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.

Outlines

00:00

🐎 Neonatal Isoerythrolysis in Horses

This paragraph discusses neonatal isoerythrolysis, a condition affecting newborn foals, where the ingestion of maternal antibodies through colostrum leads to the destruction of the foal's red blood cells. The condition can also occur in kittens. Symptoms include weakness, lethargy, depression, and decreased responsiveness, with secondary symptoms like tachycardia, tachypnea, and pale or icteric mucosa. The condition arises when a foal inherits a blood type different from the mother's, prompting the maternal antibodies to attack the foal's blood cells. Diagnosis can be challenging due to overlapping symptoms with other diseases, but laboratory blood testing can reveal a packed cell volume of less than 30% and the presence of bilirubin in the blood and urine. A definitive diagnosis involves an antibody test matching the mare's serum with the foal's red blood cells. The condition is more common in first-time pregnancies where the mare has not been previously exposed to a different blood type. Prevention involves knowing the blood types of the mare and stallion before breeding and can be managed by ensuring the foal does not nurse from the mother for the first 24 hours.

05:03

🩺 Treatment and Prevention of Neonatal Isoerythrolysis

The treatment for neonatal isoerythrolysis is primarily focused on managing the symptoms and preventing severe anemia. If the foal is not exposed to a high amount of antibodies for an extended period, the condition can be managed by monitoring symptoms and providing nutrients via a nasal gastric tube if the foal is unable to nurse within the first 24 hours. After this period, it is safe for the foal to nurse from the mother. Treatment may also involve maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, with blood transfusions only necessary if the packed cell volume is less than 12 percent. The condition is preventable by knowing the blood type of the mare and stallion before breeding and by testing the mare for antibodies against the foal's blood type during the last month of gestation. If incompatible blood types are identified, an alternative source of colostrum can be provided to the foal within the first 24 hours to prevent the disease.

Keywords

💡Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI)

Neonatal Isoerythrolysis, also known as Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia, is a condition where a newborn's red blood cells are destroyed by antibodies passed through the colostrum. This disease is central to the video's theme as it discusses its impact on newborn foals. The video mentions that NI can lead to hemolytic anemia, a condition characterized by a low number of red blood cells, which is a critical point in understanding the disease's severity.

💡Colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammals after giving birth, rich in antibodies. In the context of the video, colostrum is significant as it is the medium through which maternal antibodies are ingested by the foal, leading to the destruction of its red blood cells in cases of incompatible blood types, thus playing a crucial role in the development of NI.

💡Hemolytic Anemia

Hemolytic Anemia refers to a condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. The video discusses this as a symptom of NI, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the disease early to prevent severe anemia in the foal. The script mentions that a packed cell volume of less than 30% is indicative of hemolytic anemia, which is a key diagnostic criterion.

💡Maternal Antibodies

Maternal antibodies are immune proteins passed from the mother to the offspring. In the video, these antibodies are highlighted as they can attack the foal's red blood cells if the foal inherits a different blood type from the sire, leading to NI. The video explains that these antibodies are harmless to the mare but can be detrimental to the foal if the blood types are incompatible.

💡Blood Typing

Blood typing is the process of classifying blood based on the types of antigens present on the red blood cells. The video underscores the importance of blood typing in horses to prevent NI, as incompatible blood types between the mare and the foal can lead to the disease. The script suggests that knowing the blood type of the mare before breeding can help prevent NI.

💡Packed Cell Volume (PCV)

Packed Cell Volume, also known as hematocrit, is a measure of the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. The video mentions that a PCV of less than 30% is indicative of NI, as the disease leads to the destruction of red blood cells. This measurement is a key diagnostic tool for veterinarians assessing a foal for NI.

💡Bilirubin

Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment that is a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown. In the context of the video, elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood and urine are mentioned as signs of NI, as the destruction of red blood cells due to the disease leads to an increase in bilirubin.

💡Tachycardia and Tachypnea

Tachycardia refers to an abnormally rapid heart rate, while tachypnea is an abnormally rapid breathing rate. The video lists these as secondary symptoms that may be observed in foals suffering from NI. These symptoms can indicate the severity of the condition and the need for immediate veterinary attention.

💡Cerebral Hypoxia

Cerebral Hypoxia is a condition where there is a lack of oxygen to the brain. The video mentions seizures due to cerebral hypoxia as a severe consequence of NI, where the destruction of red blood cells leads to a lack of oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood, potentially causing neurological symptoms.

💡Prevention

Prevention is a key theme in the video, focusing on the steps that can be taken to avoid NI in foals. The script discusses the importance of knowing the blood types of both the mare and the stallion, as well as monitoring for antibodies during the last month of gestation. Providing an alternative source of colostrum in the first 24 hours is also highlighted as a preventive measure.

Highlights

Neonatol Isoerythrolysis (NI) affects newborns, primarily in horses and mules, and can also occur in kittens.

NI is caused by the destruction of newborn red blood cells by maternal antibodies ingested through colostrum.

Symptoms of NI include weakness, lethargy, depression, and decreased responsiveness.

Secondary symptoms of NI may include tachycardia, tachypnea, and pale or icteric mucosa.

Severe cases of NI can lead to seizures due to cerebral hypoxia.

Diagnosis of NI involves laboratory blood testing, showing a packed cell volume of less than 30%.

Bilirubin in the blood and presence of blood in the urine are indicative of NI.

A definitive diagnosis of NI is made through an antibody test matching mare serum with foal red blood cells.

Direct Coombs test can be used but may have false negatives, making it less reliable.

NI develops when a foal inherits a blood type different from the mare, causing maternal antibodies to attack the foal's blood cells.

NI is less likely to occur in first pregnancies due to lack of prior exposure to incompatible blood types.

