Immune response against equine gammaherpesvirus in Icelandic horses.
Abstract: Horses are hosts to two types of gammaherpesviruses, equine herpes virus (EHV) 2 and 5. While EHV-2 is ubiquitous in adult horses, EHV-5 has been less frequently described. Due to strong serological cross-reactivity, EHV-2 and -5 cannot be discriminated in broad spectrum antibody tests and are thus commonly referred to as gamma-EHV. Total IgG and IgG subclass response against gamma-EHV were determined in serum from 41 healthy Icelandic horses, thereof 20 adults, 10 foals aged 10 months, and 11 foals aged 1-4 months. Additionally, in 10 of the adult horses, interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 expression were measured by real-time PCR in white blood cells upon in vitro stimulation with EHV-2. With the exception of one orphan foal, all tested individuals were seropositive for gamma-EHV. All but one adult had high titer of EHV-specific IgG4/7 (IgGb) in combination with much lower titer of IgG1 (IgGa) and IgG3/5 (IgG(T)), indicating a stabilized response. IgG titer and subclasses in the foals showed considerably more variation, possibly dependant on maternal antibodies and/or recent infection. In all the 10 horses tested for cytokine expression, IFN-gamma production exceeds production of IL-4. These results indicate that equine gammaherpesvirus infection is characterized by an induction of IgG1, IgG4/7 and IgG3/5 with prevailing IgG4/7 and cytokine profile dominated by IFN-gamma. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the cytokine and IgG subclass response against gamma-EHV in horses.
Publication Date: 2009-01-20 PubMed ID: 19217222DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.01.020Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates how horses respond to gammaherpesviruses, namely equine herpes virus (EHV) 2 and 5. It looks into the patterns of immune response and how the diseases stimulate the generation of different kinds of antibodies, with certain types of these antibodies appearing to be more dominant.
Research Context
- The paper’s focus is on the immune response of horses, especially Icelandic horses, to gammaherpesviruses.
- Two types of gammaherpesviruses affect horses: equine herpes virus (EHV) 2 and 5.
- EHV-5 is less commonly found than EHV-2, which is prevalent in adult horses.
- An issue in diagnosing these two HSVs is they cannot be differentiated in antibody tests due to strong serological cross-reactivity.
Methods and Participants
- Total IgG and IgG subclass (different types of antibodies) response against these herpesviruses were determined in 41 healthy Icelandic horses.
- This group comprised 20 adult horses, 10 foals aged 10 months, and 11 foals aged between 1 to 4 months.
- In 10 adult horses, expressions of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 were measured using real-time PCR from white blood cells that had been stimulated with EHV-2 in vitro. These are types of immune system stimuli.
Findings
- Except for one foal, all the tested horses were seropositive for gamma-EHV, suggesting presence of herpes infection.
- All but one adult horse had high levels of EHV-specific IgG4/7 (a subclass of antibody) and much lower titer of IgG1 and IgG3/5. This indicates a stabilized response.
- Antibody levels and subclasses in foals varied considerably, possibly due to the influence of maternal antibodies or recent infection.
- In tested horses, IFN-gamma production exceeded production of IL-4. IFN-gamma is a major immune system stimulator.
Conclusions
- Equine gammaherpesvirus infection triggers the production of IgG1, IgG4/7, and IgG3/5 antibodies.
- IgG4/7 and a cytokine profile dominated by IFN-gamma are the prevalent responses to infection.
- This is reportedly the first study discussing cytokine and IgG subclass response against equine gammaherpesviruses in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Svansson V, Roelse M, Olafsdóttir G, Thorsteinsdóttir L, Torfason EG, Torsteinsdóttir S.
(2009).
Immune response against equine gammaherpesvirus in Icelandic horses.
Vet Microbiol, 137(3-4), 363-368.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.01.020 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur v/Vesturlandsveg, IS-112 Reykjavík, Iceland. vsvanss@hi.is
MeSH Terms
- Age Distribution
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral
- Gammaherpesvirinae / classification
- Gammaherpesvirinae / immunology
- Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesviridae Infections / virology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Iceland
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