Materno-fetal Immunity Flashcards

Passive Transfer and Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT)

Question	Answer		Article
How can antibodies be transferred between individuals?	Colostrum Crossing of the placenta Milk Vaccination Plasma transfusions		Link to Article
Why do neonates require maternal antibodies?	Immunocompromised at birth due to a poorly developed immune system Mucosal surfaces are particularly vunerable Colostral and milk antibodies protect neonates from infection		Link to Article
In which animals is there no passive transfer of IgG antibodies across the placenta?	Ruminants Horses Pigs		Link to Article
What type of placenta do dogs and cats have?	Endotheliochorial		Link to Article
What does colostrum contain?	Immune factors Growth factors Vitamins Minerals		Link to Article
Which immunoglobulins are present in colostrum?	IgG in the largest amount IgA IgM		Link to Article
True or False: IgA is most abundent in ruminant milk	False IgG is most abundent in ruminant milk IgA is most abundent in non-ruminant milk		Link to Article
When does inadequate absorption of immunoglobulins occur in the neonate?	The neonate does not recieve colostrum The neonate does not recieve enough colostrum The neonate does not absorb enough colostrum The quality of the colostrum was inadequate		Link to Article
What does colostrum quality depend upon?	Breed Nutrition Season Stress Immunostatus of the dam Milk yield Pre-milking Parity Dripping from the teats		Link to Article
What does the quantity of colostrum depend upon?	Amount the neonate suckles Premature births		Link to Article

Testing Colostrum Quality

Question	Answer		Article
True or False: Colostrum quality can not be determined by appearance	True		Link to Article
How can colostrum be stored without reducing its immunological potential?	Freezing immediately will make the colostrum last for a year Refridgerating immediately will make the colostrum last for 5-7 days		Link to Article
How can the immune status of colostrum be tested?	By a colostrometer Through using the Zinc Sulfate Turbidity (ZST) test Total serum protein can be calculated		Link to Article
Which immunoglobulin levels does a colostrometer measure?	IgG		Link to Article
Why must colostrum be tested by a colostrometer at room temperature (20°C)?	Above 20°C levels of IgG will be underestimated Below 20°C levels of IgG will be overestimated		Link to Article
What levels of ZST units would indicate a healthy amount of passive transfer in calves?	Above 30 ZST units		Link to Article
What levels of serum immunoglobulin would indicate a healthy amount of passive transfer in foals?	Above 800 mg/dl		Link to Article
What is total serum protein levels measured by and at which ages should neonates be tested?	A refractometer 2-8 days old		Link to Article
What levels of serum protein indicate the neonate is healthy and does not require further colostrum?	Above 4.5 mg/dl		Link to Article

Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI)

Question	Answer		Article
When does alloimmune haemalytic anaemia occur?	When a neonate inherits the sires blood type and drinks colostrum from the dam As the colostrum contains antibodies against the sire and thus the neonates red blood cells		Link to Article
When does Neonatal Isoerythrolysis occur?	First pregnancy from a stallion with incompatible blood type to the mare Subsequent pregnancy from the same stallion or same blood group as previously exposed to		Link to Article
True or False: Neonatal Isoerythrolysis always occurs in mules	True		Link to Article

Originally funded by the RVC Jim Bee Award 2007