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Home / Equine Research Bank / Infect Immun / Specific immune responses are required to control parasitemi...
Infection and immunity1994; 62(5); 1909-1913; doi: 10.1128/iai.62.5.1909-1913.1994

Specific immune responses are required to control parasitemia in Babesia equi infection.

Abstract: Horses possessing a normal immune system and spleen often control infection caused by Babesia equi. However, splenectomized horses are unable to control B. equi infection and usually succumb to the infection. To investigate the role of the spleen in the control of B. equi infection in the absence of specific immune responses, two 1-month-old foals with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and two age-matched normal foals were inoculated with B. equi. The SCID foals became febrile seven days postinoculation and developed terminal parasitemias of 41 and 29%. The SCID foals had greater than 50% decreases in indices of total erythrocytes, packed-cell volumes, and hemoglobin concentrations. Both SCID foals were euthanized in extremis at 10 days postinoculation. As expected, the serum of the SCID foals lacked detectable antibodies to B. equi antigens. In contrast, the normal foals inoculated with B. equi produced detectable anti-erythrocyte-stage parasite antibodies by 7 days and controlled clinical disease by 12 days postinoculation. Although SCID foals lack functional T and B lymphocytes, they do possess complement, macrophages, granulocytes, and natural killer cells, as well as a spleen. Therefore, the data indicate that specific immune responses are required to control B. equi parasitemia but are not required for erythrocyte lysis in infected horses. Furthermore, the spleen is not able to control B. equi parasitemia in the absence of specific immune responses to parasite antigens.
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Publication Date: 1994-05-01 PubMed ID: 8168957PubMed Central: PMC186438DOI: 10.1128/iai.62.5.1909-1913.1994Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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.

The research examines the importance of specific immune responses in controlling Babesia equi, a parasite that infects horses. The study found that although some key elements of the immune system are present, it was the specific immune response that was crucial in preventing infection from spreading.

Objective and Methodology of the study

  • In this study, the authors provide in-depth insight into the control of B. equi infection in horses with special focus on the role of the spleen and the immune responses.
  • To get a clear understanding, the research was conducted on two sets of foals: a pair of 1-month-old foals with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and a pair of age-matched normal foals. All were inoculated with B. equi.
  • Investigating these two distinct sets of foals gave the researchers a chance to view the progress of infection and immune response both in the presence and absence of a functioning immune system.

Major Findings from the study

  • The study found that the SCID foals, which lacked functional T and B lymphocytes, developed symptoms of infection within a week postinoculation. The parasitemia, i.e., the presence of parasites in the blood, reached terminal levels, making it necessary to euthanize the foals at day 10 after the inoculation.
  • The foals exhibited a marked decrease in total erythrocyte (red blood cells) counts, packed-cell volumes, and hemoglobin concentrations, showing signs of severe anemia.
  • Contrarily, in the normal foals with a functioning immune system, anti-erythrocyte-stage parasite antibodies were produced within seven days of inoculation, helping to control the infection successfully by day 12.

Interpretation and Conclusion of the findings

  • Despite possessing a functioning spleen and the presence of other immune cells such as complement, macrophages, granulocytes, and natural killer cells, the SCID foals could not control the parasitemia. This observation suggests that the specific immune responses, specifically the production of antibodies, are essential in controlling the B. equi infection.
  • The spleen, contrary to common belief, could not control B. equi parasitemia absence of these specific immune responses. So, while important to the immune system, it’s not sufficient in handling B. equi without the assistance of other immune responses.
  • The research ascertains that while various immune elements contribute to immune function, specific immune responses are needed to effectively overcome B. equi infection.

Cite This Article

APA
Knowles DP, Kappmeyer LS, Perryman LE. (1994). Specific immune responses are required to control parasitemia in Babesia equi infection. Infect Immun, 62(5), 1909-1913. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.62.5.1909-1913.1994

Publication

Infection and immunity
ISSN: 0019-9567
NlmUniqueID: 0246127
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 62
Issue: 5
Pages: 1909-1913

Researcher Affiliations

Knowles, D P
  • Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, Washington 99164-7030.
Kappmeyer, L S
    Perryman, L E

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
      • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
      • Babesiosis / immunology
      • Babesiosis / pathology
      • Erythrocytes / parasitology
      • Female
      • Horse Diseases / immunology
      • Horse Diseases / pathology
      • Horses
      • Male
      • Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 9 times.
      1. Sears KP, Knowles DP, Fry LM. Clinical Progression of Theileria haneyi in Splenectomized Horses Reveals Decreased Virulence Compared to Theileria equi. Pathogens 2022 Feb 16;11(2).
        doi: 10.3390/pathogens11020254pubmed: 35215197google scholar: lookup
      2. Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 May 16;16(10).
        doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101736pubmed: 31100920google scholar: lookup
      3. Mahmoud MS, El-Ezz NT, Abdel-Shafy S, Nassar SA, El Namaky AH, Khalil WK, Knowles D, Kappmeyer L, Silva MG, Suarez CE. Assessment of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in equine populations in Egypt by molecular, serological and hematological approaches. Parasit Vectors 2016 May 4;9:260.
        doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1539-9pubmed: 27146413google scholar: lookup
      4. Ramsay JD, Ueti MW, Johnson WC, Scoles GA, Knowles DP, Mealey RH. Lymphocytes and macrophages are infected by Theileria equi, but T cells and B cells are not required to establish infection in vivo. PLoS One 2013;8(10):e76996.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076996pubmed: 24116194google scholar: lookup
      5. Kappmeyer LS, Thiagarajan M, Herndon DR, Ramsay JD, Caler E, Djikeng A, Gillespie JJ, Lau AO, Roalson EH, Silva JC, Silva MG, Suarez CE, Ueti MW, Nene VM, Mealey RH, Knowles DP, Brayton KA. Comparative genomic analysis and phylogenetic position of Theileria equi. BMC Genomics 2012 Nov 9;13:603.
        doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-603pubmed: 23137308google scholar: lookup
      6. Mealey RH, Kappmeyer LS, Ueti MW, Wagner B, Knowles DP. Protective effects of passively transferred merozoite-specific antibodies against Theileria equi in horses with severe combined immunodeficiency. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2012 Jan;19(1):100-4.
        doi: 10.1128/CVI.05301-11pubmed: 22038847google scholar: lookup
      7. Cunha CW, McGuire TC, Kappmeyer LS, Hines SA, Lopez AM, Dellagostin OA, Knowles DP. Development of specific immunoglobulin Ga (IgGa) and IgGb antibodies correlates with control of parasitemia in Babesia equi Infection. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2006 Feb;13(2):297-300.
        doi: 10.1128/CVI.13.2.297-300.2006pubmed: 16467341google scholar: lookup
      8. Sellon DC, Knowles DP, Greiner EC, Long MT, Hines MT, Hochstatter T, Tibary A, Dame JB. Infection of immunodeficient horses with Sarcocystis neurona does not result in neurologic disease. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2004 Nov;11(6):1134-9.
        doi: 10.1128/CDLI.11.6.1134-1139.2004pubmed: 15539518google scholar: lookup
      9. Onzere CK, Bastos RG, Bishop RP, Suarez CE, Fry LM. Expression of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in horses experimentally infected with T. equi merozoites is associated with antibody production but not modulation of pro-inflammatory responses. Front Immunol 2024;15:1370255.
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