Serum concentrations of allergen-specific IgE in horses with equine recurrent airway obstruction and healthy controls assessed by ELISA.
Abstract: Equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), also known as heaves, is one of the most common respiratory problems in older horses. When RAO-affected horses stay pastured or in a dust-free environment for a prolonged time, clinical signs as well as airway inflammation wane. A number of environmental, immunologic, infectious, and genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of RAO, and the immunologic basis of this disease is still poorly understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of allergen-specific IgE in the serum of horses suffering from RAO and healthy controls. Methods: The study included a group of 14 adult Polish Konik horses, kept in a standardized environment, and divided into 2 groups: 7 horses which did not have any respiratory problems comprised the control group and 7 horses with a history of RAO constituted the study group. A clinical and laboratory evaluation, endoscopic examination, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed in all horses. Sera of all horses were tested against allergens from 9 molds and 3 mites using the Heska Allercept assay. Results: In the serologic tests, a statistically significant difference between both groups was found for specific IgE against mites, wherein Tyrophagus putrescentia correlated most clearly with RAO. There was no difference between groups for IgE specific against molds. Conclusions: On the basis of our observations and results, we conclude that RAO is associated with increased serum concentrations of specific serum IgE against mites, in particular T putrescentia.
© 2015 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
Publication Date: 2015-07-14 PubMed ID: 26175133DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12274Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Adult Horses
- Allergies
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Equine Health
- Horse Breeds
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin E
- Immunology
- Inflammation
- Mites
- Pathogenesis
- Recurrent Airway Obstruction
- Respiratory Disease
- Respiratory Health
- Serum
- Veterinary Medicine
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 studies the concentrations of allergen-specific IgE in the blood of horses suffering from RAO, a common respiratory issue, and compares it with healthy horses. It found that RAO horses had a higher concentration of specific IgE, particularly for the mite Tyrophagus putrescentia.
Research Context and Objective
- The study is based on the premise that equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), also known as ‘heaves’, is a prevalent respiratory problem in older horses. Symptoms tend to lessen when the horses are kept in dust-free environments or pastures for an extended period.
- While the mechanics of RAO involve a complex range of factors –including environmental, immunologic, infectious, and genetic elements – this study focuses on the immunologic basis of the disease, which is currently not well-understood.
- The primary objective of the study was to scrutinize and compare the levels of allergen-specific IgE (Immunoglobulin E) found in the serum of horses diagnosed with RAO and healthy horses.
Methodology
- A total of 14 adult Polish Konik horses, kept in a consistent environment, were selected for the study. They were categorically split into two groups – one group consisting of seven healthy horses (control group) and the other group consisting of seven RAO-affected horses (study group).
- Each horse underwent a medical and lab assessment, endoscopic examination, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), a procedure to examine the lower airways of the lungs.
- The horses’ serum was then tested against allergens from nine types of molds and three types of mites using the Heska Allercept assay, a diagnostic test.
Results
- The serum tests exhibited a statistically notable difference in IgE concentrations between the two groups.
- The RAO horses had significantly higher IgE concentrations against mites, specifically Tyrophagus putrescentia, which was most strongly associated with RAO in this study.
- There was, however, no significant difference in IgE concentrations against molds between the two groups.
Conclusion
- Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that an increase in the concentration of mite-specific IgE, particularly against Tyrophagus putrescentia, is significantly associated with RAO.
Cite This Article
APA
Niedzwiedz A, Jaworski Z, Kubiak K.
(2015).
Serum concentrations of allergen-specific IgE in horses with equine recurrent airway obstruction and healthy controls assessed by ELISA.
Vet Clin Pathol, 44(3), 391-396.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12274 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Internal Diseases and Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
- Department of Horse Breeding and Riding, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
- Department of Internal Diseases and Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
MeSH Terms
- Airway Obstruction / veterinary
- Allergens / blood
- Allergens / immunology
- Animals
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin E / blood
- Immunoglobulin E / immunology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Mites / immunology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Schnabel CL, Jentsch MC, Lübke S, Kaiser-Thom S, Gerber V, Vrtala S, Huang HJ, Rhyner C, Wagner B, Hoffmann R, Volke D. Immunoproteomics reveal increased serum IgG3/5 binding to Dermatophagoides and yeast protein antigens in severe equine asthma in a preliminary study. Front Immunol 2023;14:1293684.
- Simões J, Tilley P. Decision Making in Severe Equine Asthma-Diagnosis and Monitoring. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 16;13(24).
- White SJ, Couetil L, Richard EA, Marti E, Wilson PB. Microarray molecular mapping of horses with severe asthma. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jan-Feb;38(1):477-484.
- Simões J, Batista M, Tilley P. The Immune Mechanisms of Severe Equine Asthma-Current Understanding and What Is Missing. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 16;12(6).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Alberti E, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Intradermal Testing Results in Horses Affected by Mild-Moderate and Severe Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 13;11(7).
- White SJ, Moore-Colyer M, Marti E, Hannant D, Gerber V, Coüetil L, Richard EA, Alcocer M. Antigen array for serological diagnosis and novel allergen identification in severe equine asthma. Sci Rep 2019 Oct 23;9(1):15170.
- Sheats MK, Davis KU, Poole JA. Comparative Review of Asthma in Farmers and Horses. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2019 Oct 10;19(11):50.
- White S, Moore-Colyer M, Marti E, Coüetil L, Hannant D, Richard EA, Alcocer M. Development of a comprehensive protein microarray for immunoglobulin E profiling in horses with severe asthma. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2327-2335.
- Verdon M, Lanz S, Rhyner C, Gerber V, Marti E. Allergen-specific immunoglobulin E in sera of horses affected with insect bite hypersensitivity, severe equine asthma or both conditions. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jan;33(1):266-274.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
