Rhodococcus equi hyperimmune plasma decreases pneumonia severity after a randomised experimental challenge of neonatal foals.
Abstract: Since a vaccine is not available against Rhodococcus equi, R equi-specific hyperimmune plasma (HIP) is commonly used, although its efficacy remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a commercially available HIP to prevent clinical rhodococcal pneumonia in neonatal foals after experimental challenge.
British Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2016-03-01 PubMed ID: 26932206DOI: 10.1136/vr.103095Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article investigates the effectiveness of using Rhodococcus equi-specific hyperimmune plasma (HIP) to prevent rhodococcal pneumonia in newborn horses, in the absence of a globally-available vaccine.
Overview of Rhodococcus equi and HIP
- Rhodococcus equi is a bacterium predominantly affecting foals (young horses), and often results in severe pneumonia. It poses a significant health risk due to the absence of a globally-available vaccine.
- As a countermeasure, Rhodococcus equi-specific hyperimmune plasma (HIP) is usually used. HIP is formed by immunizing a donor horse with R. equi antigens, thus producing specific antibodies against the bacteria in the plasma. This plasma is then transfused into the foals with the aim of preventing or reducing the severity of the disease.
Objective of the Study
- The study’s goal was to assess the effectiveness of commercial HIP in preventing rhodococcal pneumonia in newborn horses. The necessity of this study arises from the debate over the efficacy of HIP as a preventative measure against the disease.
Experimental Challenge and Evaluation of HIP efficacy
- In order to assess the effectiveness of HIP, an experimental challenge was set up. An experimental challenge implies exposing subjects (in this case, foals) to R. equi bacteria and subsequently observing the response when introduced to HIP.
- The severity of the pneumonia in foals following the application of HIP would help determine the extent to which bodily reacts and fights against infection.
- The outcome would provide valuable data on whether HIP was effective at fending off infection and reducing the severity of the pneumonia.
Cite This Article
APA
Sanz MG, Loynachan A, Horohov DW.
(2016).
Rhodococcus equi hyperimmune plasma decreases pneumonia severity after a randomised experimental challenge of neonatal foals.
Vet Rec, 178(11), 261.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.103095 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546-0099, USA.
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546-0099, USA.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546-0099, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / blood
- Animals, Newborn / immunology
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Plasma / immunology
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / prevention & control
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / veterinary
- Rhodococcus equi / immunology
- Severity of Illness Index
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Kahn SK, Cywes-Bentley C, Blodgett GP, Canaday NM, Turner-Garcia CE, Flores-Ahlschwede P, Metcalfe LL, Nevill M, Vinacur M, Sutter PJ, Meyer SC, Bordin AI, Pier GB, Cohen ND. Randomized, controlled trial comparing Rhodococcus equi and poly-N-acetyl glucosamine hyperimmune plasma to prevent R equi pneumonia in foals. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Nov;35(6):2912-2919.
- Kahn SK, Cywes-Bentley C, Blodgett GP, Canaday NM, Turner-Garcia CE, Vinacur M, Cortez-Ramirez SC, Sutter PJ, Meyer SC, Bordin AI, Vlock DR, Pier GB, Cohen ND. Antibody activities in hyperimmune plasma against the Rhodococcus equi virulence -associated protein A or poly-N-acetyl glucosamine are associated with protection of foals against rhodococcal pneumonia. PLoS One 2021;16(8):e0250133.
- Álvarez-Narváez S, Huber L, Giguère S, Hart KA, Berghaus RD, Sanchez S, Cohen ND. Epidemiology and Molecular Basis of Multidrug Resistance in Rhodococcus equi. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2021 May 19;85(2).
- Harvey AB, Bordin AI, Rocha JN, Bray JM, Cohen ND. Opsonization but not pretreatment of equine macrophages with hyperimmune plasma nonspecifically enhances phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Rhodococcus equi. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jan;35(1):590-596.
- Rakowska A, Cywinska A, Witkowski L. Current Trends in Understanding and Managing Equine Rhodococcosis. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 18;10(10).
- Bujold AR, Lani NR, Sanz MG. Strain-to-strain variation of Rhodococcus equi growth and biofilm formation in vitro. BMC Res Notes 2019 Aug 19;12(1):519.
- Folmar CN, Cywes-Bentley C, Bordin AI, Rocha JN, Bray JM, Kahn SK, Schuckert AE, Pier GB, Cohen ND. In vitro evaluation of complement deposition and opsonophagocytic killing of Rhodococcus equi mediated by poly-N-acetyl glucosamine hyperimmune plasma compared to commercial plasma products. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1493-1499.
- Yang J, Zhang S, Zhang J, Dong J, Wu J, Zhang L, Guo P, Tang S, Zhao Z, Wang H, Zhao Y, Zhang W, Wu F. Identification of key genes and pathways using bioinformatics analysis in septic shock children. Infect Drug Resist 2018;11:1163-1174.
- Cywes-Bentley C, Rocha JN, Bordin AI, Vinacur M, Rehman S, Zaidi TS, Meyer M, Anthony S, Lambert M, Vlock DR, Giguère S, Cohen ND, Pier GB. Antibody to Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine provides protection against intracellular pathogens: Mechanism of action and validation in horse foals challenged with Rhodococcus equi. PLoS Pathog 2018 Jul;14(7):e1007160.
- Trevisani MM, Hanna ES, Oliveira AF, Cardoso SA, Roque-Barreira MC, Soares SG. Vaccination of Mice with Virulence-Associated Protein G (VapG) Antigen Confers Partial Protection against Rhodococcus equi Infection through Induced Humoral Immunity. Front Microbiol 2017;8:857.
- Rakowska A, Czopowicz M, Bereznowski A, Witkowski L. Investigation of the relationship between pulmonary lesions based on lung ultrasound and respiratory clinical signs in foals with suspected pulmonary rhodococcosis. Sci Rep 2023 Nov 8;13(1):19401.
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