Pathophysiology of NI involves antibodies from the mare targeting the foal's red blood cells, leading to lysis.

Treatment for NI involves monitoring symptoms and providing nutrients via a nasal gastric tube if necessary.

Blood transfusions are only necessary if the packed cell volume is less than 12%.

Prevention of NI is possible through knowledge of the mare's blood type and avoiding incompatible breeding.

Feeding alternative colostrum sources in the first 24 hours can prevent NI in incompatible blood type cases.

Horse blood types are distinct from human and other animals, requiring specific knowledge for prevention.

Transcripts

take it away neonatal I've seen your

mister like sittin fools so it may be a

prescription that seemed like it is an

environment for the pool but in the

maternal environment it's something that

can affect the full in utero so that's

kind of one I think it was on that so

put the disease background it is this is

typically found in foals either horse or

mule fools but it can also be found

under ward kittens but that's the

purposes of this project diet focus on

the whole so the definition of neonatal

isolator license is the destruction of

newborns red blood cells by eternal

antibodies ingested through colostrum it

can also be known as hemolytic duress or

hemolytic anemia because those are both

symptoms that are caused by the disease

Vick dirkson anemia it the reason it

develops is because a Marin stallion if

they have different blood types in the

foal happens to inherit desires blood

type the maternal antibodies can then

attack the fools

the full blood cells after he was born

the first thing that a horse owner would

look for when trying to determine if a

full adverse to disease in weakness

lethargy depression and decrease that

response

unfortunately those can be symptoms

a lot of different diseases so secondary

symptoms that may occur that are maybe

easier to look for are tachycardia

tachypnea and pale or Carrick mucosa

which you can see in this picture the

yellowish mucosa that could eat a

clinical sign of yeah no no I so your

ather lysis if the onset is severe

seizures make her due to cerebral

hypoxia which is lack of oxygen to the

brain the diagnosis can be also a little

difficult because of these symptoms once

again can be present for a lot of

different diseases but a bat would do

laboratory blood testing and if that

list disease were present there would be

a packed cell volume of less than 30%

and because the red blood cells are

being destroyed a patient's bilirubin in

the blood and in the presence of a quote

blood in the urine it's one of the

things where you kind of have to do with

a definite 'iv a definitive diagnosis

and the only way to do that is that

antibody test where the mere serum is

props match with the foals what washed

red blood cells add it to an exogenous

complement and if you Moss ups of the

foals your other states occurred the

test is positive so if you've ever done

immunity test

it's kind of that same thing or even a

blood blood type tests on human and it

would be

similar results sometimes the direct

codes test can be used but those often

have false negatives so it's not the

most reliable way so as I mentioned

before the causes can be due to full

interior in a blood type that is not

compatible with its dam if a dam is on

her first pregnancy and it happens to be

with Italian who's in the full ends up

with a different blood type the neonatal

actually Arthur Alexis probably won't

occur because the mayor hasn't been

exposed to the blood type before because

there's no rule I transfer between the

dam in full during pregnancy which I'll

touch on later so like I said prior to

giving birth and there's a new system

must have been exposed to the whole

blood type from a previous encounter

pretty basic counter it could be from

transplants until hemorrhaging from

giving birth to other pools by the think

stallion or a just a cell you with the

and like I said like it's more common a

little to Paris mayor's because she if

she had a full-width or she had a fool

with the stallion that has an

incompatible blood type she would have

been exposed before and also blood

transfusions with an incompatible blood

type for the pathophysiology the

antibodies that the mayor creates to

give to the foal through colostrum

concentrate during the last month of

gestation and because there's no blood

transfer between the fall and mayor

during pregnancy the full only receive

antibodies through colostrum um there's

a diagram on the side that I just added

to kind of visualize this better a lot

of other species have less layers

between the blood of the dam and the

blood of the embryo and the horses have

several layers which means with a

epithelial Koryo placental attachment

which means that the blood never

directly touches there are several at

the top one up there when the phalanges

colostrum containing these lho bodies

that the mayor has made against it's

your Thersites

if you're gonna develop immunity do I

stutter like this if you've ever chicken

in immunology class or microbiology

class you may know a little bit about

how the antibodies will attach to the

ant region which is medications that

fold here at their site and it'll coat

them which eventually leads to lysis

either through the fools immune

complement system or the voiceover

engulfed through mononuclear phagocyte

pin off this is the result of this and

if that can cause eventually Nia due to

the lack of red blood cells and as the

subsequent times so the treatment is

pretty low-key as far as as long as the

full is not exposed for a long time or

to a high amount of antibodies from the

mayor so it really just depends it's

important to watch the symptoms and the

convenient thing about this is that the

fools gut is close to colostrum after 24

hours so if the immunity oh I saw your

through lysis is expected before this

the full can be given the nutrients via

nasal gastric tube and after the time

where the holes got his clothes it's

safe to nurse from the mayor so it's

really only a 24 hour period if the fool

is still lethargic and just not an

obscene and not getting proper nutrients

you can maintain the flowing fluid to

recover electrolyte balance and really a

blood transfusion is only necessary if

the piece

less than 12 percent written death

really only occurs if the fool is

exposed to a lot of the antibodies

against maybe the mayor has had this

problem several times before basically

this can be easily prevented as long as

you know the blood type of the mayor

that's dying before breeding there's

time it's not easy to find a lot of

information about horse blood types but

if you see this picture on the side that

gives the types they're totally

different than human and other animals

so if anyone has the general

understanding of the horse blood type

they should be good as far as making

sure this doesn't happen you can also

test the mare for antibodies against the

Bulls blood during the last month of

gestation and if you know the full ducks

have a not compatible blood type you can

just feed an alternative source of

colostrum in the first about 24 hours

yeah that's a good point just feed them

here are the full colostrum from

somebody else it's pretty preventable if

you know