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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.
Viruses associated with respiratory disease of horses in New Zealand: an update. Viruses causing or associated with respiratory disease in horses worldwide are reviewed. Results are presented from a serological survey of 121 New Zealand foals and horses that had been affected by respiratory disease, determining the prevalence of antibodies in this country to the major viruses associated with similar disease overseas. To date there is no evidence of equine influenza virus in New Zealand. Both equine herpesvirus type 1 and 2 have been frequently isolated and show high serological prevalences. Serological evidence of equine rhinovirus type 1 and type 2 is presented with a pre...
Hindlimb hyperesthesia associated with rabies in two horses. Rabies was diagnosed in 2 adult Quarter Horses with hindlimb hyperesthesia and progressive weakness. Microscopic examination of the cord and brain of the first horse revealed nonsuppurative meningomyelitis and ganglioneuritis in the cord extending cranially to the 6th cervical segment. Fluorescent antibody test results of both horses were positive for rabies in hindlimb peripheral nerve specimens, but negative in sections of the upper lip. Salivary gland, cerebrum, cerebellum, hippocampus, musculocutaneous nerve, cornea, and optic nerve specimens were tested for rabies by fluorescent antibody ...
Antibodies to surface antigens of pigmented cells in animals with vitiligo. All of 24 animals (dogs, cats, and horses) with vitiligo were found to have antibodies to pigmented cells that could be detected by specific immunoprecipitation of radioiodinated, detergent-soluble surface macromolecules, and by indirect immunofluorescence on viable cells. These antibodies were not detected in 17 normal animals of the same species. The antibodies were directed to an 85-kDa surface antigen selectively expressed by pigmented cells that was not present on nonpigmented control cells. These observations suggest that vitiligo in animals is an autoimmune disease mediated to pigmented...
Serodiagnosis of experimental and natural Babesia equi and B. caballi infections. The sensitivity and specificity of the complement fixation (CF) test for the diagnosis of Babesia infections in equines was assessed, using the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test as a reference. Antibodies were first detected between 11 and 20 days post infection (dpi) in the CF test and between 7 and 14 dpi in the IFA test in ponies infected experimentally with B. equi (USDA strain). The CF test became negative in four of five ponies 63-174 dpi although B. equi was demonstrated microscopically in two of these four ponies up to 364 and 455 dpi. The IFA test remained positive up to 476 dp...
Endotoxemia in horses: protection provided by antiserum to core lipopolysaccharide. An equine antiserum to core lipopolysaccharide was produced by inoculation of 6 horses with a boiled cell bacterin made from the J-5 mutant of Escherichia coli O111:B4. The antiserum immunoglobulin G titer to J-5 mutant E coli, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was 1:15,006. Pooled serum prepared before inoculation (preimmune serum) had a J-5 immunoglobulin G titer of 1:350. The J-5 antiserum was tested for its protective efficacy in sublethal endotoxemia in 14 horses. Four horses served as nontreated controls and were given nothing before endotoxin challenge exposure (10 mic...
[Development of autoimmune reactions in horses serving to produce antitetanus serum]. The hyperimmunization of horses with large doses of tetanus toxoid is accompanied by an increase in the levels of both specific antitoxic antibodies and autoantibodies to the tissue antigens of the liver, the spleen, the heart. The reverse relationship between the level of autoantibodies and the titer of antitoxin has been established. The authors suggest that the synthesis of autoantibodies is stimulated by the presence of antigen-antibody immune complexes in the circulating blood, as well as by the action of exo- and endopolyclonal stimulators.
Species-specific serodiagnosis of equine piroplasma infections by means of complement fixation test (CFT), immunofluorescence (IIF), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The increasing horse trade requires a reliable immunodiagnosis of equine piroplasma infections due to import restrictions imposed by various countries, including the United States of America. It was the aim of our investigations to establish the suitability of serological tests for the detection of parasite carriers and, eventually, to differentiate between Babesia caballi and B. equi infections. The investigations were carried out on 11 ponies with experimentally-induced B. caballi and/or B. equi infection. The infections were confirmed by the demonstration of parasites in blood smears 2-13 d...
