Hematological responses to hyperimmune plasma low dose administration in foals during weaning

Abstract

Weaning is a development stage that brings maternal independence, change of management and feeding, leading to immune deficit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hematological and biochemical parameters of foals in weaning phase after intravenous administration of hyperimmune plasma (1 mL/Kg) in low dose. Ten foal weaned from the Mangalarga Machador breed were used, being divided in control (GC; n=5) and treated group (GT; n=5). The results obtained show that hematological and biochemical parameters of foals that received low doses of hyperimmune plasma were within the reference range for the equine species.