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Veterinary immunology and immunopathology2009; 135(1-2); 1-11; doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.12.004

Current understanding of the equine immune response to Rhodococcus equi. An immunological review of R. equi pneumonia.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is recognised to cause chronic purulent bronchopneumonia in foals of less than 6 months of age. Virulent strains of the bacteria possess a large 80-90 kb plasmid encoding several virulence-associated proteins, including virulence-associated protein A (VapA), which is associated with disease. R. equi pneumonia can represent significant costs and wastage to the equine breeding industry, especially on stud farms where the disease is endemic. This article reviews knowledge of the equine immune response, both in the immune adult and susceptible neonate, with respect to this pathogen. Humoral immune responses are addressed, with a discussion on the use of hyperimmune and normal adult equine plasma as prophylactic tools. The role that innate immune mechanisms play in the susceptibility of some foals to R. equi infection is also highlighted. Likewise, cell-mediated immune components are reviewed, with particular attention directed towards research undertaken to develop an effective vaccine for foals. It is possible that the implementation of a single immunoprophylaxis strategy to prevent R. equi infection on farms will yield disappointing results. Combined prophylactic protocols that address husbandry practices, environmental and aerosol contamination levels, enhancement of innate immunity, good quality hyperimmune plasma for the neonate, and vaccinal efficacy in the developing foal may be required.
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2009-12-23 PubMed ID: 20064668DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.12.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study explores the immune response of horses, both adult and neonate, to a bacterium called Rhodococcus equi, which causes severe pneumonia in foals and has significant financial implications for the horse breeding industry. The research addresses the potential prophylactic measures against this infection, such as hyperimmune plasma and vaccines, alongside improved husbandry practices and environmental controls.

About Rhodococcus equi

  • Rhodococcus equi is a bacterium known to cause chronic purulent bronchopneumonia in young foals.
  • The bacteria’s virulence, or disease-causing power, largely comes from a large 80-90 kb plasmid that it possesses. This plasmid encodes several virulence-associated proteins, with a key one being virulence-associated protein A (VapA).
  • The disease can represent a substantial financial burden to the equine breeding industry, particularly on stud farms where it is common.

Equine Immune Response to R. equi

  • The article reviews the immune response of horses, both adults and neonates, to this bacterial pathogen.
  • It gives detailed attention to humoral immune responses and discusses the use of hyperimmune and normal adult equine plasma as therapeutic tools in the battle against R. equi.
  • The paper also underscores the role of innate immunity in determining the susceptibility of some foals to R. equi infection.

Cell-Mediated Immune Components

  • In addition to innate and humoral immunity, cell-mediated immune components are equally important in the equine response to R. equi infection.
  • The article reviews a significant amount of research conducted to develop an effective vaccine for foals against R. equi.

Prophylactic Protocols

  • The authors suggest that banking on a single preventive strategy to ward off R. equi infection might not achieve satisfactory results.
  • They propose a combined preventive approach encompassing improved husbandry practices, control of environmental and aerosol contamination levels, enhancement of innate immunity, usage of hyperimmune plasma in newborns, and improving the efficacy of vaccines in developing foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Dawson TRMY, Horohov DW, Meijer WG, Muscatello G. (2009). Current understanding of the equine immune response to Rhodococcus equi. An immunological review of R. equi pneumonia. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 135(1-2), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.12.004

Publication

Veterinary immunology and immunopathology
ISSN: 1873-2534
NlmUniqueID: 8002006
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 135
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 1-11
PII: S0165-2427(09)00437-1

Researcher Affiliations

Dawson, Tamsin R M Y
  • The Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sunderland, Fleming Building, Wharncliffe Street, Sunderland SR1 3SD, UK. Electronic address: hc4tda@student.sunderland.ac.uk.
Horohov, David W
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, UK.
Meijer, Wim G
  • School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Muscatello, Gary
  • Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / immunology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / prevention & control
  • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / immunology
  • Animals, Newborn / microbiology
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Horse Diseases / immunology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses / immunology
  • Immunity, Humoral / immunology
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / veterinary
  • Rhodococcus equi / immunology

Citations

This article has been cited 17 times.
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  14. Yerlikaya Z, Karagülle B, Otlu B, Muz A. From Paddock to Foal: Prevalence and Genotypic Diversity of Rhodococcus equi on Stud Farms in Türkiye. Vet Sci 2026 Jan 10;13(1).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci13010072pubmed: 41600728google scholar: lookup
  15. Villalba-Orero M, Gómez CA, Valero-Gónzalez M, Venegas N, Criado G, Martín-Cuervo M. Blood parameters in neonatal foal and colostrum quality as possible early markers for increased risk of developing Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1654052.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1654052pubmed: 40948621google scholar: lookup
  16. Kabir A, Lamichhane B, Habib T, Adams A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Slovis NM, Troedsson MHT, Helmy YA. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond-A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024 Jul 29;13(8).
    doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13080713pubmed: 39200013google scholar: lookup
  17. Alvarez Narvaez S, Sanchez S. Exploring the Accessory Genome of Multidrug-Resistant Rhodococcus equi Clone 2287. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Nov 17;12(11).
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