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Topic:Antibodies
Antibodies in horses are specialized proteins produced by the immune system in response to foreign substances, known as antigens. These substances can include pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Antibodies function by recognizing and binding to specific antigens, thereby neutralizing them or marking them for destruction by other immune cells. In equine health, antibodies are integral to both natural immune responses and those induced by vaccinations. The study of antibodies in horses encompasses their production, diversity, and role in disease resistance and management. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the generation, function, and implications of antibodies in equine immunology and disease control.
A single-chain fragment variable recombinant antibody against F5 fimbria of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli inhibits agglutination of horse red blood cells induced by F5 protein. Bovine colibacillosis caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a worldwide problem. Adhesion of ETEC to intestinal cell receptors mediated by the surface protein F5 fimbriae is the initial step in the establishment of colibacillosis. Prevention of ETEC F5(+) adhesion to enterocytes protects newborn calves against collibacillosis. On the enterocytes, the F5 fimbriae bind to a ganglioside that is also found on horse red blood cells. Thus, the presence of F5 fimbriae induces haemagglutination, which is useful as an indicator in a functional assay system. In this study, recombinant ant...
Serologic cross-reactivity between Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In the context of a serosurvey conducted on the Anaplasma marginale prevalence in Swiss cattle, we suspected that a serological cross-reactivity between A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum might exist. In the present study we demonstrate that cattle, sheep and horses experimentally infected with A. phagocytophilum not only develop antibodies to A. phagocytophilum (detected by immunofluorescent-antibody assay) but also to A. marginale (detected by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Conversely, calves experimentally infected with A. marginale also developed antibodies to A. phagoc...
Immune response to Leishmania infantum in healthy horses in Spain. Leishmania infantum infection has recently been described in horses in Europe. We report the results of a study on the immune response to L. infantum in horses living in an area endemic for leishmaniosis in NE Spain. Two ELISAs using protein A and anti-horse IgG conjugates were adapted to measure specific antibodies to L. infantum in horse sera. A lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to L. infantum antigen was also performed to detect specific cellular immune response to Leishmania. Anti-L. infantum antibodies were detected in the serum of 16 of the horses...
Replacement of the in vivo neutralisation test for efficacy demonstration of tetanus vaccines ad us. vet. The bacterium Clostridium (C.) tetani is an ubiquitous pathogen. This anaerobic, gram-positive bacterium can form spores and can be found in the whole environment. It enters the body via injuries of the skin and wounds where it releases the neurotoxin "tetanospasmin" (= tetanus toxin). The animals most susceptible to tetanus infection are horses and sheep. Only active immunisation by tetanus vaccine provides effective protection against tetanus intoxication. The marketing authorisation requirements stipulate that efficacy of tetanus vaccines ad us. vet. must be demonstrated in all target anima...
Factors associated with adverse reactions induced by caprylic acid-fractionated whole IgG preparations: comparison between horse, sheep and camel IgGs. Caprylic acid purification of IgG, currently used in the manufacture of horse-derived antivenoms, was successfully adapted for the preparation of sheep and camel IgG. Sheep IgG had a molecular mass of approximately 150 kDa, whereas camel IgG presented two bands of molecular masses of approximately 160 and 100 kDa, the latter corresponding to heavy-chain IgG, which is devoid of light chains. Horse, sheep and camel IgGs were compared by several parameters aiming at predicting their potential for induction of early and late adverse reactions. Horse and sheep IgGs showed a higher anticomplementary...
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of equine antibodies specific to Sarcocystis neurona surface antigens. Sarcocystis neurona is the primary causative agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a common neurologic disease of horses in the Americas. We have developed a set of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on the four major surface antigens of S. neurona (SnSAGs) to analyze the equine antibody response to S. neurona. The SnSAG ELISAs were optimized and standardized with a sample set of 36 equine sera that had been characterized by Western blotting against total S. neurona parasite antigen, the current gold standard for S. neurona serology. The recombinant SnSAG2 (rSnSAG2)...
Phase and size variable surface-exposed proteins in equine genital mycoplasmas. Mycoplasma equigenitalium and Mycoplasma subdolum have been associated with infertility, endometritis, vulvitis and abortions in mares, and with reduced fertility and balanoposthitis in stallions. Despite their role in equine genital disorder, determinants of virulence and pathogenesis as well as factors provoking specific host immune responses have not been identified, so far. To establish the major immunogenic components of Mycoplasma (M.) equigenitalium and M. subdolum, antigen profiles of their type strains as well as 30 clinical isolates were compared by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis u...
