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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Immunological Responses to Tetanus and Influenza Vaccination...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2025; 39(4); e70137; doi: 10.1111/jvim.70137

Immunological Responses to Tetanus and Influenza Vaccination in Donkeys.

Abstract: Donkeys are routinely vaccinated with protocols developed for horses, yet species-specific data on their immune responses are limited. Objective: We hypothesized that donkeys exhibit robust T-cell-mediated immunity and regulatory adaptation after vaccination, comparable to horses. Methods: Thirty-six healthy, seronegative donkeys (34 mares, 2 stallions), aged 0.5-23 years (median 8 years), from two farms with similar housing and management conditions. Methods: Prospective study. Animals were selected based on clinical health assessment and confirmed seronegativity for tetanus and equine influenza. All received a multivalent vaccine containing tetanus toxoid and equine influenza antigens. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months after vaccination. Flow cytometry assessed CD4+, CD8+, and CD4 + FoxP3+ T cells (primary outcomes), and monocyte subsets and B lymphocytes (PanB/CD21+) with intracellular IL-10, IL-17, and Ki67 (secondary outcomes). ANOVA with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05) was used for statistical analysis. Results: CD4+ T cells increased from 25.1% ± 1.4% to 37.3% ± 0.7% at month 1, CD8+ from 20.6% ± 1.5% to 32.2% ± 0.9% at month 2 (p < 0.001). CD4 + FoxP3+ peaked at 11.7% ± 0.6% at month 1 (baseline 6.8% ± 0.8%), then returned to baseline. CD14 + MHCII+ and CD14 + MHCII- monocytes declined; CD14 - MHCII+ increased (p < 0.01). PanB/CD21+ cells decreased from 41.5% ± 1.8% to 29.0% ± 1.0%, with significant reductions in IL-10+, IL-17+, and Ki67+ subsets (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Donkeys exhibit strong T-cell and regulatory immune responses after vaccination, supporting the clinical relevance of applying equine vaccination protocols to donkeys.
© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2025-05-25 PubMed ID: 40413721PubMed Central: PMC12103835DOI: 10.1111/jvim.70137Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study investigates the immune response of donkeys after receiving a vaccine for tetanus and equine influenza, showing that donkeys elicited a robust T-cell and regulatory immune response, supporting the use of horse-designed vaccination protocols for them.

Objectives and Hypothesis

  • The aim of this study was to understand the immunological responses of donkeys after they were vaccinated with tetanus and influenza vaccine – a vaccine method typically designed for horses.
  • The researchers hypothesized that donkeys would exhibit a strong T-cell-mediated immunity, along with regulatory adaptation after vaccination. This response they predicted would be comparable to the reaction observed in horses.

Methods

  • The study involved 36 healthy donkeys from two different farms with similar living and management conditions.
  • The animals were chosen based on their health and the confirmation of their seronegativity (indicating they had not been previously exposed) for tetanus and equine influenza.
  • The donkeys received multivalent vaccines that included tetanus toxoid and equine influenza antigens, with blood samples taken before vaccination, one month after, and two months after.
  • The researchers primarily measured the CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+ FoxP3+ T cells, and also evaluated monocyte subsets and B lymphocytes (PanB/CD21+) along with intracellular IL-10, IL-17, and Ki67.

Results

  • Results showed that the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells significantly increased a month after vaccination, while the CD4+ FoxP3+ cells peaked at the first month after vaccination and returned to baseline levels in the second month.
  • Two specific subsets of monocytes, CD14+ MHCII+ and CD14+ MHCII-, declined while CD14- MHCII+ monocytes increased.
  • There was a noted decrease in PanB/CD21+ B cells, with reductions also observed in IL-10+, IL-17+, and Ki67+ subsets.

Conclusion

  • The vaccination elicited a strong T-cell and regulatory immune response in donkeys. This suggested that vaccination protocols designed for horses are clinically relevant and effective for donkeys.

Cite This Article

APA
Perzyna M, Grzędzicka J, Milczek-Haduch D, Dąbrowska I, Trela M, Pawliński B, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O. (2025). Immunological Responses to Tetanus and Influenza Vaccination in Donkeys. J Vet Intern Med, 39(4), e70137. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70137

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 39
Issue: 4
Pages: e70137
PII: e70137

Researcher Affiliations

Perzyna, Maciej
  • Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Grzędzicka, Jowita
  • Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Milczek-Haduch, Dominika
  • Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Dąbrowska, Izabela
  • Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Trela, Michał
  • Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Pawliński, Bartosz
  • Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Witkowska-Piłaszewicz, Olga
  • Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Equidae / immunology
  • Female
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology
  • Tetanus Toxoid / administration & dosage
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Male
  • Tetanus / prevention & control
  • Tetanus / veterinary
  • Vaccination / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • Science development fund of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW
  • 2021/41/B/NZ7/03548 / Narodowe Centrum Nauki

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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