Equiplas
Once you are confident that the mare’s colostrum is adequate, it is important to be sure that the foal has absorbed the antibodies. The Gamma-Check E test is an economical, easy-to-perform test. The Gamma-Check E test consists of a single test tube and requires 1ml of the foal’s blood or serum. The test will give a positive result by forming a solid clot in the test tube if the foal’s antibody IgG level is over 800 mg/dl. An IgG level less than 800 mg/dl may be considered a possible Failure of Passive Transfer or FPT.
Unfortunately, the transfer of antibodies from the mare to the foal is not always successful. Because the Gamma-Check tests are semi-quantitative, it is recommended to determine a quantitative IgG antibody level. This can be done using the RID (radial immunodiffusion) test. The RID test is available for sale to perform on your own.
Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) is said to exist when the foal’s serum gammaglobulin level (specifically IgG) is less that 400 – 800 mg/dl. If this diagnosis is made before the foal is 12 – 18 hours of age, oral supplementation using good quality colostrum may be beneficial. If the foal is older than 12 – 18 hours old, the gut is no longer able to efficiently absorb the antibodies from an oral supplement. In this case, an intravenous transfusion of high-quality equine plasma, such as Equiplas® should be considered. The amount of IgG that is required for protection on your young foal is very dependent on the environment. We recommend a minimum of 400 mg/dl in some situations and over 800 mg/dl in others. This depends on the amount of infectious burden from the immediate environment.
Commercial plasma from Plasvacc Pty Ltd is proven to be safe and effective and is registered by the APVMA (Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority) and NZFSA (New Zealand Food Safety Authority). We have developed sophisticated vaccination strategies to provide antibodies to common neonatal pathogens in our plasma products. Equiplas® is fresh frozen plasma plasma that has not been altered in any way. Although there are other less expensive or more convenient sources of IgG on the market, they do not have the broad spectrum of components found in plasma that may be essential to a healthy immune system in your foal.
Equiplas® is plasma (Equine IgG) for the treatment of FPT in newborn foals. The minimum IgG level is 2200 mg/dl and one 1 litre bag will increase a healthy foal’s circulating IgG level by about 250 mg/dl. Be aware that an ill foal will not show the indicated IgG increase because the transfused antibodies are being utilised rapidly in the foal’s system. Repeated transfusions may be required for foals with active infections.
Plasvacc Pty Ltd produces APVMA (Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority) and NZFSA (New Zealand Food Safety Authority) registered plasma with high levels of antibodies to specific organisms, as well as providing plasma with a range of antibodies against common neonatal pathogens. Equiplas® R is a plasma product containing specific antibodies to Virulence Associated Protein A of Rhodococcus equi. This product is recommended as labelled for use as an aid in preventing Rhodococcus equi infection and in increasing the gamma globulin level of foals. We suggest an initial dose be given to your foal on its first day of life and a second dose 4-6 weeks later if you are in an endemic area. Ask your veterinarian if you have concerns. Equiplas® R is available for both R. equi and Failure of Passive Transfer.
Plasma should be removed from its box and gently placed into a 40°C water bath. Do not allow the water from the tap to run directly onto the plasma bag, as this can damage the plasma. The water temperature should be monitored to ensure that the 40°C temperature is maintained at all times to adhere to the proper thawing procedure.
It is absolutely essential to use a blood giving set containing a 200µm filter. Doing so ensures the trapping of any fibrin clots.
Caniplas
Fresh-frozen Caniplas that has not been thawed and is kept at -5° C is shelf-stable for 30 months from the date of manufacture for Caniplas produced and distributed in Australia, and 36 months for Caniplas distributed in New Zealand.
Plasvacc has not conducted any safety studies in cats and cannot recommend transfusing Caniplas to felines.
If this occurs, and the product arrives thawed, but still cold to the touch, store the thawed product under refrigeration (8°C) and use it within seven days. Do not re-freeze the product. If the product arrives warm or hot, do not use it; please contact us.
No. Product stability beyond the labelled expiry has not been tested, and thus treatment efficacy cannot be ensured.
Adverse reactions to plasma products are extremely rare in veterinary transfusion medicine. It is essential, however, before using our Caniplas products to read the label very carefully. Proper administration is important to maximise patient safety and must be performed with a blood-filtered administration set in order to prevent any fibrin clots from passing through to the catheter.
Plasma should be removed from its box and gently placed into a 40°C water bath. Do not allow the water from the tap to run directly onto the plasma bag, as this can damage the plasma. The water temperature should be monitored to ensure that the 40°C temperature range is maintained at all times to adhere to the proper thawing procedure.
It is absolutely essential to use a blood giving set containing a 200µm filter. Doing so ensures the trapping of any fibrin clots.
General
For your convenience, our frozen plasma products and Gamma Check E tests are distributed through our veterinary wholesalers. For additional information, please visit the How To Order section of our website.
Our frozen plasma is stored frozen below -5°C until shipped. It is then placed in specially insulated boxes and packed with ice packs and polystyrene void filler.
In Australia, shipping services that guarantee next-day delivery are used whenever possible, but each is selected for its efficiency in a particular area.
All shipments are tracked and monitored by our in-house customer service team in order to ensure they are en route and on time. If not, actions are taken to intervene and keep the product at the appropriate temperature.
Outside Australia, the shortest shipping time available is selected, even if that means dispatching outside our regular working hours or using an independent shipper.
To avoid potential delays, which may result in shipments still in transit on weekends, the preference is to dispatch frozen plasma Monday to Thursday within Australia, and Monday to Wednesday outside Australia.
At Plasvacc, we take the physical and mental welfare of our donor animals very seriously. Loving care and supervision 7 days a week, 365 days a year forms the baseline for a donor care regimen that also includes an extensive social, physical and sensory enrichment protocol and the finest medical care available. Read more on Plasvacc’s commitment to animal ethics and welfare here.
Numerous small, white-ish-grey lumps which sink in the plasma are usually the result of excess heat denaturing the proteins and, therefore, should not be used. “Flaky” material floating in the plasma, however, is usually indicative of the plasma still not being warmed. These cryoprecipitates will disappear when warmed to body temperature. In extreme cases, the bag will be requested to be returned for investigation, and a report will be issued by Plasvacc.
Any bag in which a leak has occurred should not be used. In the event of active leaking or evidence of leaking, please contact Plasvacc directly via email with photos of the bag as well as the batch and expiry information. Plasvacc will then investigate and send a replacement.
