Characterisation of IgG(T) serum antibody responses to two larval antigen complexes in horses naturally- or experimentally-infected with cyathostomins.
Abstract: Cyathostomins are the most common parasitic nematodes of horses. Larval stages, which inhabit the intestinal wall, are particularly pathogenic and can cause severe colitis and colic. Despite their clinical importance, diagnostic techniques for the prepatent stages do not exist. A method that could estimate mucosal infection intensity would have a major impact on the control and diagnosis of cyathostominosis. Here, serum IgG(T) responses to two larval antigen complexes of 25 and 20 kDa were quantified in horses with experimental infections, natural infections and in horses that presented with clinical larval cyathostominosis. In experimentally-infected animals, anti-25 kDa complex IgG(T) levels correlated positively with field exposure and with early third stage larval (r(s)=0.74, P=0.015) and total mucosal parasite (r(s)=0.78, P=0.010) burdens. In naturally exposed horses whose parasite burdens were quantified upon post-mortem examination, antigen-specific IgG(T) responses were significantly higher in infected than in uninfected horses (P=0.0001 and 0.002, for anti-25 and anti-20 kDa responses, respectively). In these animals, anti-25 kDa IgG(T) levels correlated positively with mucosal and lumenal burdens (P<0.05). IgG(T) responses to the 20 kDa antigen complex correlated positively with lumenal burdens (P=0.0043). In cases of larval cyathostominosis, antigen-specific IgG(T) levels were significantly higher than in uninfected ponies (P=0.002 and 0.0035, for anti-25 and anti-20 kDa responses, respectively). These results provide evidence that these two complexes contain antigens with potential as markers for prepatent cyathostomin infection.
Publication Date: 2004-01-09 PubMed ID: 14711595DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.09.008Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research examined the body’s immune response, specifically antibodies, to two proteins associated with parasitic worms (cyathostomins) in horses. This study could pave the way for improved diagnosis and treatment of horse parasites.
Understanding Cyathostomins and their Effects
- Parasitic worms, specifically cyathostomins, commonly infect horses. These parasites can cause severe health issues like colitis and colic, as the larval stages of these parasites inhabit the intestinal wall of the horses.
- The primary issue lies in diagnosing and treating these infection stages, so a method that can estimate the parasitic effect on the mucus lining of the intestines could revolutionise the control and diagnosis of this disease.
Researching the Antibody Response
- The researchers focused on examining the antibodies produced in response to two larval antigen complexes, weighing in at 25 and 20 kilodaltons (kDa), respectively.
- These responses were studied in three types of horses: those with experimentally-induced infections, those with natural infections, and horses presenting clinical signs of the disease.
Findings and Significance
- Infections spurred a response that created antibodies, indicating these complexes hold potential as markers for unnamed parasitic infections (prepatent cyathostomin infection).
- Horses with experimental infections demonstrated a positive correlation between the antibodies to the 25 kDa complex and factors like field exposure and early stage larval and total parasitic presence.
- In horses with naturally occurring infections, the antibodies in response to the two antigen complexes were considerably higher compared to uninfected horses. This response also corresponded with the parasitic burden on the mucosal and lumen areas of the intestines.
- Animals with clinical signs demonstrated higher antibody responses against these antigen complexes compared to uninfected ones, supporting the concept that these complexes could mark the presence of an infection before it is named.
Conclusion
- The research provided evidence that these two antigen complexes have potential as markers for early-stage cyathostomin infections. This could pave the way for better diagnostic methods and treatment for parasitic nematode infections in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Dowdall SM, Proudman CJ, Klei TR, Mair T, Matthews JB.
(2004).
Characterisation of IgG(T) serum antibody responses to two larval antigen complexes in horses naturally- or experimentally-infected with cyathostomins.
Int J Parasitol, 34(1), 101-108.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2003.09.008 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, South Wirral CH64 7TE, UK. sdowdall@liverpool.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Helminth / blood
- Antigens, Helminth / immunology
- Antigens, Helminth / pharmacology
- Biomarkers / blood
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin E / blood
- Larva
- Nematode Infections / immunology
- Nematode Infections / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Wang T, Chen X, Yan X, Su Y, Gao W, Liu C, Wang W. Progress in serology and molecular biology of equine parasite diagnosis: sustainable control strategies. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1663577.
- Matthews JB, Peczak N, Lightbody KL. The Use of Innovative Diagnostics to Inform Sustainable Control of Equine Helminth Infections. Pathogens 2023 Oct 11;12(10).
- Elmeligy E, Abdelbaset A, Elsayed HK, Bayomi SA, Hafez A, Abu-Seida AM, El-Khabaz KAS, Hassan D, Ghandour RA, Khalphallah A. Oxidative stress in Strongylus spp. infected donkeys treated with piperazine citrate versus doramectin. Open Vet J 2021 Apr-Jun;11(2):238-250.
- Louro M, Kuzmina TA, Bredtmann CM, Diekmann I, de Carvalho LMM, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Krücken J. Genetic variability, cryptic species and phylogenetic relationship of six cyathostomin species based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequences. Sci Rep 2021 Apr 15;11(1):8245.
- Bredtmann CM, Krücken J, Murugaiyan J, Kuzmina T, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Nematode Species Identification-Current Status, Challenges and Future Perspectives for Cyathostomins. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017;7:283.
- Moudgil AD, Prashar A, Moudgil P, Sharma A, Sharma M. Cyathostomum catinatum infection in a mule of Palam Valley, India: a case report. J Parasit Dis 2017 Jun;41(2):534-537.
- Matthews JB. Anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2014 Dec;4(3):310-5.
- Moran G, Folch H, Henriquez C, Ortloff A, Barria M. Reaginic antibodies from horses with recurrent airway obstruction produce mast cell stimulation. Vet Res Commun 2012 Dec;36(4):251-8.
- Paz-Silva A, Francisco R, Rodríguez I, Francisco I, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Arias MS, Suárez JL, Sánchez-Andrade R. Isolation of potentially useful antigens from cyathostomin third-stage larvae by using a fast protein liquid chromatography one-step method. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2011 Sep;18(9):1462-6.
- Roelfstra L, Deeg CA, Hauck SM, Buse C, Membrez M, Betschart B, Pfister K. Protein expression profile of Gasterophilus intestinalis larvae causing horse gastric myiasis and characterization of horse immune reaction. Parasit Vectors 2009 Jan 8;2(1):6.
- Hodgkinson JE, Freeman KL, Lichtenfels JR, Palfreman S, Love S, Matthews JB. Identification of strongyle eggs from anthelmintic-treated horses using a PCR-ELISA based on intergenic DNA sequences. Parasitol Res 2005 Mar;95(4):287-92.
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