Experimental demonstration of an antigenic relationship between Leptospira and equine cornea.

The research conducted in this study established an antigenic relationship between the bacteria Leptospira and the cornea of a horse, which may contribute to the development of corneal opacity in equine leptospirosis.

Research Process

The researchers carried out the following steps:

• They inoculated horses with either equine cornea or killed Leptospira interrogans serovars (a variant within a species) pomona, tarassovi, icterohaemorrhagiae, wolffi, and hardjo.
• Both injections resulted in the development of corneal opacity and the production of antibodies in the horses.
• The antibodies were then isolated through a process called immunoadsorptions, and further purified using ion-exchange chromatography, specifically DEAE-Sephadex A-50 method. After this, the antibodies were run by immuno-electrophoresis in agar gel.

Key Findings

The major findings of the study were:

• The antibodies produced corresponded to the IgGb subclass. They bound themselves to equine cornea – whether in-vivo (i.e., within the living organism) or in-vitro (outside the body in a control environment like a petri dish).
• The genetic identity of these antibodies matched with both equine cornea and four of the Leptospira serovars that were used in the experiment. This was confirmed by immunofluorescence, a technique used to visually prove the presence of a particular antigen or antibody in a sample.
• The observation of a partial antigenic similarity between equine cornea and the Leptospira serovars implies there’s some sort of genetic relationship between them, which may be a contributing factor in the development of corneal opacity in equine leptospirosis. This is a significant finding that may influence how the disease is understood and eventually treated.

Significance and Implications

The research essentially suggests an antigenic relationship between Leptospira and the cornea of a horse. If the Leptospira bacteria enters the horse’s body, the immune system reacts by producing antibodies. Strikingly, these antibodies are similar to those produced when the horse’s own cornea was introduced into its body. This suggests a shared antigen between the bacteria and horse cornea which might be responsible for the disease symptoms, leading to corneal opacity in horses infected with Leptospira. This research can pave the way for further research on the treatment of this disease condition.