Topic:Antigen
Antigens are substances that can induce an immune response in horses, typically by being recognized as foreign by the immune system. These substances can include proteins, polysaccharides, or lipids, and are often components of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites. In horses, antigens are essential for the activation of both the innate and adaptive immune responses, leading to the production of antibodies and the activation of immune cells. The study of antigens in equines encompasses understanding their structure, the mechanisms by which they are recognized by the immune system, and their role in vaccine development. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the identification, characterization, and immunological impact of antigens in equine health and disease.
A comparative study evaluating three line immunoassays available for serodiagnosis of equine Lyme borreliosis: Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-specific antibodies in serum samples of vaccinated and non-vaccinated horses. Diagnosis of equine Lyme borreliosis (LB), an infection caused by members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (Bbsl), is challenging due to the nonspecific clinical signs of the disease and due to the variety of non-standardized serological tests. Specific vaccine-induced antibodies against LB, providing an effective protection against the infection, complicate the issue further. The standard for the detection of specific antibodies against Bbsl is a two-tier test system based on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) for antibody sc...
Immunization but not natural infection of horses results in antibody activity against the S protein of Streptococcus equi subsp equi. Evaluate the immunogenicity of a vaccine targeting the S protein (Ssee) of Streptococcus equi subsp equi and determine antibody activity against Ssee in horses with strangles. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective experiment using 20 university-owned Quarter Horses and a cross-sectional serosurvey of 78 privately owned horses with strangles. Horses were immunized IM with 0 (n = 4), 200 (n = 8), or 400 (n = 8) μg of recombinant Ssee at weeks 0, 4, and 12. Serum and nasal secretions were collected at weeks 0, 4, 6, 12, 16, and 28 and tested by ELISA for immunoglobulin (Ig)-G against ...
Immunization but not natural infection of horses results in antibody activity against the S protein of Streptococcus equi subsp equi. Evaluate the immunogenicity of a vaccine targeting the S protein (Ssee) of Streptococcus equi subsp equi and determine antibody activity against Ssee in horses with strangles. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective experiment using 20 university-owned Quarter Horses and a cross-sectional serosurvey of 78 privately owned horses with strangles. Horses were immunized IM with 0 (n = 4), 200 (n = 8), or 400 (n = 8) μg of recombinant Ssee at weeks 0, 4, and 12. Serum and nasal secretions were collected at weeks 0, 4, 6, 12, 16, and 28 and tested by ELISA for immunoglobulin (Ig)-G against ...
Evidence of Influenza A(H5N1) Spillover Infections in Horses, Mongolia. Recent outbreaks of influenza A(H5N1) have affected many mammal species. We report serologic evidence of H5N1 virus infection in horses in Mongolia. Because H3N8 equine influenza virus is endemic in many countries, horses should be monitored to prevent reassortment between equine and avian influenza viruses with unknown consequences.
Antibody isotyping and cytokine profiling in natural cases of Burkholderia mallei infection (glanders) in equines. Immunological aspects of B. mallei infection were rarely studied in natural cases of equines. The present study was conducted to determine IgG, IgM, IgA and IgG (T) titre against recombinant Hcp1, TssA and TssB proteins and PilA-Hcp1-TssN-BipD and BpaB-BpaC- BMAA0553 chimeras and cytokine responses in glanders affected equine serum. Methods: The study was conducted on serum samples collected from 151 glanders positive equines which include horses (n = 134), mules (n = 16), and donkeys (n = 01). The IgM, IgG, IgA and IgG (T) titre were determined against recombinant antigens by indirect E...
Protein profile of extracellular vesicles derived from adult Parascaris spp. Parascaris spp. represent a significant threat to equine health worldwide, particularly in foals. The long-term survival of parasites in the host necessitates persistent modulation of the host immune response. Intercellular communication achieved through the exchange of molecules via extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from the parasite could be a crucial factor in this regard. This study aimed to isolate and characterize EVs released by adult male and female Parascaris worms and conduct a proteomic analysis to identify sex-specific proteins and potential immunomodulatory factors. Methods: L...
Allergen immunotherapy using recombinant Culicoides allergens improves clinical signs of equine insect bite hypersensitivity. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis of horses caused by bites of spp., sharing some common features with human atopic dermatitis. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) using whole-body extracts has limited efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate AIT with a pool of major recombinant allergens in a prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Unassigned: The IBH lesion score was assessed during a pre-treatment year and first treatment year (May-October) in 17 horses and in May and July of a second treatment year. Nine horses were immunized subcutaneously ...
