Equiplas
Unlike human infants, a newborn foal is dependent on the mare to transfer necessary antibodies in the colostrum within a few hours of birth. These essential antibodies are important for the new foal to withstand the challenges of infectious agents it will encounter during the first few weeks of life. One way to verify that the mare’s colostrum contains adequate levels of these antibodies is to use the Gamma-Check C test. This is an inexpensive, rapid, semi-quantitative screening test that can be performed prior to nursing or to evaluate colostrum prior to freezing or after thawing to ensure quality. In order for a foal to reach optimal antibody levels, approximately 1.5 – 3.5 liters of colostrum with an IgG level of over 3800 mg/dl are required. The Gamma-Check C test consists of a diluent tube used to dilute the milk sample and a test tube to perform the test. The test will give you a positive result by forming a solid clot within 10 minutes if the sample of colostrum has an IgG level of 3800 mg/dl or greater.
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 similar to the Gamma-Check C. 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 laboratory at Plasvacc USA can perform this test for you for a nominal charge or the kit 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® or Equiplas® Plus 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 USA is proven to be safe and effective and is licensed by the USDA. We have developed sophisticated vaccination strategies to provide antibodies to common neonatal pathogens in our plasma products. Equiplas® and Equiplas® Plus are fresh frozen plasma products that have 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. One veterinarian in Kentucky aptly described Equiplas® as “Life in a Bag”.
Equiplas® is plasma (Equine IgG) for the treatment of FPT in newborn foals. The minimum IgG level is 1800 mg/dl and one 950ml bag will increase a healthy foal’s circulating IgG level by about 250 mg/dl. Equiplas® Plus is plasma (Equine IgG) with a high IgG level. Each liter contains a minimum of 2800 mg/dl and one 950ml bag will increase a normal foal’s IgG by about 400-500 mg/dl. This product is available in 600ml and 950ml bags. Be aware that an ill foal will not show the indicated IgG increase because the transfused antibodies are being utilized rapidly in the foal’s system. Repeated transfusions may be required for foals with active infections.
Plasvacc USA produces USDA-licensed 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 and REA are plasma products with high titers to Rhodococcus equi (R.equi). These products are recommended as labeled to protect foals less than 6 months of age against respiratory disease associated with R. equi. 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. Talk to your veterinarian for the treatment protocol that is best for your situation. Equiplas® R is also labeled for Failure of Passive Transfer.
Equiplas® B is Clostridium Botulinum Type B antitoxin and can be administered to horses that have botulism type B and is available in both a foal and adult dose.
Plasma should be removed from its box and gently placed into a 40-45°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 40-45°C temperature is maintained at all times to adhere to the proper thawing procedure.
It is absolutely essential to use a filtered blood administration set containing a 200µm filter. Doing so helps to ensure that any fibrin clots will be caught in the filter.
Caniplas
Caniplas that has not been thawed and is kept at -5°C is shelf-stable for 36 months from the date of manufacture. Caniplas is considered fresh-frozen for the first 20 months of this dating.
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 maximize 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 40-45°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 40-45°C temperature range is maintained at all times to adhere to the proper thawing procedure.
It is absolutely essential to use a filtered blood administration set containing a 200µm filter. Doing so helps to ensure that any fibrin clots will be caught in the filter.
General
For your convenience, our frozen plasma products and Gamma Check E tests are distributed through our veterinary wholesalers. The Alvedia & VMRD product ranges can be ordered directly from Plasvacc USA. For additional information, please visit the How To Order section of our website.
Our plasma is stored frozen until shipped. It is then placed in specially insulated boxes and packed with ice packs to ensure the product remains frozen during transit.
For next-day delivery, please call in your order before 11am PST. Saturday delivery is available in most areas.
Plasma products are normally shipped Priority Overnight via FedEx, but special arrangements may be able to be made in an emergency situation.
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 the United States, the shortest shipping time available is selected, even if that means dispatching outside our regular working hours or using an independent shipper.
At Plasvacc, we take the physical and mental welfare of our donor animals very seriously. Loving care and supervision 24 hours a day, 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.
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.
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.