Immunodiagnosis of autoimmune skin disease in the dog, cat and horse. Skin biopsies from 47 dogs, 6 cats and 5 horses with suspected autoimmune skin disease were submitted for immunofluorescence from 1978 to 1985. These cases were predominantly Western Australian in origin, although a number were also referred from Queensland and Victoria. In 5 dogs, 2 cats and 2 horses immunoglobulin binding to intercellular cement substance and/or basement membrane was demonstrated by direct immunofluorescence. Antinuclear antibody was also demonstrated in several of these cases. Immunofluorescence was used in combination with histopathological examination to confirm the clini...
Detection of antibodies to Mycoplasma felis in horses. Mycoplasma felis has been isolated from horses with pleuritis, and limited research indicates that mycoplasma pleuritis can be reproduced in horses. The serodiagnostic potential of the indirect hemagglutination and the metabolism-inhibition tests was evaluated by testing 177 horses for antibodies to M felis. Seven horses with M felis pleuritis developed antibodies, and 6 horses with sterile or bacterial pleuritis had high titers suggesting a previous M felis infection. Six horses with pleuritis (one sterile and five bacterial) had low or no titers to M felis. Only one of 30 horses with conditi...
Preparation of Clostridium septicum antigen for hyperimmunization of horses using a dialyzed culture. The preparation of toxic cultures of Clostridium septicum is described, using an apparatus with a straight dialysis tubing, where the medium is filled both into the nutrition and cultivation space of the apparatus. Using the cultivation to nutrition volume rate 1:2, mean titre of lethal antigen in filtrates 3.86 limes mortis per mL and 300 dosis lethalis minima per Lm was obtained in comparison with the values of 2.22 and 150 respectively in flask filtrates. Native filtrates of dialyzed cultures were better antigens for hyperimmunization of horses than the culture filtrates from flasks.
Single-radial-immunodiffusion potency tests of inactivated influenza vaccines for use in man and animals. Single-radial-immunodiffusion (SRD) provides a sensitive and reproducible in vitro assay for haemagglutinin (HA) concentration in inactivated influenza vaccines. The use of SRD for human influenza vaccine standardization and application for equine and avian influenza vaccines is discussed. In clinical trials, vaccine HA concentration measured by SRD has been shown to be directly related to antibody responses and to protection against challenge. The use of SRD may considerably reduce the usage of animals for potency testing of veterinary influenza vaccines.
Comparison of antiproteolytic activities of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitors from the plasma of some mammalian species. Alpha-1-proteinase inhibitors isolated from plasmas of horse, ox, pig, rabbit and man were used for determination of some kinetic parameters of interaction with three horse leucocyte proteinases and bovine pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin. Effective molar ratio of enzyme-to-inhibitor, inactivation rate constant and inhibition constant were measured. In horse, ox, pig and rabbit two principal electrophoretic forms of alpha 1-PI could be distinguished. Both forms effectively inhibited trypsin but usually only one form reacted promptly and stoichiometrically with chymotrypsin and leucocyte ela...
Antistreptolysin O titer in horses. Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers were determined in the sera of 532 horses from stud farms and 436 working horses from small farms. A statistically significant correlation was seen between the ASO titer and the age of the horses. There was a significant difference between mean ASO titer in horses 0-2 years and horses 2-10 years In horses older than 10 years the titer was significantly higher than mean ASO titer for the group. Twenty four of 30 horses in which ASO titer was higher or equal to 80 I.U. had histories which suggested that streptococcal infection had occurred. Clinical and bacteriolo...
Endothelial cell infection and thrombosis in paralysis caused by equid herpesvirus-1: equine stroke. Eight mares were infected with equid herpesvirus-1 subtype 1 isolated from a case of equine paresis. In two mares killed at 4 d.p.i. immunofluorescence showed endothelial cell infection together with thrombosis in the rete arteriosus of the nasal mucosa and also in the spinal cord of one of these mares. Circulating platelet counts in the other six mares fell as early as 2 d.p.i. and remained depressed for seven days. Circulating immune complexes started to appear at 2 d.p.i., reached maximum levels at 10 d.p.i., but were undetectable at 28 d.p.i. Three of the six remaining mares developed vary...