The Effect of Seminal Plasma on the Equine Endometrial Transcriptome. The establishment of pregnancy involves a fine-tuned balance between protection and tolerance within the maternal immune system, as the female needs to accept a foreign antigen (the semi-allogenic fetus) while still being able to combat pathogens from the uterus. In the horse, the first uterine exposure to paternal antigens is during mating when sperm is introduced to the tissue and draining lymphatics of the uterus. Additionally, it has been suggested that seminal plasma and its proteins within it play an essential role in preparing the female tract for a suitable immunologic environment but ...
Association of Borrelia burgdorferi with nuchal bursitis and elevated outer surface protein A-specific serum antibodies in horses of the northeastern United States. Evaluate the incidence of Borrelia burgdorferi in cases of equine nuchal bursitis (NB) and investigate the relationship between elevated serum outer surface protein A (OspA) antibodies and the molecular identification of B burgdorferi in bursal tissue or synovial fluid. Additionally, describe clinical cases and compare the histologic changes in NB with and without detection of B burgdorferi. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study (2013 to 2022). Medical records from horses with a diagnosis of NB and B burgdorferi PCR testing on NB tissue or synovial fluid were reviewed. The...
Preparation and Application of Clostridium perfringens Alpha Toxin Nanobodies. All subtypes of () produce the alpha toxin (CPA), which can cause enteritis or enterotoxemia in lambs, cattle, pigs, and horses, as well as traumatic clostridial myonecrosis in humans and animals. CPA acts on cell membranes, ultimately leading to endocytosis and cell death. Therefore, the neutralization of CPA is crucial for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by . In this study, utilizing CPA as an antigen, a nanobody (CPA-VHH) with a half-life of 2.9 h, an affinity constant (KD) of 0.9 nmol/L, and good stability below 60 °C was prepared from a natural nanobody library from alpa...
Rapid Detection of Getah Virus Antibodies in Horses Using a Recombinant E2 Protein-Based Immunochromatographic Strip. The prevalence and impact of Getah virus (GETV) are significant concerns in China. GETV can infect a wide range of animals, including horses, pigs, sheep, cattle, birds, and humans, resulting in substantial losses in the livestock and agricultural industries. GETV infection can cause the development of ulcers and inflammation in the mouth and gums of horses, which result in pain and discomfort and lead to symptoms such as reduced appetite, drooling, and difficulty chewing. As a result, there is a pressing need for efficient and rapid disease diagnosis methods. However, the currently available ...
Antibody reactions of horses against various domains of the EHV-1 receptor-binding protein gD1. Equid alphaherpesviruses 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4) are closely related and both endemic in horses worldwide. Both viruses replicate in the upper respiratory tract, but EHV-1 may additionally lead to abortion and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). We focused on antibody responses in horses against the receptor-binding glycoprotein D of EHV-1 (gD1), which shares a 77% amino acid identity with its counterpart in EHV-4 (gD4). Both antigens give rise to cross-reacting antibodies, including neutralizing antibodies. However, immunity against EHV-4 is not considered protective against EHM. Wh...
Identifying the immunoglobulin G transporter in equine tissues: A look at the neonatal Fc receptor. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is the receptor responsible for bidirectional transport of immunoglobulin G (IgG) across cells, maintenance of IgG levels in serum, and assisting with antigen presentation. Unfortunately, little is known about FcRn in horses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to provide fundamental information regarding the location of FcRn in equine tissues. Tissues were collected from six horses of mixed breed, age, and sex immediately following euthanasia. Sampling locations included the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract (GIT), other visceral organs, cornea, ...
Alloimmune Conditions in the Neonatal Foal. Alloimmune disorders occur in foals when pregnant mares produce antibodies against antigens on the foal's cells or tissues, and concentrate them within colostrum. Once foals nurse and absorb colostral antibodies, they can develop hematologic or cutaneous manifestations that can occur individually or in combination. These include neonatal isoerythrolysis, a hemolytic anemia directed against factors on the foal's erythrocytes, alloimmune thrombocytopenia when the antibodies are directed against platelet antigens, alloimmune neutropenia when they are directed against neutrophil antigens, and a co...
Nine-year seroepidemiological study of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection in feral horses in Cape Toi, Japan. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a fatal zoonosis caused by ticks in East Asia. As SFTS virus (SFTSV) is maintained between wildlife and ticks, seroepidemiological studies in wildlife are important to understand the behavior of SFTSV in the environment. Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, is an SFTS-endemic area, and approximately 100 feral horses, called Misaki horses (Equus caballus), inhabit Cape Toi in Miyazaki Prefecture. While these animals are managed in a wild-like manner, their ages are ascertainable due to individual identification. In the present study, we conducted a s...
