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Vaccines2020; 8(3); doi: 10.3390/vaccines8030372

Response of Sport Horses to Different Formulations of Equine Influenza Vaccine.

Abstract: The international governing body of equestrian sports requires that horses be vaccinated against equine influenza within 6 months and 21 days of competing. The aim of this study was to compare the antibody response of young sport horses to six-monthly booster vaccination with equine influenza vaccines of different formulations. An inactivated vaccine was allocated to 35 horses and subunit and recombinant vaccines were allocated to 34 horses each. After vaccination, all horses were monitored for evidence of adverse reactions. Whole blood samples were collected at the time of vaccination and on nine occasions up to six months and 21 days post vaccination. Antibodies against equine influenza were measured by single radial haemolysis. Transient fever and injection site reactions were observed in several horses vaccinated with each vaccine. Only two horses failed to seroconvert post booster vaccination but there was a delayed response to the recombinant vaccine. The antibody response to the recombinant vaccine was lower than that induced by the whole-inactivated and subunit vaccines up to three months post vaccination. Thereafter, there was no significant difference. By six months post vaccination, the majority of horses in all three groups were clinically but not virologically protected. There was minimal decline in antibody titres within the 21-day grace period.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-10 PubMed ID: 32664411PubMed Central: PMC7563521DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030372Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 investigates the effects of different types of equine influenza vaccines on young sport horses. The study is aimed at comparing how effective these vaccines are in eliciting an immune response, and whether reactions occur post-vaccination, ultimately to comply with international governing body regulations.

Research Methodology

  • The study was set to compare the antibody response of young sport horses to different forms of equine influenza vaccines, given on a six-monthly booster vaccination schedule following the regulations of the international governing body of equestrian sports.
  • In the experiment, 35 horses were allocated an inactivated vaccine while 34 horses were each given subunit and recombinant vaccines.
  • Post-vaccination, all horses were monitored for possible adverse reactions such as fever and reactions at the injection site.
  • Simultaneously, whole blood samples were collected from each horse at different intervals ranging from the time of vaccination to six months and 21 days post-vaccination.

Observations and Results

  • The antibody response against equine influenza in horses was measured using a technique called single radial haemolysis.
  • In several horses vaccinated with each type of vaccine, temporary fever and reactions at the injection site were observed.
  • Only two horses failed to seroconvert – or produce detectable antibodies in the blood – following the booster vaccination.
  • There was a delay in seroconversion in horses that received the recombinant vaccine, and the initial antibody response to this vaccine was lower than that induced by the inactivated and subunit vaccines.
  • However, this difference in antibody response was not significant past three months post-vaccination. By the six months post-vaccination interval, there was no notable difference in the antibody response between the three groups of horses.
  • Although clinically protected, the majority of horses were not virologically protected six months after vaccination, meaning while they showed no signs of disease, the virus could still be present.
  • There was a minimal reduction in antibody titres – or concentrations – within the 21-day grace period.

Conclusions

  • The results demonstrated that the types of equine influenza vaccine formulations could impact the response time and degree of seroconversion in sport horses.
  • While all vaccines induced the desired immune response, there were variations in the timelines and the intensity of these responses.
  • The recombinant vaccine was found to show delayed and initially lower responses compared to the inactivated and subunit vaccines.
  • The majority of the horses were clinically but not virologically protected by six months, underpinning the need for regular six-month booster vaccinations in sport horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Entenfellner J, Gahan J, Garvey M, Walsh C, Venner M, Cullinane A. (2020). Response of Sport Horses to Different Formulations of Equine Influenza Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel), 8(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030372

Publication

Vaccines
ISSN: 2076-393X
NlmUniqueID: 101629355
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Entenfellner, Johanna
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
Gahan, Jacinta
  • Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 RH93 Johnstown, Ireland.
Garvey, Marie
  • Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 RH93 Johnstown, Ireland.
Walsh, Cathal
  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland.
Venner, Monica
  • Pferdeklinik Destedt GmbH, Destedt, Trift 4, 38162 Cremlingen, Germany.
Cullinane, Ann
  • Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 RH93 Johnstown, Ireland.

Grant Funding

  • DAFM_IEC_OIE / Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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