Safety and immunogenicity of a sarcoid vaccine in horses.
Abstract: Equine sarcoids are the most identified skin tumors of horses, which are highly associated with bovine papillomavirus infection. Sarcoids can impair the use of the horse and are difficult to treat, resulting in significant economic losses and a welfare concern. There is no vaccine available to protect global equines from sarcoids. We aimed to determine the safety and protective antibody response in horses immunized with a recombinant baculovirus vector vaccine expressing the L1 protein of bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1). A group of 10 clinically healthy, sarcoid-free horses were immunized intramuscularly with 1 mL of the equine sarcoid vaccine in the neck twice at 3-week intervals. A control group of 5 clinically normal horses were immunized with culture medium. Clinical signs were monitored daily, while serum samples were collected from all horses before vaccination as well as periodically post-vaccination. All horses appeared normal clinically and no clinically relevant adverse reactions to vaccination were observed. Using a GFP-expressing pseudovirus based virus-neutralizing antibody assay, a robust neutralizing antibody response was detected in all immunized horses following two doses. Pre-vaccination serum from the vaccination group and serum samples from the control group had no detectable virus-neutralizing antibodies. All 10 vaccinated horses developed neutralizing antibody titers 40 to greater than 1280. As neutralizing antibodies are an established correlate of protection for BPV1, we anticipate that this vaccine could protect horses from sarcoids.
Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2025-02-10 PubMed ID: 39938758DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105381Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study aims to test the safety and effectiveness of a new vaccine designed to protect horses against sarcoids, skin tumors that are often associated with bovine papillomavirus infection.
Objective of the Research
- The study’s goal is to measure the safety and efficacy of a recombinant baculovirus vector vaccine that expresses the L1 protein of bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1), which is associated with equine sarcoids. These skin tumors have a profound economic impact on the equine industry and are a concern for horse welfare. There is currently no vaccine available to protect horses from this condition globally.
Methodology
- To conduct this research, 10 healthy horses without sarcoids were administered, via intramuscular injection, twice over three weeks with the vaccine. A control group of five healthy horses received injections of culture medium.
- Horses’ health was monitored daily, and serum samples were drawn from all horses before vaccination and at intervals after vaccination.
Findings
- The researchers observed no significant health issues or adverse reactions from the vaccinations on all participating horses. This suggests that the vaccine is safe for use.
- After administering two doses of the vaccine, all horses produced a robust neutralizing antibody response, tested using a GFP-expressing pseudovirus based virus-neutralizing antibody assay.
- Pre-vaccination serum from the vaccinated horses, along with serum samples from the control group, showed no detectable virus-neutralizing antibodies. However, following vaccination, all 10 vaccinated horses developed neutralizing antibody titers ranging from 40 to more than 1280.
Implications of the Research
- Virus-neutralizing antibodies are an established correlate of protection for BPV1. Thus, the high neutralizing antibody titers in vaccinated horses suggest that this vaccine could effectively protect horses from developing sarcoids.
- This study represents an essential first step in developing a safe and effective vaccine for equine sarcoids, leading to substantial benefits for horse health and welfare, and potentially significant economic savings for the equine industry.
Cite This Article
APA
Jacob O, Hause B, Peters-Smith K, Adam EN, Page AE, Floyd C, Tucker C, Eertink LG, Wang D, Li F.
(2025).
Safety and immunogenicity of a sarcoid vaccine in horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 146, 105381.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105381 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40503, USA.
- Cambridge Technologies, Worthington, Minnesota 56187, USA. Electronic address: bhause@cambridgetechnologies.com.
- Cambridge Technologies, Worthington, Minnesota 56187, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40503, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40503, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40503, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40503, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40503, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40503, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40503, USA. Electronic address: Feng.Li@uky.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
- Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control
- Bovine papillomavirus 1 / immunology
- Sarcoidosis / veterinary
- Sarcoidosis / prevention & control
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Viral Vaccines / immunology
- Viral Vaccines / adverse effects
- Female
- Papillomavirus Infections / veterinary
- Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control
- Male
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest The authors have read the journal\'s policy and have the following conflicts: Ben Hause and Kelli Peters-Smith are currently employed by Cambridge Technologies, a company that produces animal vaccines. This does not alter the authors adherence to the Journal policies on sharing data and materials.
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