Serological responses of specific pathogen-free foals to equine herpesvirus-1: primary and secondary infection, and reactivation.
Abstract: Serum antibody (virus neutralisation, complement fixation, IgM and IgG) responses to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection were measured in six foals which were initially free from EHV-1 and EHV-4 infection and maternally-derived antibodies. Following primary infection, high titres of virus neutralisation and complement fixation antibodies were detectable against EHV-1, however, corresponding antibody levels against EHV-4 were low or inapparent, although the two viruses share a number of cross-reactive epitopes. In addition, following the primary infection with EHV-1, IgM levels increased before those of IgG, virus neutralisation and complement fixation antibodies, peaked sooner and thereafter declined. Stimulation of IgM levels was observed on secondary infection with EHV-1 given 61 days later. In contrast, IgG, virus neutralisation and complement fixation antibodies following primary infection were more sustained and no increase in their levels was observed on secondary infection. No consistent changes in IgM or IgG levels were seen after administration of dexamethasone to reactivate latent virus.
Publication Date: 1992-10-01 PubMed ID: 1333670DOI: 10.1016/0378-1135(92)90145-jGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research studies the specific response of the immune system in foals (young horses) to a primary and secondary infection by equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), including the reactivation of the virus.
Research Purpose and Methodology
- The aim of the study was to better understand how the immune system of young horses responds to a primary and secondary infection of EHV-1, a common virus in horses.
- In the methodology, the study examined six foals that were free from both EHV-1 and EHV-4, and also did not have any maternally-derived antibodies against these viruses. The goal was to observe their immune responses when they were exposed to EHV-1 for the first and second times, as well as during virus reactivation stage.
Observations from Primary Infection
- After their first exposure to EHV-1, the foals developed high quantities of virus-neutralizing and complement-fixating antibodies against EHV-1.
- On the other hand, despite both EHV-1 and EHV-4 having some similar antigens, there was a minimal or nonexistent antibody response to EHV-4.
- The study also found that IgM – an antibody that plays a critical role in the primary immune response – increased before the levels of other immune response markers (IgG, virus-neutralizing, and complement-fixing antibodies).
- IgM levels also peaked before the other markers and started to decline earlier.
Findings from Secondary Infection
- 61 days after the primary infection, the foals were exposed to EHV-1 again (secondary infection).
- As a response to the secondary infection, IgM levels increased again but there were no observable changes in the levels of IgG, and virus-neutralizing and complement-fixing antibodies, which remained steady from after the primary response.
Investigation of Virus Reactivation
- Dexamethasone, a medication often used in the reactivation of latent viruses, was administered, to examine how the immune system would react to EHV-1 reactivation.
- However, the administration of the drug didn’t led to significant changes in the levels of the IgM or IgG antibodies.
Implications of the Study
- This study provides a detailed understanding of how the equine immune system responds to EHV-1 during both the primary and secondary infections as well as during the reactivation of the virus.
- The findings could help in the advancement of treatments and vaccines against EHV-1, which is common in horses and can lead to a variety of serious health problems.
Cite This Article
APA
Gibson JS, O'Neill T, Thackray A, Hannant D, Field HJ.
(1992).
Serological responses of specific pathogen-free foals to equine herpesvirus-1: primary and secondary infection, and reactivation.
Vet Microbiol, 32(3-4), 199-214.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1135(92)90145-j Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Complement Fixation Tests
- Cross Reactions
- Dexamethasone
- Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / immunology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Immunoglobulin M / biosynthesis
- Immunoglobulin M / blood
- Neutralization Tests
- Radioimmunoassay
- Recurrence
- Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Zarski LM, Vaala WE, Barnett DC, Bain FT, Soboll Hussey G. A Live-Attenuated Equine Influenza Vaccine Stimulates Innate Immunity in Equine Respiratory Epithelial Cell Cultures That Could Provide Protection From Equine Herpesvirus 1.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:674850.
- Oladunni FS, Horohov DW, Chambers TM. EHV-1: A Constant Threat to the Horse Industry.. Front Microbiol 2019;10:2668.
- Pearson W, Omar S, Clarke AF. Low-dose ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) modulates the course and magnitude of the antibody response to vaccination against equid herpesvirus I in horses.. Can J Vet Res 2007 Jul;71(3):213-7.
- Sutton GA, Viel L, Carman PS, Boag BL. Pathogenesis and clinical signs of equine herpesvirus-1 in experimentally infected ponies in vivo.. Can J Vet Res 1998 Jan;62(1):49-55.
- Tewari D, Gibson JS, Slater JD, O'Neill T, Hannant D, Allen GP, Field HJ. Modulation of the serological response of specific pathogen-free (EHV-free) foals to EHV-1 by previous infection with EHV-4 or a TK-deletion mutant of EHV-1.. Arch Virol 1993;132(1-2):101-20.
- Allen G, Yeargan M, Costa LR, Cross R. Major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in horses infected with equine herpesvirus 1.. J Virol 1995 Jan;69(1):606-12.
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