Serological and Molecular Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in Horses and Cattle in Switzerland from 2020 to 2022. Horses and cattle have shown low susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, and there is no evidence of experimental intraspecies transmission. Nonetheless, seropositive horses in the US and seropositive cattle in Germany and Italy have been reported. The current study investigated the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in horses and cattle in Switzerland. In total, 1940 serum and plasma samples from 1110 horses and 830 cattle were screened with a species-specific ELISA based on the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) and, in the case of suspect positive results, a surrogate virus neutralizat...
Expression of recombinant Florida clade 2 hemagglutinin in baculovirus expression system: A step for subunit vaccine development against H3N8 equine influenza virus. Equine influenza (EI) is a transmissible viral respiratory sickness of the family. Two viruses, H7N7 and H3N8 caused EI; however, H7N7 has not been detected for decades. H3N8 has circulated and bifurcated into Eurasian and American lineages. The latter subsequently diversified into Kentucky, South America, and Florida sub-lineages. Florida clade 1 (FC1) and Florida clade 2 (FC2) strains are the only circulating EI viruses (EIVs) in the meantime. Immunization is considered the major means for the prevention and control of EI infection. Using disparate technologies and platforms, several vaccin...
Development and evaluation of a test strip for the rapid detection of antibody against equine infectious anemia virus. Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a contagious disease of horses caused by the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). The clinical signs at the acute phase include intermittent high fever, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhage, edema, and anemia. The clinical signs at chronic and relapsing subclinical levels include emaciation and progressive weakness. Surviving horses become lifelong carriers because of the integration of the viral genome into that of the host, and these horses can produce and transmit the virus to other animals. This increases the difficulty of imposing practical control measures to ...
Comparison of antibody and antigen response to intranasal and intramuscular EHV-1 modified-live vaccination in healthy adult horses. During neurological EHV-1 outbreaks, modified-live vaccines (MLV) are often administrated intranasally in an off-label fashion to healthy cohort horses in order to achieve rapid mucosal immunity. Thus, the goal of the present study was to determine if a commercially available EHV-1 MLV given intranasally to healthy horses would trigger a measurable systemic and/or mucosal antibody response. Eight healthy adult horses were given the EHV-1 MLV vaccine intranasally, while 8 healthy adult horses received the vaccine intramuscularly. An additional 8 healthy horses served as unvaccinated controls. E...
Effect of dexamethasone on antibody response of horses to vaccination with a combined equine influenza virus and equine herpesvirus-1 vaccine. Dexamethasone is routinely administered to horses but its effect on the antibody response to a commercial EIV/EHV vaccine is unclear. Objective: Horses receiving dexamethasone will have lower postvaccination antibody levels against EIV and EHV-1 than vaccinated controls. Methods: Fifty-five healthy adult research horses. Methods: Randomized cohort study. Control (no vaccine, group 1), vaccination only (EIV/EHV-1/EHV-4, Prestige 2, Merck Animal Health, group 2), vaccination and concurrent single intravenous dose of dexamethasone (approximately .05 mg/kg, group 3), vaccination and 3 intravenou...
Unveiling Differential Responses of Granulocytes to Distinct Immunostimulants with Implications in Autoimmune Uveitis. The perception of circulating granulocytes as cells with a predetermined immune response mainly triggered by pathogens is evolving, recognizing their functional heterogeneity and adaptability, particularly within the neutrophil subset. The involvement of these cells in the pathophysiology of autoimmune uveitis has become increasingly clear, yet their exact role remains elusive. We used an equine model for autoimmune-mediated recurrent pan-uveitis to investigate early responses of granulocytes in different inflammatory environments. For this purpose, we performed differential proteomics on gran...
Short communication: Retrospective analysis of obligatory testing results for Equine virus arteritis reveals a decrease of its seroprevalence in stallions used for artificial insemination. Equine viral arteritis (EVA) can induce a persistent carrier state in stallions which then shed the virus via semen. About 30 years ago, obligatory EVA testing of stallions used for artificial insemination (AI) was implemented in the European Union. Information on the efficacy of these regulations on the prevalence of EVA in stallions are not yet available. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed results of serological and virus antigen testing for EVA in sires of different age and breed referred to Vetmeduni Vienna for semen preservation or veterinary diagnostic procedures between 2001 and 202...
