Prevention of predicted neonatal isoerythrolysis with jaundice foal agglutination test in a newborn foal

Abstract

This case report aims to highlight the utility of the jaundice foal agglutination (JFA) test used in the prevention of neonatal foal death caused by equine neonatal isoerythrolysis. The colostrum and the serum of a Friesian mare with repeated neonatal foal deaths and the whole blood of her newborn foal were tested for 5 days with the JFA test to detect a probable incompatibility. For the first 2 days, the JFA test gave a significantly positive reaction, indicating the existence of antibodies in the colostrum of the mare against the foal's erythrocyte antigens. The foal was not allowed access to her mother's colostrum and was fed with the frozen colostrum of other mares. At day 5, JFA test results were negative, indicating the disappearance of maternal antibodies from the colostrum.