Immunoglobulin M-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing of cerebrospinal fluid and serum from horses exposed to west nile virus by vaccination or natural infection.
Abstract: The West Nile (WN) virus, present in the United States since 1999, is a cause of encephalomyelitis in birds, alligators, humans, and horses. No data exist regarding detection of anti-WN virus immunoglobins in equine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aims of this study were to evaluate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in WN virus-infected (WNE) horses, to compare diagnostic testing in serum and CSF, and to describe the immunoglobulin M (IgM) response in serum and CSF of vaccinated horses. CSF was collected from the lumbosacral (LS) space (n = 13) or the allanto-occipital (AO) space (n = 14) of WNE horses. The albumin quotient (AQ) and IgG index were calculated, and the IgM-capture-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) was used to detect anti-WN virus IgM in serum and CSF. CSF collected from the LS site had a higher (P < .02) IgG index compared to the AO site (0.34 +/- 0.04 versus 0.22 +/- 0.04 [mean +/- SE], respectively). The mean AQ, irrespective of collection site, did not exceed reference values. There was 100% agreement between CSF and serum testing for IgM by MAC-ELISA testing. However, the positive to negative antigen ratios were higher (P < .001) in CSF (34.5) versus serum (8.5), indicating lower nonspecific reactivity in CSF samples. Horses vaccinated against WN virus did not develop an IgM response at 1:400 mg/dL in serum; however, a few horses developed a weak IgM response in serum but not in CSF. In conclusion, MAC-ELISA testing of serum and CSF were equivocal. Also, examination of CSF data from WNE horses suggests a normal BBB integrity and increased intrathecal production of antibodies.
Publication Date: 2005-01-11 PubMed ID: 15638271DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(2004)18<866:imeiat>2.0.co;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study focuses on the detection of West Nile (WN) virus in horses through the testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum. The study particularly aimed to study the blood-brain barrier in horses infected with the WN virus, compare testing in serum and CSF, and describe the IgM response in both the serum and CSF of vaccinated horses.
Research Methods
- The study was conducted on horses naturally exposed to the West Nile Virus either by vaccination or natural infection.
- CSF was collected from two different sites: the lumbosacral (LS) space and the allanto-occipital (AO) space in a total of 27 horses.
- To evaluate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in horses infected with WN virus, they calculated the albumin quotient (AQ) and IgG index which provide a way to measure the function of the BBB.
- The IgM-capture-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) was employed. This method is used to detect antibodies in serum and CSF that were produced in response to the WN virus infection.
Research Findings
- CSF collected from the LS site showed a higher IgG index compared to the AO site, indicating that the collection site might potentially influence the results. However, the mean AQ, irrespective of the collection site, did not exceed reference values.
- There was a 100% match between results of CSF and serum testing for IgM by the MAC-ELISA testing, signifying that the method is reliable for detection of anti-WN virus IgM in both serum and CSF.
- A notable finding was that the positive to negative antigen ratios were higher (34.5) in CSF compared to serum (8.5), indicating the lower nonspecific reactivity in CSF samples.
- Horses vaccinated against the WN virus did not develop an IgM response at 1:400 mg/dL in serum. However, some horses developed a weak IgM response in serum but not in CSF.
- The research concluded that the integrity of the BBB in horses infected with the West Nile virus was normal, suggesting the virus does not significantly compromise the barrier’s function.
Conclusion
This research is significant as it gives insight into the immune response of horses to the West Nile virus. The findings contribute valuable information to furthering the understanding of the efficacy of IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) in detecting WN virus infections in horses. The implications of these findings could potentially be used for improving diagnosis, prevention, and action against the West Nile virus in veterinary medicine.
Cite This Article
APA
Porter MB, Long M, Gosche DG, Schott HM, Hines MT, Rossano M, Sellon DC.
(2005).
Immunoglobulin M-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing of cerebrospinal fluid and serum from horses exposed to west nile virus by vaccination or natural infection.
J Vet Intern Med, 18(6), 866-870.
https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(2004)18<866:imeiat>2.0.co;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA. portermi@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral / immunology
- Cerebrospinal Fluid / immunology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin M / blood
- Immunoglobulin M / cerebrospinal fluid
- Male
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Viral Vaccines
- West Nile Fever / prevention & control
- West Nile Fever / veterinary
- West Nile virus / immunology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Fehér OE, Fehérvári P, Tolnai CH, Forgách P, Malik P, Jerzsele Á, Wagenhoffer Z, Szenci O, Korbacska-Kutasi O. Epidemiology and Clinical Manifestation of West Nile Virus Infections of Equines in Hungary, 2007-2020.. Viruses 2022 Nov 18;14(11).
- Cavalleri JV, Korbacska-Kutasi O, Leblond A, Paillot R, Pusterla N, Steinmann E, Tomlinson J. European College of Equine Internal Medicine consensus statement on equine flaviviridae infections in Europe.. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Nov;36(6):1858-1871.
- de Heus P, Kolodziejek J, Camp JV, Dimmel K, Bagó Z, Hubálek Z, van den Hoven R, Cavalleri JV, Nowotny N. Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 in Europe: Characteristics of the first seven cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease in horses in Austria.. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020 May;67(3):1189-1197.
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