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Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI2010; 17(12); 1896-1902; doi: 10.1128/CVI.00328-10

Equine neonates have attenuated humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to a killed adjuvanted vaccine compared to adult horses.

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to compare relative vaccine-specific serum immunoglobulin concentrations, vaccine-specific lymphoproliferative responses, and cytokine profiles of proliferating lymphocytes between 3-day-old foals, 3-month-old foals, and adult horses after vaccination with a killed adjuvanted vaccine. Horses were vaccinated intramuscularly twice at 3-week intervals with a vaccine containing antigens from bovine viral respiratory pathogens to avoid interference from maternal antibody. Both groups of foals and adult horses responded to the vaccine with a significant increase in vaccine-specific IgGa and IgG(T) concentrations. In contrast, only adult horses and 3-month-old foals mounted significant vaccine-specific total IgG, IgGb, and IgM responses. Vaccine-specific concentrations of IgM and IgG(T) were significantly different between all groups, with the highest concentrations occurring in adult horses, followed by 3-month-old foals and, finally, 3-day-old foals. Only the adult horses mounted significant vaccine-specific lymphoproliferative responses. Baseline gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) concentrations were significantly lower in 3-day-old foals than in adult horses. Vaccination resulted in a significant decrease in IFN-γ concentrations in adult horses and a significant decrease in IL-4 concentrations in 3-day-old foals. After vaccination, the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in both groups of foals was significantly higher than that in adult horses. The results of this study indicate that the humoral and lymphoproliferative immune responses to this killed adjuvanted vaccine are modest in newborn foals. Although immune responses improve with age, 3-month-old foals do not respond with the same magnitude as adult horses.
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Publication Date: 2010-10-13 PubMed ID: 20943883PubMed Central: PMC3008191DOI: 10.1128/CVI.00328-10Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 research article investigates the varied immune responses of different age groups of horses (specifically, 3-day-old foals, 3-month-old foals, and adult horses) when vaccinated with a killed adjuvanted vaccine for bovine viral respiratory pathogens. The study findings show that the immune responses in young foals are not as robust as those in adult horses.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The primary goal of the research was to examine the differences in the immune responses – specifically serum immunoglobulin concentrations, lymphoproliferative responses, and cytokine profiles – in 3-day-old foals, 3-month-old foals, and adult horses after receiving a vaccine.
  • The horses were given a vaccine that included antigens from bovine viral respiratory pathogens; this type of vaccine was used to avoid any interference from maternal antibodies.
  • The vaccine was given intramuscularly twice within 3-week intervals to both the foals and the adult horses.

Key Findings

  • All the groups of horses showed an increased concentration of vaccine-specific IgGa and IgG(T), both forms of immunoglobulins or antibodies, following the vaccination. However, only adult horses and older foals (3 months old) displayed significant increases in total IgG, IgGb and IgM, other forms of antibodies.
  • The concentration of IgM and IgG(T) varied significantly across the different groups, with adult horses having the highest concentration, followed by 3-month-old foals and then 3-day-old foals.
  • Significant lymphoproliferative responses, where white blood cells multiply in response to the presence of a pathogen, were only observed in adult horses.
  • The levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), two types of cytokines involved in immune responses, were significantly lower in 3-day-old foals compared to adult horses before vaccination.
  • After vaccination, IFN-γ levels decreased significantly in adult horses, while IL-4 levels decreased significantly in 3-day-old foals. In both foal groups, the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was significantly higher than in adult horses after vaccination.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that the immune response to the killed adjuvanted vaccine is not as robust in young, 3-day-old foals compared to older foals and adult horses. Even though their immune capabilities improved over time, 3-month-old foals still did not mount an immune response comparable to adult horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Ryan C, Giguère S. (2010). Equine neonates have attenuated humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to a killed adjuvanted vaccine compared to adult horses. Clin Vaccine Immunol, 17(12), 1896-1902. https://doi.org/10.1128/CVI.00328-10

Publication

Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI
ISSN: 1556-679X
NlmUniqueID: 101252125
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 12
Pages: 1896-1902

Researcher Affiliations

Ryan, Clare
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
Giguère, Steeve

    MeSH Terms

    • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
    • Age Factors
    • Animals
    • Animals, Newborn
    • Antibodies, Viral / blood
    • Cell Proliferation
    • Cytokines / metabolism
    • Horses
    • Immunization, Secondary / methods
    • Immunoglobulin G / blood
    • Immunoglobulin M / blood
    • Injections, Intramuscular
    • Lymphocytes / immunology
    • Vaccination / methods
    • Vaccines, Inactivated / administration & dosage
    • Vaccines, Inactivated / immunology
    • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage
    • Viral Vaccines / immunology

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    Citations

    This article has been cited 9 times.
    1. Anna M, Łukasz M, Adam O, Chełmońska-Soyta A. Effectiveness of immunization with multi-component bacterial immunomodulator in foals at 35th day of life. Sci Rep 2022 Sep 22;12(1):15795.
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    2. Desanti-Consoli H, Bouillon J, Chapuis RJJ. Equids' Core Vaccines Guidelines in North America: Considerations and Prospective. Vaccines (Basel) 2022 Mar 4;10(3).
      doi: 10.3390/vaccines10030398pubmed: 35335029google scholar: lookup
    3. Tallmadge RL, Wang M, Sun Q, Felippe MJB. Transcriptome analysis of immune genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of young foals and adult horses. PLoS One 2018;13(9):e0202646.
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    4. Cywes-Bentley C, Rocha JN, Bordin AI, Vinacur M, Rehman S, Zaidi TS, Meyer M, Anthony S, Lambert M, Vlock DR, Giguère S, Cohen ND, Pier GB. Antibody to Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine provides protection against intracellular pathogens: Mechanism of action and validation in horse foals challenged with Rhodococcus equi. PLoS Pathog 2018 Jul;14(7):e1007160.
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    6. Rocha JN, Cohen ND, Bordin AI, Brake CN, Giguère S, Coleman MC, Alaniz RC, Lawhon SD, Mwangi W, Pillai SD. Oral Administration of Electron-Beam Inactivated Rhodococcus equi Failed to Protect Foals against Intrabronchial Infection with Live, Virulent R. equi. PLoS One 2016;11(2):e0148111.
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    7. Berghaus LJ, Venner M, Helbig H, Hildebrandt D, Hart K. The potential value of cytokine, cortisol and vitamin D profiles in foals from birth to weaning for respiratory disease prediction on a farm endemic for Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):359-371.
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