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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2023; 38(1); 424-430; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16978

Effect of dexamethasone on antibody response of horses to vaccination with a combined equine influenza virus and equine herpesvirus-1 vaccine.

Abstract: 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 intravenous doses of dexamethasone at 24 hours intervals (group 4). Serum SAA levels were measured on day 1 and day 3. Antibody levels against EIV (hemagglutination inhibition assay, Kentucky 2014 antigen) and EHV-1 (multiplex ELISA targeting total IgG and IgG 4/7) were measured on day 1 and day 30. Results: Significantly increased mean antibody titers after vaccination were only noted against EIV and only after the vaccination alone (n = 14, prevaccine mean [prvm] 166.9, SD 259.6, 95% CI 16.95-316.8; postvaccine mean [povm] 249.1, SD 257.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 100.6-397.6, P = .02) and the single dose dexamethasone (n = 14, prvm 93.14, SD 72.2, CI 51.45-134.8; povm 185.1, SD 118, CI 116.7-253.6, P = .01), but not after multiple doses of dexamethasone (n = 14, prvm 194.3, SD 258.3, CI 45.16-343.4; povm 240.0, SD 235.7, CI 103.9-376.1, P > .05). Conclusions: The effect of dexamethasone on the postvaccine antibody response varies depending on the dosing frequency and the antigen-specific antibody type.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2023-12-23 PubMed ID: 38141173PubMed Central: PMC10800231DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16978Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article explores the impact of dexamethasone on horses’ antibody response to vaccination with a combined equine influenza virus and equine herpesvirus-1 vaccine. Results suggest that the effect of dexamethasone on the post-vaccine antibody response can vary depending on dosage and type of antibody.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The primary goal of this research was to assess whether horses receiving dexamethasone exhibited lower post-vaccination antibody levels against Equine Influenza Virus (EIV) and Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) as compared to vaccinated controls.
  • Fifty-five healthy adult research horses were examined as part of a randomized cohort study divided into four groups: a control group (no vaccine), a group receiving vaccination only with combined EIV/EHV-1/EHV-4 (Prestige 2, Merck Animal Health), another group getting the same vaccine plus a single intravenous dose of dexamethasone, and a final group getting the vaccine combined with three intravenous dexamethasone doses at 24-hour intervals.
  • Serum SAA levels of the horses were measured on days 1 and 3, whereas antibody levels against EIV (hemagglutination inhibition assay, Kentucky 2014 antigen) and EHV-1 (multiplex ELISA targeting total IgG and IgG 4/7) were measured on day 1 and day 30.

Research Outcomes

  • The results showed a significant increase in mean antibody titers against EIV solely following the first vaccination, as well as after the single-dose dexamethasone, but not after multiple dexamethasone doses.
  • These results imply that the effect of dexamethasone on the post-vaccine antibody response is inconsistent and can vary based on the frequency of its dosage and the specific type of antibodies.

Conclusion

  • This study concludes that while the practice of administering dexamethasone in horses is widespread, its influence on the antibody response to a combined EIV/EHV-1/EHV-4 vaccine is variable.
  • A better understanding of this relationship may aid in optimizing vaccine response in horses while leading to more effective equine health care.

Cite This Article

APA
Kreutzfeldt N, Chambers TM, Reedy S, Spann KM, Pusterla N. (2023). Effect of dexamethasone on antibody response of horses to vaccination with a combined equine influenza virus and equine herpesvirus-1 vaccine. J Vet Intern Med, 38(1), 424-430. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16978

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 38
Issue: 1
Pages: 424-430

Researcher Affiliations

Kreutzfeldt, Nicole
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Chambers, Thomas M
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Reedy, Stephanie
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Spann, Kennedy Michelle
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Pusterla, Nicola
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Herpesvirus 1, Equid
  • Antibody Formation
  • Cohort Studies
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Herpesvirus 4, Equid
  • Vaccines
  • Vaccination / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Orthomyxoviridae
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • 3-V4355NK / Center for Equine Health Resident Grant, University of California, Davis

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Tolnai C, O'Sullivan C, Lőrincz M, Karvouni M, Tenk M, Marosi A, Forgách P, Paszerbovics B, Wagenhoffer Z, Kutasi O. Cellular Immune Response in Horses After West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 11;15(16).
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  2. de la Cuesta-Torrado M, Vitale V, Velloso Alvarez A, Neira-Egea P, Diss C, Cuervo-Arango J. The Effect of Vaccination Status on Total Lymphocyte Count in Horses Affected by Equine Herpes Virus-1 Myeloencephalopathy. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 1;15(7).
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  3. Hu Y, Wu G, Jia Q, Zhang B, Sun W, Sa R, Zhang S, Cai W, Jarhen, Ran D, Liu J. Development of a live attenuated vaccine candidate for equid alphaherpesvirus 1 control: a step towards efficient protection. Front Immunol 2024;15:1408510.
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