Development of Strongylus vulgaris-specific serum antibodies in naturally infected foals.
Abstract: Strongylus vulgaris is regarded as the most pathogenic helminth parasite infecting horses. Migrating larvae cause pronounced endarteritis and thrombosis in the cranial mesenteric artery and adjacent branches, and thromboembolism can lead to ischemia and infarction of large intestinal segments. A recently developed serum ELISA allows detection of S. vulgaris-specific antibodies during the six-month-long prepatent period. A population of horses has been maintained at the University of Kentucky without anthelmintic intervention since 1979, and S. vulgaris has been documented to be highly prevalent. In 2012, 12 foals were born in this population, and were studied during a 12-month period (March-March). Weekly serum samples were collected to monitor S. vulgaris specific antibodies with the ELISA. Nine colts underwent necropsy at different time points between 90 and 300 days of age. At necropsy, Strongylus spp. and Parascaris equorum were identified to species and stage and enumerated. Initial statistical findings indicate a significant interaction between foal age and ELISA results (p<0.042). All foals had initial evidence of S. vulgaris-directed maternal antibodies transferred in the colostrum, but then remained ELISA negative during their first three months of life. Foals born in February and March became ELISA positive at about 12 weeks of age, while those born in April and May went positive at about 15 and 21 weeks, respectively. Foal date of birth was significantly associated with ELISA results (p<0.0001). This could be explained by birth date-dependent differences in parasite exposure. One foal remained ELISA-negative throughout the course of 30 weeks during the study. A significant association was found between ELISA values and larval S. vulgaris burdens (p<0.0001) as well as a three-way interaction between S. vulgaris, S. edentatus, and P. equorum burdens (p<0.001). A plateau with a subsequent decline in ELISA values corresponded with S. vulgaris larvae leaving the bloodstream and migrating back to the intestine.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2013-12-31 PubMed ID: 24433851DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.12.024Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research analyzed the development and behavior of Strongylus vulgaris (a harmful helminth parasite) specific antibodies in naturally infected horse foals over a one-year period. The study was able to track the presence of these antibodies during the six-month prepatent period using a newly developed serum ELISA.
Overview
- The research was focused on tracking the presence and development of S. vulgaris-specific antibodies in horse foals over a year.
- A serum ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is employed to detect S. vulgaris-specific antibodies during the six-month-long prepatent period.
- Twelve foals born from a consistent population of horses, which have been maintained without anthelmintic intervention at the University of Kentucky since 1979, were used.
- Weekly serum samples were taken from the foals for monitoring.
Findings
- Nine out of the twelve foals were chosen for necropsy at different points between 90 and 300 days.
- During the necropsy, the species and stage of Strongylus spp. and Parascaris equorum were identified. Strongylus spp. were found to be highly prevalent.
- There was a significant interaction noted between the age of the foal and the ELISA results, indicating that age could have a significant influence on the immune system’s reaction to the parasite.
- All foals initially had antibodies directed towards S. vulgaris from the colostrum (first milk after giving birth), but remained ELISA negative during their first three months of life.
- The birth date of the foal was significantly associated with the ELISA results. The result indicates that there could be birth date-dependent differences in parasite exposure.
- One foal remained ELISA-negative throughout the study, which lasted 30 weeks.
Conclusions
- The study indicates a high correlation between the presence of S. vulgaris larvae and the ELISA test values.
- A substantial three-way connection was observed between the burdens of S. vulgaris, S. edentatus, and P. equorum.
- The experiment showed that the ELISA values hit a plateau, followed by a decline that corresponded with S. vulgaris larvae leaving the bloodstream and migrating back to the intestine.
- This decline in ELISA values potentially suggests the lifecycle stages of the S. vulgaris parasite.
Cite This Article
APA
Nielsen MK, Vidyashankar AN, Gravatte HS, Bellaw J, Lyons ET, Andersen UV.
(2013).
Development of Strongylus vulgaris-specific serum antibodies in naturally infected foals.
Vet Parasitol, 200(3-4), 265-270.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.12.024 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States. Electronic address: martin.nielsen@uky.edu.
- Department of Statistics, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States.
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
- Department of Large Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Antibodies, Helminth / blood
- Antibodies, Helminth / immunology
- Arteries / parasitology
- Ascaridoidea / physiology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Horses
- Intestines / parasitology
- Larva
- Male
- Parasite Load
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / immunology
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / parasitology
- Strongylus / immunology
- Time
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Steuer AE, Anderson HP, Shepherd T, Clark M, Scare JA, Gravatte HS, Nielsen MK. Parasite dynamics in untreated horses through one calendar year.. Parasit Vectors 2022 Feb 8;15(1):50.
- Kaspar A, Pfister K, Nielsen MK, Silaghi C, Fink H, Scheuerle MC. Detection of Strongylus vulgaris in equine faecal samples by real-time PCR and larval culture - method comparison and occurrence assessment.. BMC Vet Res 2017 Jan 11;13(1):19.
- Nielsen MK, Scare J, Gravatte HS, Bellaw JL, Prado JC, Reinemeyer CR. Changes in Serum Strongylus Vulgaris-Specific Antibody Concentrations in Response to Anthelmintic Treatment of Experimentally Infected Foals.. Front Vet Sci 2015;2:17.
- Nielsen MK, Vidyashankar AN, Bellaw J, Gravatte HS, Cao X, Rubinson EF, Reinemeyer CR. Serum Strongylus vulgaris-specific antibody responses to anthelmintic treatment in naturally infected horses.. Parasitol Res 2015 Feb;114(2):445-51.
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