Characteristics of an R antigen common to Streptococcus equi and zooepidemicus. An R antigen of the group C streptococcus S. equi that cross reacts with a similar antigen of S. zooepidemicus has been identified and characterized. It is acid, heat and trypsin resistant, but pepsin sensitive and has an isoelectric point of 4.8. The amino acids in highest concentration are glutamic, aspartic, alanine, leucine, and valine. Bacterial components released in a French Press contain large amounts of R antigen, which is present also in culture supernatants and acid extracts. It has a molecular weight of about 82,000. Trypsin extraction of cells yields molecules of predominantly 56,...
Studies on the sequence of variable antigen types in ponies infected with a clone of Trypanosoma evansi. The sequential appearance of variable antigen types (VATs) of a clone of Trypanosoma evansi was studied in four ponies. Using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, VAT populations which had been isolated from parasitemic peaks of single ponies, were tested for specificity with serum samples collected from other ponies. When antibody activity was demonstrated in a combination of trypanosomes and serum, it was concluded that a major VAT appeared in common. In the serum of all animals antibody activity was demonstrated to all VAT populations isolated from the other ponies during the first 4 weeks ...
Rapid emergence of novel antigenic and genetic variants of equine infectious anemia virus during persistent infection. Previous results from our laboratory have demonstrated that equine infectious anemia virus displays structural variations in its surface glycoproteins and RNA genome during passage and chronic infections in experimentally infected Shetland ponies (Montelaro et al., J. Biol. Chem. 259:10539-10544, 1984; Payne et al., J. Gen. Virol. 65:1395-1399, 1984). The present study was undertaken to obtain an antigenic and biochemical characterization of equine infectious anemia virus isolates recovered from an experimentally infected pony during sequential disease episodes, each separated by intervals of ...
Properties of monospecific antibodies to the glycoprotein of western equine encephalitis virus. Monospecific (MSp-) antisera against E1 and E2 glycoproteins of western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus were prepared and examined for binding activities to whole virions, hemagglutination-inhibition (HI), neutralization (NT) and protection. Both anti-E1 and anti-E2 MSp-Abs protected mice against WEE virus challenge. A competition experiment with monoclonal antibodies showed that these MSp-antisera appear to lack the antibody population for some epitopes involved in viral neutralization.
Specific antibody in the equine genital tract following local immunisation and challenge infection with contagious equine metritis organism (Taylorella equigenitalis). Antibody in serum, uterine and vaginal secretions was measured following local immunisation and experimental infection with the organism of contagious equine metritis (Taylorella equigenitalis). Intrauterine immunisation with killed T equigenitalis stimulated a systemic IgG titre and a uterine IgA and IgM response. Subsequent challenge with the organism, however, resulted in a characteristic metritis in both control and vaccinated mares. Antibody in serum and secretions was increased following challenge infection, dwarfing the response to immunisation. The local response was restricted to the ...
Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in New England horses: serologic survey. Twelve of 50 randomly selected horses from areas endemic for Borrelia burgdorferi had indirect fluorescent antibody titers of 1:8 to 1:2,048 against B burgdorferi. One of 50 horses from nonendemic areas had a titer of 1:8. This difference in the number of horses seropositive for B burgdorferi (P less than 0.002) and our finding that seropositive horses did not have agglutinating antibodies against potentially cross-reacting Leptospira spp indicated that horses in endemic areas were exposed to B burgdorferi and that the spirochete induced an antibody response in the horses.
Immune complexes in purpura hemorrhagica of the horse contain IgA and M antigen of Streptococcus equi. Purpura hemorrhagica is an acute disease of the horse characterized by edema of the head and limbs, leucocytoclastic vasculitis, petechial hemorrhages in mucosae, musculature and viscera, and sometimes glomerulonephritis. It is usually associated with strangles, an upper respiratory tract disease of the horse caused by Streptococcus equi. We have detected and characterized immune complexes in the sera of horses with poststrangles purpura hemorrhagica by using PEG precipitation and Western blot analysis. The immune complexes contained IgA and S. equi-specific antigens similar to those found in ...
Experimental demonstration of an antigenic relationship between Leptospira and equine cornea. Horses inoculated with either equine cornea or killed Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona, tarassovi, icterohaemorrhagiae, wolffi and hardjo, developed corneal opacity and produced antibodies which made it possible to demonstrate partial antigenic identity between equine cornea and four of those serovars employed. These antibodies were isolated by means of immunoadsorptions, purified by ion-exchange chromatography (DEAE-Sephadex A-50) and run by immuno-electrophoresis in agar gel. Both antibodies, anti-equine cornea and anti-leptospira, showed that they corresponded to the IgGb subclass. Th...