Immunoproteomics reveal increased serum IgG3/5 binding to Dermatophagoides and yeast protein antigens in severe equine asthma in a preliminary study. Severe equine asthma (SEA) is a common, chronic respiratory disease of horses characterized by hyperreactivity to hay dust which has many similarities to severe neutrophilic asthma in humans. SEA-provoking antigens have not been comprehensively characterized, but molds and mites have been suggested as relevant sources. Here, we identified relevant antigen candidates using immunoproteomics with IgG isotype-binding analyses. Proteins from () were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting (2D immunoblots) resulting in a characteristic pattern of 440 spots. After...
Microarray molecular mapping of horses with severe asthma. Severe asthma (SA) in horses, resembling human asthma, is a prevalent, debilitating allergic respiratory condition marked by elevated allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) against environmental proteins; however, research exploring the exposome's influence on IgE profiles is currently limited but holds paramount significance for diagnostic and therapeutic developments. Methods: Thirty-five sports horses were analyzed, consisting of environmentally matched samples from France (5 SA; 6 control), the United States (6 SA; 6 control), and Canada (6 SEA; 6 control). Methods: This intentional cros...
Development and application of a competitive ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Salmonella Abortusequi in equids. The high abortion rate associated with Abortusequi (. Abortusequi) infection in equids has re-emerged over the past 10 years and has caused serious economic losses to China. Our previous studies showed that the flagellin FljB gene could distinguish . Abortusequi from most serotypes. In this study, the flagellin antigen was used to develop a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) that could be used to detect both horse and donkey serum samples using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) that was found to bind to FljB. A cELISA was established using the purified MAb coating of the plate ...
Performance of a microfluidic immunofluorescence assay kit for equine influenza virus antigen detection. Equine influenza virus (EIV) infection is one of the most important respiratory diseases in the equine industry around the world. Rapid diagnosis, facilitated by point-of-care testing, is essential to implement movement restrictions and control disease outbreaks. This study evaluated a microfluidic immunofluorescence assay kit, which detects influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 antigens in human specimens with a 12 min turnaround time, for its potential use in detecting EIV. The microfluidic immunofluorescence assay kit succeeded in detecting 11 EIV strains. Using the real-time reverse transcription...
Genome-Wide Detection of Copy Number Variations Associated with Miniature Features in Horses. Copy number variations (CNVs) are crucial structural genomic variants affecting complex traits in humans and livestock animals. The current study was designed to conduct a comprehensive comparative copy number variation analysis among three breeds, Debao (DB), Baise (BS), and Warmblood (WB), with a specific focus on identifying genomic regions associated with miniature features in horses. Using whole-genome next-generation resequencing data, we identified 18,974 CNVs across 31 autosomes. Among the breeds, we found 4279 breed-specific CNV regions (CNVRs). Baise, Debao, and Warmblood displayed 2...
The Use of Innovative Diagnostics to Inform Sustainable Control of Equine Helminth Infections. Helminths are commonly found in grazing equids, with cyathostomin nematodes and the cestode being the most prevalent. Most horses harbour low burdens of these parasites and do not develop signs of infection; however, in a small number of animals, high burdens can accumulate and cause disease. Cyathostomins are associated with a syndrome known as larval cyathostominosis. This occurs when large numbers of larvae emerge from the large intestinal wall. This disease has a case fatality rate of up to 50%. infection has been associated with various types of colic, with burdens of >20 worms assoc...
Recombinant Salmonella enterica OmpX protein expression and its potential for serologically diagnosing Salmonella abortion in mares. abortion in mares is caused by subspecies serovar infection and is characterized by premature (abortion) or non-viable fetus birth. Although all horses are susceptible to infection, the condition is more often clinically manifested in pregnant mares, with most abortions recorded in young females. In addition, nonspecific clinical disease signs and poorly sensitive and effective bacteriological diagnostic methods hinder rapid and reliable infection diagnoses. Immunochemical methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromatography assays can facilitate effective and...
Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of stallion testicular cells under normal and heat stress culture conditions. This study investigated the effect of heat stress on stallion testicular cells (TCs) and the effect of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 on TC viability, proliferation, and apoptosis, including different stages of germ cells. TCs were divided into control or treatment groups with 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL of recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1) for 24 h at 34 °C and 37 °C. The population and viability were measured before and after treatment. The effects of rhIGF-1 on TC viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were determined using RT-qPCR. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) a...