Serodiagnosis of Burkholderia mallei infections in horses: state-of-the-art and perspectives. Burkholderia mallei causes glanders or farcy in solipeds, a disease that must be reported to the OIE (Office International des Epizooties, Paris, France). The number of reported outbreaks has increased steadily during the last decade. Serodiagnosis is hampered by the considerable number of false-positives and -negatives of the internationally prescribed tests. The major problem leading to low sensitivity and specificity of complement fixation test (CFT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been linked to the test antigens currently used, i.e. crude preparations of whole cells. Fut...
Antibodies and PMBC from EIAV infected carrier horses recognize gp45 and p26 synthetic peptides. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus causing a persistent infection in horses characterized by recurrent febrile episodes and high levels of viremia associated with a novel antigenic strain of the virus. The virus contains two envelope glycoproteins, gp90 and gp45, and four internal proteins, p26, p15, p11 and p9. Considering that the most infected horses are able to restrict EIAV replication to very low levels and that gp45 and p26 contain highly conserved epitopes among lentiviruses, it would be necessary to identify those conserved epitopes stimulating cellular and humoral ...
IgA Fc receptors in cattle and horses. The biological role of IgA depends, at least partly, on the interaction with specific receptors (FcalphaRs) on the surface of leukocytes. The human FcalphaR, CD89, was the first IgA Fc receptor to be identified, and binding of IgA-coated particles to CD89 triggers numerous cellular effector functions including phagocytosis, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and release of inflammatory mediators. Recently, CD89 orthologs have been identified in a number of other species, including cows and horses. This brief review will summarize our current knowledge regarding the structure...
Analysis of yearly changes in levels of antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus nonstructural 1 protein in racehorses in central Japan shows high levels of natural virus activity still exist. Recent reductions in numbers of human and equine Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases in Japan have seen calls to end JE vaccination. Here, we analyzed yearly variations of natural JE virus activity, using sera collected serially in 1998-2003 from racehorses residing in Ibaraki and Shiga prefectures, both located in central Japan. A total of 208 sera from 24 individuals in Ibaraki and 259 from 27 in Shiga were examined for antibodies to JE virus nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein, a marker of natural infection. The natural infection rate in epizootic seasons, which was determined by a significant incre...
Virulence-associated protein-specific serum immunoglobulin G-isotype expression in young foals protected against Rhodococcus equi pneumonia by oral immunization with virulent R. equi. The purpose of this study was to determine whether foals immunized orally from 2 days of age with virulent Rhodococcus equi developed a protective pulmonary immune response and to characterise the antibody response of the immunized foals to the virulence-associated proteins (Vaps) of the bacterium. Two groups of foals were used. One (n=4) was given live R. equi ATCC 33701 orally at 2, 7, and 14 days of age. The second group comprised three non-immunized foals age-matched to the vaccinates. At 3 weeks of age, 1 week after the final immunization, both groups were challenged intrabronchially with...
Development of monoclonal antibody-linked ELISA for sero-diagnosis of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-IN) using baculovirus expressed glycoprotein. The gene encoding the envelope glycoprotein (GP) of vesicular stomatitis virus serotype, Indiana (VSV-IN), was expressed under the polyhedron promoter of baculovirus. The recombinant GP was applied as a diagnostic antigen for the detection of cattle and horse antibodies to VSV. In addition, the neutralizing monoclonal antibody (Mab) to GP of VSV-IN was used as trapping antibody in a Mab-linked indirect ELISA (MLI-ELISA) or detecting antibody in a Mab-linked competitive ELISA (MLC-ELISA). The diagnostic efficiencies of MLI-ELISA and MLC-ELISA were evaluated with currently available C-ELISA from...
Immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin genes of the horse. Antibodies of the horse were studied intensively by many notable immunologists throughout the past century until the early 1970's. After a large gap of interest in horse immunology, additional basic studies on horse immunoglobulin genes performed during the past 10 years have resulted in new insights into the equine humoral immune system. These include the characterization of the immunoglobulin lambda and kappa light chain genes, the immunoglobulin heavy chain constant (IGHC) gene regions, and initial studies regarding the heavy chain variable genes. Horses express predominately lambda light c...
