A comparison of antibody responses to commercial equine influenza vaccines following primary vaccination of Thoroughbred weanlings–a randomised blind study.
Abstract: Many racing authorities, sales companies and equestrian bodies have mandatory vaccination policies for equine influenza (EI). The consequences of lack of vaccine efficacy include clinical disease, disruption to training programmes, the cancellation of equestrian events and the introduction of virus to susceptible populations. The correlation between antibody against the virus haemagglutinin and protection against influenza has been well established. The objective of this study was to compare the antibody responses of 66 unvaccinated Thoroughbred weanlings on four different stud farms, following primary vaccination (V1, V2 and V3) with the five EI vaccines commercially available in Ireland (Duvaxyn IET Plus, Equilis Resequin, Equip FT, Equilis Prequenza Te, ProteqFlu Te). Antibody responses were monitored for 6 months post V3 by single radial haemolysis. The pattern of antibody response was similar for all vaccines and for all antigens tested. A rapid decline of antibody level was observed by 3 months post V2 for all vaccines. The antibody response of the horses vaccinated with the whole virus vaccine Duvaxyn IET Plus was significantly higher than that of the horses vaccinated with the other four products. Five weanlings had maternally derived antibodies (MDA) at the time of V1. The canary pox recombinant vaccine, subunit vaccine and whole virus inactivated vaccines administered to these weanlings did not induce a detectable antibody response against the background of MDA but effectively primed the animals as revaccination resulted in a strong antibody response. In this study 43% of the weanlings failed to seroconvert after V1. This high incidence of poor responders has not been reported in previous experimental studies relating to these products. The poor responders were observed in all vaccine groups except those vaccinated with Duvaxyn IET Plus. Post V2 the incidence of poor responders was reduced to 7% and all horses responded to V3. The study demonstrates that independent evaluation of influenza vaccine performance in the field is critical to add to the body of knowledge gained from experimental challenge experiments carried out for regulatory or marketing purposes.
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This research study compares the effectiveness of five different equine influenza vaccines in protecting unvaccinated Thoroughbred weanlings. The study found that the vaccine Duvaxyn IET Plus produced significantly higher antibody responses than the other four vaccines, but a third of the horses did not produce sufficient antibodies after the first vaccination.
Research Objective
This study had a primary goal to compare the antibody responses in 66 unvaccinated Thoroughbred weanlings after being vaccinated with one of five Equine Influenza (EI) vaccines commercially available in Ireland.
Methodology
The horses were on four different stud farms, and the vaccinations were given in three stages (V1, V2, and V3).
Antibody responses were monitored for 6 months after the third vaccination using the single radial haemolysis method.
The five commercially available vaccines used in the study were Duvaxyn IET Plus, Equilis Resequin, Equip FT, Equilis Prequenza Te, and ProteqFlu Te.
Results
The study found that the pattern of antibody response was similar for all vaccines and all antigens tested.
A rapid decline in antibody levels was observed three months after the second vaccination for all vaccines.
The horses vaccinated with the whole virus vaccine, Duvaxyn IET Plus, had a significantly higher antibody response than the horses vaccinated with the other four vaccines.
Five weanlings that had maternally derived antibodies (MDA) at the time of the first vaccination did not show a detectable antibody response against the background of MDA. However, these animals were effectively prepared (or primed) for future antibody responses, as further vaccinations resulted in strong antibody responses.
Surprising Findings and Conclusion
The study made an unexpected discovery that about 43% of the weanlings failed to produce adequate antibodies (or seroconvert) after the first vaccination. This high rate of poor responders has not been reported in previous research regarding these products.
Nevertheless, after the second vaccination, the incidence of poor responders dropped to approximately 7%, and all horses responded after the third vaccination.
The results underscore the importance of independent evaluations of vaccine performance in the field to support knowledge gained from experimental challenge experiments for regulatory or marketing purposes.
Cite This Article
APA
Gildea S, Arkins S, Walsh C, Cullinane A.
(2011).
A comparison of antibody responses to commercial equine influenza vaccines following primary vaccination of Thoroughbred weanlings–a randomised blind study.
Vaccine, 29(49), 9214-9223.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.09.101
Aida V, Pliasas VC, Neasham PJ, North JF, McWhorter KL, Glover SR, Kyriakis CS. Novel Vaccine Technologies in Veterinary Medicine: A Herald to Human Medicine Vaccines. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:654289.