Nitroblue Tetrazolium Reduction by Neutrophils of Newborn Foals, Adult Horses, and a Foal Infected with Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi

Abstract

Equine neutrophil function was studied in 24 newborn foals, 10 adult horses, and a foal infected with R. equi by the quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test. There was no difference between results in newborn foals and adult horses. A foal naturally infected with R. equi showed normal values of NBT reduction test at birth, and after the initial clinical signs, the spontaneous reduction of NBT by neutrophils was found to be remarkably increased until a week before death.