondary symptoms like tachycardia, tachypnea, and pale or icteric (yellowish) mucosa are more specific indicators of NI.
• 🩺 Diagnosis of NI can be challenging due to overlapping symptoms with other diseases, but laboratory blood testing can reveal a packed cell volume of less than 30%.
• 🧬 The condition arises when a foal inherits a blood type different from the mare, causing the mare's antibodies to attack the foal's blood cells.
• 🚫 The disease is more common in first-time pregnancies where the mare has not been previously exposed to a different blood type.
• 🛑 Prevention is possible by knowing the blood types of the mare and stallion before breeding and ensuring the foal receives colostrum from a compatible source within 24 hours.
• 💉 Treatment involves monitoring symptoms and providing nutrients via a nasal gastric tube if the foal is unable to nurse within the critical 24-hour window.
• 🩸 Blood transfusions are only necessary if the packed cell volume drops below 12 percent, and death can occur if the foal is exposed to a high amount of incompatible antibodies.

Q & A

What is neonatal isoerythrolysis?

Neonatal isoerythrolysis is a condition where newborns' red blood cells are destroyed by maternal antibodies ingested through colostrum, leading to hemolytic disease or anemia.

Which animals are typically affected by neonatal isoerythrolysis?

This condition is typically found in foals (horses or mules) and can also occur in kittens, but the focus of the project is on horses.

What are the initial symptoms a horse owner might notice in a foal affected by neonatal isoerythrolysis?

Initial symptoms can include weakness, lethargy, depression, and decreased responsiveness. However, these symptoms can be common to many diseases.

What are some secondary symptoms that may be easier to identify in a foal with neonatal isoerythrolysis?

Secondary symptoms include tachycardia, tachypnea, and pale or icteric (yellowish) mucous membranes, which can be a clinical sign of the disease.

How can seizures be related to neonatal isoerythrolysis in a foal?

Seizures can occur due to cerebral hypoxia, which is a lack of oxygen to the brain, as a result of the destruction of red blood cells leading to anemia.

What laboratory tests can help diagnose neonatal isoerythrolysis in a foal?

Laboratory blood testing can reveal a packed cell volume of less than 30%, elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, and the presence of hemoglobin in the urine.

What is the significance of the antibody test in diagnosing neonatal isoerythrolysis?

The antibody test involves mixing the mare's serum with the foal's washed red blood cells and an exogenous complement. If lysis of the foal's red blood cells occurs, the test is positive for neonatal isoerythrolysis.

Why is it important for the mare to have been previously exposed to the stallion's blood type to prevent neonatal isoerythrolysis?

If the mare has been previously exposed to the stallion's blood type, she will have developed antibodies, and the risk of neonatal isoerythrolysis is reduced because her immune system is prepared.

How does the placentation in horses contribute to the development of neonatal isoerythrolysis?

Horses have an epitheliochorial placental attachment, which means the blood of the dam and the embryo never directly touches, preventing blood transfer during pregnancy and thus the mare's exposure to the foal's blood type.

What is the treatment for neonatal isoerythrolysis in foals?

Treatment involves monitoring the foal's symptoms and providing nutrients via a nasal gastric tube if necessary. Blood transfusions are only required if the packed cell volume is less than 12 percent.

How can neonatal isoerythrolysis be prevented in future pregnancies?

Prevention can be achieved by knowing the blood type of the mare and the stallion before breeding, testing the mare for antibodies against the stallion's blood during the last month of gestation, and providing an alternative source of colostrum for the first 24 hours if needed.