Equine adenovirus 1 isolated from cauda equina neuritis.

This research study demonstrates the recovery of Equine adenovirus 1 from two out of three cases of Cauda equina neuritis in horses, using kidney monolayers. It also explores the presence of antibodies to myelin protein P2 in all three cases of the condition and the detection of autologous IgG in the myelin of affected nerves.

Key Findings

• The researchers isolated Equine adenovirus 1, a type of viral infection, from two out of three cases of Cauda Equina Neuritis (CEN), a neurological condition in horses that affects the tail end of the spinal cord, causing inflammation and damage to the nerves.
• This isolation was achieved after four to six passages using kidney monolayers, a common practice in virology where viruses are grown in cell cultures to analyze their properties and behaviors.
• On conducting similar treatment on lumbo-sacral spinal cord from six normal horses, adenovirus was not found, implying that the virus might be associated with Cauda equina neuritis.

Antibody Presence and Binding

• All three cases of CEN had antibodies to the neuritogenic myelin protein P2. This means that the horses’ immune system had produced antibodies against this specific protein found in the myelin sheath, the protective cover of nerves. This protein is often involved in causing nerve inflammation or neuritis.
• Immunofluorescence testing showed that autologous IgG, a type of antibody naturally produced by the horse’s own body, bound to the myelin of the affected nerves. This could hint at an autoimmune reaction to inflammation or damage, which might be contributing to CEN.

Adenovirus Detection

• While the adenovirus was recoverable from some CEN cases, it was not detected in neural tissue through immunofluorescence. This discrepancy may be due to methodological differences or it suggests that the virus is present but not directly involved in nerve tissue damage.