Glutaraldehyde coagulation test for detection of hypogammaglobulinemia in neonatal nondomestic ruminants.

Sera were collected from 103 individuals of 26 species of nondomestic ruminant animals in 2 zoological collections. Eighteen were presumed not to have absorbed colostral proteins (group 1), 32 had consumed colostrum at least 12 hours before testing (group 2), and 53 were healthy adults (group 3). The gamma-globulin concentration, as determined by zone electrophoresis, was less than or equal to 0.4 g/dl in 16 of 18 samples from the group 1 animals, and greater than 0.4 g/dl in 31 of 32 group 2 animals. The glutaraldehyde coagulation test was performed on each serum sample. The results were negative in 15 of 17 samples, with gamma-globulin concentration less than or equal to 0.4 g/dl, and positive in 85 of 86 samples, with gamma-globulin concentration greater than 0.4 g/dl. The glutaraldehyde coagulation test appeared to be a practical field test for determining failure of passive transfer of maternal antibody in newborn nondomestic ruminant animals in zoological collections.