Serologic and molecular characterization of Anaplasma species infection in farm animals and ticks from Sicily. Although Anaplasma marginale was known to be endemic in Italy, the diversity of Anaplasma spp. from this area have not been characterized. In this study, the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. antibodies in randomly selected farm animals collected on the island of Sicily was determined by use of a MSP5 cELISA for Anaplasma spp. and an immunofluorescence test specific for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Genetic variation among strains of Anaplasma spp. from animals and ticks was characterized using the A. marginale msp1alpha and the Anaplasma spp. msp4 genes. Eight species of ticks were collected and test...
Analysis of anabolic steroids in the horse: development of a generic ELISA for the screening of 17alpha-alkyl anabolic steroid metabolites. Due to the potential for misuse of a wide range of anabolic steroids in horse racing, a screening test to detect multiple compounds, via a common class of metabolites, would be a valuable forensic tool. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to detect 17alpha-alkyl anabolic steroid metabolites in equine urine. 16beta-Hydroxymestanolone (16beta,17beta-dihydroxy-17alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3-one) was synthesised in six steps from commercially available epiandrosterone (3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-17-one). Polyclonal antibodies were raised in sheep, employing mesta...
Importation of canid rabies in a horse relocated from Zimbabwe to South Africa. In July 2003 a 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt was imported from Harare, Zimbabwe to the Ashburton Training Centre, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Five months after importation, the colt presented with clinical signs suggestive of rabies: it was uncoordinated, showed muscle tremors and was biting at itself. Brain tissue was submitted for analysis and the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the fluorescent antibody test and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the cytoplasmic domain of the glycoprotein and the G-L intergenic...
Anti-Trichinella antibodies detected in chronically infected horses by IFA and Western blot, but not by ELISA. In the Balkan countries, where trichinellosis is a re-emerging zoonosis, it is of great importance to determine Trichinella infection prevalence among the major hosts, including horses. One method for monitoring prevalence is serological surveillance; however, the validity of serological methods in horses is not well understood. The dynamics of anti-Trichinella IgG production and circulating excretory/secretory (ES) antigens were investigated in three horses experimentally-infected with Trichinella spiralis. Horses were slaughtered at 32 week post infection (p.i.). Low worm burdens were found ...
Recombinant NhSAG1 ELISA: a sensitive and specific assay for detecting antibodies against Neospora hughesi in equine serum. Neospora hughesi is a recently identified cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. However, the significance of this parasite is poorly understood. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a recombinant form of the N. hughesi 29-kDa surface antigen (rNhSAG1) was developed for serodiagnosis of equine N. hughesi infections. Parallel ELISA analysis showed that animals immunized or infected with N. hughesi exhibited greater antibody reactivity with rNhSAG1 than with the Neospora caninum homolog, rNcSAG1. The rNhSAG1 ELISA showed 94.4% sensitivity and 95.0% specificity when compared wi...
Immunologic testing of xeno-derived osteochondral grafts using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy human donors. One means of treating osteoarthritis is with autologous or allogeneic osteochondral grafts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the innate immunological response in humans toward xeno-derived osteochondral grafts that have been partially or entirely treated by the photooxidation process. Methods: The antigens tested included bovine, porcine, ovine and equine osteochondral samples that have been treated in successive steps of photooxidation. ELISPOT assays were used to evaluate the production of IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-alpha by human monocytes in response to the antigens. R...
Early detection of dominant Env-specific and subdominant Gag-specific CD8+ lymphocytes in equine infectious anemia virus-infected horses using major histocompatibility complex class I/peptide tetrameric complexes. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are critical for control of lentiviruses, including equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). Measurement of equine CTL responses has relied on chromium-release assays, which do not allow accurate quantitation. Recently, the equine MHC class I molecule 7-6, associated with the ELA-A1 haplotype, was shown to present both the Gag-GW12 and Env-RW12 EIAV CTL epitopes. In this study, 7-6/Gag-GW12 and 7-6/Env-RW12 MHC class I/peptide tetrameric complexes were constructed and used to analyze Gag-GW12- and Env-RW12-specific CTL responses in two EIAV-infected horses (A2164 an...
