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Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulin concentrations in healthy foals and foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia.
Abstract: Infectious diseases are common in foals aged 1-5 months. The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate immunologic parameters in foals from birth to weaning to establish reference values for the proportion of circulating lymphocytes that were helper (CD4+) or cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells, or B cells; to measure serum immunoglobulin (IgM and IgG) concentrations; and to compare these immunologic parameters to values in foals with naturally occurring Rhodococcus equi pneumonia and in adult horses. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were determined by flow cytometric analysis, and serum IgG and IgM concentrations were determined by radial immunodiffusion. Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations suggested age-related changes in the cell-mediated immune system in horses. Absolute circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and B cells increased linearly up to 3 months of age. Circulating B cell concentrations from birth to 6 months of age were greater than values in adult horses and the lymphocyte differences among the age groups are mainly due to variation in B lymphocytes. Both absolute and proportional B cell concentrations were greater in foals with R equi pneumonia than in healthy foals at the same age. The increase in absolute cell counts of each subpopulation was dependent on the increase of absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte count. Serum IgG concentration increased linearly from 1 to 3 months of age, and serum IgM concentrations increased from 1 to 6 months of age. These data suggest age-dependent cell-mediated and humoral development in young foals.
Publication Date: 1999-06-05 PubMed ID: 10357110DOI: 10.1892/0891-6640(1999)0132.3.co;2Google 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
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The research investigates the immunologic parameters of foals, or young horses, from birth to weaning, to establish normal values and compare them with foals suffering from Rhodococcus equi pneumonia, a common infectious disease among foals. The immune system elements studied were helper (CD4+) or cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells, B cells, and serum immunoglobulin concentrations (IgM and IgG). The results showed age-related changes in the horse immune system, increased cell counts in sick foals, and linear increases in certain cell types and immunoglobulins as the foals aged.
Objective and Methodology
- The study aimed to evaluate the immunologic parameters in healthy and Rhodococcus equi pneumonia-afflicted foals from birth to weaning by examining lymphocyte subpopulations and serum immunoglobulin concentrations.
- Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells) were determined using flow cytometric analysis.
- Concentrations of serum immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG) were determined using radial immunodiffusion.
Immunologic Parameters in Foals
- Circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and B cells increased linearly up to 3 months of age, suggesting age-related changes in the horse’s immune system.
- The concentration of circulating B cells from birth to 6 months of age was found to be greater than that in adult horses, with the variance in lymphocyte populations among age groups attributed mainly to differences in B cell numbers.
Comparison with Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia Foals
- Both absolute and relative B cell concentrations were greater in foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia than in healthy foals of the same age group, signifying a responsive increase in these immune cells to the disease.
- The increase in cell counts of each lymphocyte subpopulation was linked to the increase in the overall count of peripheral blood lymphocytes, reflecting an activation of the immune system in reaction to the infection.
Serum Immunoglobulin Concentrations
- Serum IgG concentration demonstrated a linear increase from 1 to 3 months of age. Similarly, serum IgM concentrations showed an increase from 1 to 6 months of age.
- The data thus highlight age-related development of both cell-mediated and humoral immunity in young foals.
Cite This Article
APA
Flaminio MJ, Rush BR, Shuman W.
(1999).
Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulin concentrations in healthy foals and foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia.
J Vet Intern Med, 13(3), 206-212.
https://doi.org/10.1892/0891-6640(1999)0132.3.co;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA. mbf6@cornell.edu
MeSH Terms
- Actinomycetales Infections / immunology
- Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
- Age Factors
- Animals
- CD4 Antigens
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunoglobulin G / analysis
- Immunoglobulin M / analysis
- Killer Cells, Natural
- Male
- Pneumonia / immunology
- Pneumonia / veterinary
- Rhodococcus equi / pathogenicity
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Julia M, Felippe B. Equine common variable immunodeficiency: lessons from 100 clinical cases. Equine Vet Educ 2024 Oct;36(10):543-554.
- Samaddar K, Rahman MH, Leon MLI, Rana MS, Hasan MM, Haque Z, Rahman MM. Humoral immune responses in different stages of wound healing in Black Bengal goats. J Adv Vet Anim Res 2023 Sep;10(3):361-369.
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- Migdał A, Migdał Ł, Oczkowicz M, Okólski A, Chełmońska-Soyta A. Influence of Age and Immunostimulation on the Level of Toll-Like Receptor Gene (TLR3, 4, and 7) Expression in Foals. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 26;10(11).
- Pomorska-Mól M, Krzysiak MK, Larska M, Włodarek J. The First Report of Immunoglobulin G, M, and A Concentrations in Serum of European Bison and Their Changes with Age. J Immunol Res 2020;2020:2614317.
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- Tallmadge RL, Miller SC, Parry SA, Felippe MJB. Antigen-specific immunoglobulin variable region sequencing measures humoral immune response to vaccination in the equine neonate. PLoS One 2017;12(5):e0177831.
- Bordin AI, Pillai SD, Brake C, Bagley KB, Bourquin JR, Coleman M, Oliveira FN, Mwangi W, McMurray DN, Love CC, Felippe MJ, Cohen ND. Immunogenicity of an electron beam inactivated Rhodococcus equi vaccine in neonatal foals. PLoS One 2014;9(8):e105367.
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- Hackett CH, Flaminio MJ, Fortier LA. Analysis of CD14 expression levels in putative mesenchymal progenitor cells isolated from equine bone marrow. Stem Cells Dev 2011 Apr;20(4):721-35.
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