Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses of old horses following recombinant canarypox virus vaccination and subsequent challenge infection.
Abstract: Equine influenza virus is a leading cause of respiratory disease in the horse population; however, the susceptibility of old horses to EIV infection remains unknown. While advanced age in horses (>20 years) is associated with age-related changes in immune function, there are no specific recommendations regarding the vaccination of older horses even though a well-characterized effect of aging is a reduced antibody response to standard vaccination. Therefore, we evaluated the immunological and physiological response of aged horses to a live non-replicating canarypox-vectored EIV vaccine and subsequent challenge infection. Vaccination of the aged horses induced EIV-specific IgGb and HI antibodies. No specific increase in cell-mediated immune (CMI) response was induced by the vaccine as determined by EIV-specific lymphoproliferation and the detection of EIV-specific IFNγ(+) CD5(+)T cells, IFNγ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA expression. Non-vaccinated aged horses exhibited clinical signs of the disease (coughing, nasal discharge, dyspnea, depression, anorexia) as well as increased rectal temperature and viral shedding following challenge. Concomitant with the febrile episodes, we also observed increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA production in vivo using RT-PCR. Naïve horses were included in this study for vaccine and challenge controls only. As expected, the canarypox-vectored EIV vaccine stimulated significant CMI and humoral immune responses and provided significant protection against clinical signs of disease and reduced virus shedding in naive horses. Here, we show that aged horses remain susceptible to infection with equine influenza virus despite the presence of circulating antibodies and CMI responses to EIV and vaccination with a canarypox-vectored EIV vaccine provides protection from clinical disease.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2010-10-07 PubMed ID: 21035197DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.09.006Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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.
The research article explores the effectiveness of using the recombinant canarypox virus vaccine for immunizing older horses against the equine influenza virus, detailing that while the vaccine stimulates immune responses in older horses, they remain susceptible to infection.
Research Objective and Context
- Equine influenza virus (EIV) is a widespread cause of respiratory disease in horses, but the vulnerability of older horses (>20 years old) to the infection is undetermined.
- With the effect of age causing a decrease in the antibody response to standard vaccination, established guidelines aren’t present concerning the vaccination of elderly horses.
- This research aims to examine the immune and physiological reactions of elderly horses to a live, non-multiplying canarypox-vectored EIV vaccine, and the subsequent challenge infection.
Observations and Findings
- After vaccination, EIV-specific IgGb and HI antibodies were induced in the aged horses.
- However, the vaccine did not notably increase cell-mediated immune (CMI) response, as evidenced by EIV-specific lymphoproliferation and certain mRNA expressions.
- Non-vaccinated elderly horses showed symptoms of EIV infection (like coughing, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing, depression, and loss of appetite), as well as risen body temperature and virus shedding after being exposed to an infection.
- An increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA production was also observed in vivo during fever episodes.
- Naïve horses were used in the study as controls. In contrast to the older horses, these young horses showed significant CMI and humoral immune responses to the canarypox-vectored EIV vaccine, which effectively protected them from clinical signs of disease and lowered virus shedding.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that despite the presence of circulating antibodies and CMI responses to EIV, aged horses remain susceptible to the equine influenza virus.
- However, vaccination with a canarypox-vectored EIV vaccine can offer protection from the clinical disease for these elderly horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Adams AA, Sturgill TL, Breathnach CC, Chambers TM, Siger L, Minke JM, Horohov DW.
(2010).
Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses of old horses following recombinant canarypox virus vaccination and subsequent challenge infection.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 139(2-4), 128-140.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.09.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- M. H.Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / immunology
- Animals
- Canarypox virus / immunology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunity, Humoral
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / immunology
- Influenza Vaccines / immunology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- DeNotta S, McFarlane D. Immunosenescence and inflammaging in the aged horse. Immun Ageing 2023 Jan 6;20(1):2.
- El-Hage C, Hartley C, Savage C, Watson J, Gilkerson J, Paillot R. Assessment of Humoral and Long-Term Cell-Mediated Immune Responses to Recombinant Canarypox-Vectored Equine Influenza Virus Vaccination in Horses Using Conventional and Accelerated Regimens Respectively. Vaccines (Basel) 2022 May 26;10(6).
- Lee DH, Lee EB, Seo JP, Ko EJ. Evaluation of concurrent vaccinations with recombinant canarypox equine influenza virus and inactivated equine herpesvirus vaccines. J Anim Sci Technol 2022 May;64(3):588-598.
- de Vries RD, Rimmelzwaan GF. Viral vector-based influenza vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016 Nov;12(11):2881-2901.
- Paillot R. A Systematic Review of Recent Advances in Equine Influenza Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2014 Nov 14;2(4):797-831.
- Chambers TM, Balasuriya UB, Reedy SE, Tiwari A. Replication of avian influenza viruses in equine tracheal epithelium but not in horses. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2013 Dec;7 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):90-3.
- Perzyna M, Grzędzicka J, Milczek-Haduch D, Dąbrowska I, Trela M, Pawliński B, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O. Immunological Responses to Tetanus and Influenza Vaccination in Donkeys. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jul-Aug;39(4):e70137.
- Elliott S, Olufemi OT, Daly JM. Systematic Review of Equine Influenza A Virus Vaccine Studies and Meta-Analysis of Vaccine Efficacy. Viruses 2023 Nov 28;15(12).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