Equine endotoxaemia–a state-of-the-art review of therapy. The pathophysiology of endotoxaemia, a leading cause of death in the horse, is beginning to be understood in greater detail. Endotoxin may be absorbed into the systemic circulation in a number of different ways: most commonly the body's normal defense mechanisms are disrupted or bypassed, or the normal clearance mechanisms overwhelmed. Following this wide-spread effects are observed, although the most significant are seen in the cardiovascular system. Fever, arterial hypoxaemia and signs of abdominal pain are also common. With increased understanding of the disease new therapeutic agents have ...
The equine immune response to Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus during uterine infection. The purpose of this study was to describe strain-specific immune responses to Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) during uterine infection in horses. Five isolates of S. zooepidemicus were differentiated into four strains antigenically by bactericidal testing in blood of 12 horses, and genetically by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Eight healthy mares were then divided into two groups, each inoculated with one strain intrauterinely on three successive oestrous cycles followed by a second strain for three successive cycles, first and second strains being reversed fo...
Several recombinant capsid proteins of equine rhinitis a virus show potential as diagnostic antigens. Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) is a significant pathogen of horses and is also closely related to Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Despite these facts, knowledge of the prevalence and importance of ERAV infections remains limited, largely due to the absence of a simple, robust diagnostic assay. In this study, we compared the antigenicities of recombinant full-length and fragmented ERAV capsid proteins expressed in Escherichia coli by using sera from experimentally infected and naturally exposed horses. We found that, from the range of antigens tested, recombinant proteins encompassing the ...
Infarctive purpura hemorrhagica in five horses. Five horses were examined because of signs of muscle stiffness, colic, or both. All 5 had been exposed to Streptococcus equi within 3 weeks prior to examination or had high serum titers of antibodies against the M protein of S equi. Horses had signs of unrelenting colic-like pain and focal areas of muscle swelling. Four horses were euthanatized. The fifth responded to treatment with penicillin and dexamethasone; after 3 weeks of treatment with dexamethasone, prednisolone was administered for an additional 10 weeks. Common hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities included neutrophilia wi...
Seroprevalence of antibodies against Coccidioides immitis in healthy horses. To determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Coccidioides immitis in healthy horses residing in an area in which the organism is endemic. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 197 healthy horses (in which coccidioidomycosis had not been previously diagnosed) that resided in an area of Arizona in which coccidioidomycosis is endemic. Methods: Of the horses evaluated at the Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Center during a 6-month period, 197 with no clinical signs of coccidioidomycosis were randomly selected for inclusion in the study; sera were evaluated for IgM and IgG antibodies aga...
Comparison of antibody detection assays for the diagnosis of equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 infections in horses. To compare methods of detecting equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV1)- and EHV4-specific antibodies in horse sera. Methods: 33 acute and convalescent serum samples from experimentally or naturally infected horses after confirmed EHV1 or EHV4 infection. Methods: For each sample, serum antibody titers against EHV1 and EHV4 were determined by use of virus neutralization (VN) and complement fixation (CF) assays. The ELISA absorbance values for each serum sample were determined against the EHV1 and EHV4 recombinant ELISA antigens. Values obtained for acute and convalescent sera in each assay were compar...
Effect of daily administration of pyrantel tartrate in preventing infection in horses experimentally challenged with Sarcocystis neurona. To determine whether daily administration of pyrantel tartrate can prevent infection in horses experimentally challenged with Sarcocystis neurona. Methods: 24 mixed-breed specific-pathogen-free weanling horses, 10 adult horses, 1 opossum, and 6 mice. Methods: Sarcocystis neurona-naïve weanling horses were randomly allocated to 2 groups. Group A received pyrantel tartrate at the labeled dose, and group B received a nonmedicated pellet. Both groups were orally inoculated with 100 sporocysts/d for 28 days, 500 sporocysts/d for 28 days, and 1000 sporocysts/d for 56 days. Blood samples were collec...
Equine interferon gamma synthesis in lymphocytes after in vivo infection and in vitro stimulation with EHV-1. Equine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) are well characterised but little is known about the cytokine response after infection or vaccination. EHV-1 is common in horses and infects lymphocytes in vivo. This virus was used as a model to measure the synthesis of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) by equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after in vivo infection and/or in vitro stimulation with EHV-1. Both flow cytometry and ELISPOT assays were used to quantify equine IFN-gamma using a mouse anti-bovine IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody (clone CC302; shown to...
