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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vaccine / Protective immunization of horses with a recombinant canaryp...
Vaccine2009; 27(33); 4434-4438; doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.044

Protective immunization of horses with a recombinant canarypox virus vectored vaccine co-expressing genes encoding the outer capsid proteins of African horse sickness virus.

Abstract: We describe the development and preliminary characterization of a recombinant canarypox virus vectored (ALVAC) vaccine for protective immunization of equids against African horse sickness virus (AHSV) infection. Horses (n=8) immunized with either of two concentrations of recombinant canarypox virus vector (ALVAC-AHSV) co-expressing synthetic genes encoding the outer capsid proteins (VP2 and VP5) of AHSV serotype 4 (AHSV-4) developed variable titres (<10-80) of virus-specific neutralizing antibodies and were completely resistant to challenge infection with a virulent strain of AHSV-4. In contrast, a horse immunized with a commercial recombinant canarypox virus vectored vaccine expressing the haemagglutinin genes of two equine influenza H3N8 viruses was seronegative to AHSV and following infection with virulent AHSV-4 developed pyrexia, thrombocytopenia and marked oedema of the supraorbital fossae typical of the "dikkop" or cardiac form of African horse sickness. AHSV was detected by virus isolation and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in the blood of the control horse from 8 days onwards after challenge infection whereas AHSV was not detected at any time in the blood of the ALVAC-AHSV vaccinated horses. The control horse seroconverted to AHSV by 2 weeks after challenge infection as determined by both virus neutralization and ELISA assays, whereas six of eight of the ALVAC-AHSV vaccinated horses did not seroconvert by either assay following challenge infection with virulent AHSV-4. These data confirm that the ALVAC-AHSV vaccine will be useful for the protective immunization of equids against African horse sickness, and avoids many of the problems inherent to live-attenuated AHSV vaccines.
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Publication Date: 2009-05-31 PubMed ID: 19490959DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.044Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This research article discusses the creation and preliminary testing of a new vaccine, developed using a recombinant canarypox virus, intended to prevent African horse sickness in equids. The study found that the horses given this vaccine were resistant to the sickness, as opposed to horses given a commercially available vaccine who developed symptoms of the disease.

Development of the Vaccine

  • The researchers developed a vaccine using a vector known as a canarypox virus (ALVAC). This was genetically engineered to express specific genes related to the African horse sickness virus (AHSV).
  • The genes encoded for the outer casing proteins (VP2 and VP5) of a specific type of AHSV, known as AHSV serotype 4 (AHSV-4).
  • Eight horses were immunized with different concentrations of this new vaccine.

Impact of the Vaccine

  • The horses that were immunized with the new vaccine developed varying levels of virus-specific neutralizing antibodies, producing a resistance to AHSV-4.
  • In contrast, a horse given a commercially available vaccine developed symptoms of African horse sickness.
  • The researchers found no traces of AHSV in the vaccinated horses’ blood.

Control Group Outcomes

  • A control horse given an alternative commercial vaccine presented symptoms of African horse sickness, including fever, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), and pronounced supraorbital fossae oedema (swelling above the eye socket).
  • AHSV was detected in the blood of the control horse from day eight of infection onward.
  • By the second week of infection, the control horse had seroconverted (created detectable antibodies in response to an infection) to AHSV. This means that the horse’s immune system was responding to the infection.

Conclusion of the Study

  • Researchers concluded that the new ALVAC-AHSV vaccine was effective in protecting horses against African horse sickness.
  • Moreover, it could help avoid the issues that live-attenuated AHSV vaccines bring.

Cite This Article

APA
Guthrie AJ, Quan M, Lourens CW, Audonnet JC, Minke JM, Yao J, He L, Nordgren R, Gardner IA, Maclachlan NJ. (2009). Protective immunization of horses with a recombinant canarypox virus vectored vaccine co-expressing genes encoding the outer capsid proteins of African horse sickness virus. Vaccine, 27(33), 4434-4438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.044

Publication

Vaccine
ISSN: 1873-2518
NlmUniqueID: 8406899
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 27
Issue: 33
Pages: 4434-4438

Researcher Affiliations

Guthrie, Alan J
  • Equine Research Centre, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa. alan.guthrie@up.ac.za
Quan, Melvyn
    Lourens, Carina W
      Audonnet, Jean-Christophe
        Minke, Jules M
          Yao, Jiansheng
            He, Ling
              Nordgren, Robert
                Gardner, Ian A
                  Maclachlan, N James

                    MeSH Terms

                    • African Horse Sickness / immunology
                    • African Horse Sickness / prevention & control
                    • African Horse Sickness Virus / immunology
                    • African Horse Sickness Virus / isolation & purification
                    • Animals
                    • Antibodies, Viral / blood
                    • Canarypox virus / immunology
                    • Capsid Proteins / immunology
                    • Cells, Cultured
                    • Cricetinae
                    • Female
                    • Horses / immunology
                    • Male
                    • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology
                    • Viral Vaccines / immunology

                    Citations

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