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi infection in foals. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to diagnose Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi infection in foals. In tests done with different antigen-extraction procedures (sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium deoxycholate, polyoxy-ethylene [9] p-tert-octylphenol, polyoxy-ethylene [9-10] p-tert-octylphenol, sonification, homogenization, and heat treatment at 121 C), Tween 20 was a satisfactory reactive antigen. Using hyperimmune rabbit sera or infected foal sera, we investigated the specificity and the sensitivity of the ELISA with the Tween 20 antigen of the different serotypes or of the is...
Duration of maternally derived antibodies against equine influenza in newborn foals. Serum antibody concentrations against influenza A-equi-1 virus and A-equi-2 virus were measured in a group of 18 foals from birth to 4 months of age. More than 50% of the foals were seronegative to A-equi-1 virus infection by 4 weeks of age, with titers of less than or equal to 1:16. For A-equi-2 virus, more than 50% of the foals were seronegative by 2 weeks of age, with titers of less than or equal to 1:8. Passively derived antibodies against influenza A-equi-1 virus and A-equi-2 virus in foals obtained from recently vaccinated mares and from mares not vaccinated within 6 months before foalin...
Recent vesicular stomatitis virus infection detected by immunoglobulin M antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that was capable of detecting immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in the sera of experimentally and naturally infected cattle and horses. The detection of IgM in the sera of these animals permitted an estimate of the recency of infection by VSV serotype New Jersey. A VSV serotype New Jersey epizootic strain isolated from a horse and passed once in an Aedes albopictus cell line was used to infect a horse and a calf. Sera from these animals were used to standardize the ELISA. This assay was used to test ser...
Studies on equine recurrent uveitis. II: The role of infection with Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the detection of immunoglobulin class specific antibodies to Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona in the serum and aqueous humor of horses. Serum antibody was also assayed by microscopic agglutination tests. Although higher levels of antibody were found in sera from horses with signs of uveitis, the association was not statistically significant. Antibodies to pomona were detected in the aqueous of 12 eyes from the 101 horses sampled at a slaughterhouse, and in most instances, a comparison of the aqueous/serum antibody level with that of t...
Studies on the immunogenicity of Streptococcus equi vaccines in foals. The ability of either formalin-treated or heat-inactivated whole Streptococcus equi cell vaccines or partially purified M-protein of S. equi to give rise to protective antibody levels was studied in Standardbred foals by serological means. Two commercial preparations, i.e. a beta-propiolactone killed whole S. equi cell bacterin and a cell-free extract of S. equi cells were included in the study. The mean passive hemagglutination antibody titers (10 X log2) in sera of foals given either four doses of formalin-treated whole cell vaccine or an initial dose of formalin-treated followed by three do...
Serum antibodies to Leptospira bratislava in Swedish pigs and horses. Sera from 116 and 89 Swedish pigs and horses respectively were examined for the presence of antibodies to L. bratislava. Antibodies were found in 18.1 and 49.4% respectively of pigs and horses examined. Presence of serum antibodies was not associated with clinical signs of infection.
Experimental reactivation of equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV 1) following the administration of corticosteroids. Eight ponies were experimentally infected with equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV 1) (subtype 1). All animals showed clinical and serological evidence of infection and virus was isolated from nasal swabs and leucocytes. These ponies were kept in isolation for a further three months during which time complement fixing antibody decreased at least four-fold. Following immunosuppression with dexamethasone and prednisolone subtype 1 virus was recovered from six of the eight animals within 14 days. Five of these six ponies were viraemic and three of them shed virus in nasal secretions; only four displayed sig...
Arbovirus investigations in Argentina, 1977-1980. IV. Serologic surveys and sentinel equine program. Serologic surveys of wild and domestic birds, wild mammals, and horses were conducted during arbovirus field studies in Argentina from 1977 through 1980, a non-epizootic interval. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was consistently higher than to western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus in all species and all areas. The presence of antibodies in short-lived avian species and in young unvaccinated horses and the demonstration of seroconversions in horses during the period, indicated that these viruses are either enzootic in, or annually reintroduced in...
