FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / The development of equine immunity: Current knowledge on imm...
Equine veterinary journal2015; 47(3); 267-274; doi: 10.1111/evj.12387

The development of equine immunity: Current knowledge on immunology in the young horse.

Abstract: The development of equine immunity from the fetus to adulthood is complex. The foal's immune response and the immune mechanisms that they are equipped with, along with changes over the first months of life until the immune system becomes adult-like, are only partially understood. While several innate immune responses seem to be fully functional from birth, the onset of adaptive immune response is delayed. For some adaptive immune parameters, such as immunoglobin (Ig)G1, IgG3, IgG5 and IgA antibodies, the immune response starts before or at birth and matures within 3 months of life. Other antibody responses, such as IgG4, IgG7 and IgE production, slowly develop within the first year of life until they reach adult levels. Similar differences have been observed for adaptive T cell responses. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production by T helper 1 (Th1)-cells and cytotoxic T cells starts shortly after birth with low level production that gradually increases during the first year of life. In contrast, interleukin-4 (IL-4) produced by Th2-cells is almost undetectable in the first 3 months of life. These findings offer some explanation for the increased susceptibility of foals to certain pathogens such as Rhodococcus equi. The delay in Th-cell development and in particular Th2 immunity during the first months of life also provides an explanation for the reduced responsiveness of young horses to most traditional vaccines. In summary, all immune components of adult horses seem to exist in foals but the orchestrating and regulation of the immune response in immature horses is strikingly different. Young foals are fully competent and can perform certain immune responses but many mechanisms have yet to mature. Additional work is needed to improve our understanding of immunity and immune regulation in young horses, to identify the preferred immune pathways that they are using and ultimately provide new preventive strategies to protect against infectious disease.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2015-01-06 PubMed ID: 25405920DOI: 10.1111/evj.12387Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

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 article delves deep into the development of immunity in young horses, investigating how different elements of the immune system grow and mature from birth through to adulthood, and the impact this has on the equine response to pathogens and vaccinations.

Development of Immune Response in Foals

  • The research explores the maturity of equine immune responses at various life stages, specifically focusing on the development from a foetus up until adulthood. The researchers notes that while some innate immune responses appear to be fully functional immediately after birth, others, specifically the adaptive immune responses, lag behind.
  • Adaptive immune parameters such as immunoglobulins (Ig) G1, G3, G5 and A antibodies start developing before birth or immediately after, and mature within the first three months of life. Other antibodies, including IgG4, IgG7 and IgE, develop more slowly over the first year of life, ultimately reaching adult levels during this period.
  • The observed different responses are seen in adaptive T cell responses as well. For instance, the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by Th1-cells and cytotoxic T cells starts soon after birth, but only at low levels. The production levels, however, increase gradually during the first year of life.

Understanding Increased Susceptibility to Pathogens

  • The research provides insights into the vulnerability of foals to specific pathogens, such as Rhodococcus equi. The late development of Th-cell, especially Th2 immunity, in the first few months of life explains the foals’ increased susceptibility.

Implications for Vaccination

  • The study further discusses how this delayed development of various immune responses also explains the reduced responsiveness of young horses to most traditional vaccines. The immaturity of some immune mechanisms results in limited protection against certain infectious diseases for this young population.
  • Therefore, an understanding of where the immune system of young horses may be deficient could help in the development of preventive strategies, including more suitable vaccination plans for foals.

Future Research and Implications

  • The research concludes that the regulatory mechanisms of the equine immune system differ significantly from birth to adulthood. Thus, the need for further studies to understand immunity and immune regulation in young horses is paramount.
  • Additionally, identifying the preferred immune pathways of young horses can inform the creation of new preventive strategies to protect the young horse population from infectious diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Perkins GA, Wagner B. (2015). The development of equine immunity: Current knowledge on immunology in the young horse. Equine Vet J, 47(3), 267-274. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12387

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 3
Pages: 267-274

Researcher Affiliations

Perkins, G A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Wagner, B

    MeSH Terms

    • Aging / immunology
    • Animals
    • Animals, Newborn / immunology
    • Horses / growth & development
    • Horses / immunology
    • Horses / metabolism
    • Immunoglobulins / metabolism
    • Interferon-gamma / metabolism

    Citations

    This article has been cited 31 times.
    1. Rivolta AA, Bujold AR, Wilmarth PA, Phinney BS, Navelski JP, Horohov DW, Sanz MG. Comparison of the broncoalveolar lavage fluid proteomics between foals and adult horses. PLoS One 2023;18(9):e0290778.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290778pubmed: 37669266google scholar: lookup
    2. Gonzalez-Obando J, Forero JE, Zuluaga-Cabrera AM, Ruiz-Saenz J. Equine Influenza Virus: An Old Known Enemy in the Americas. Vaccines (Basel) 2022 Oct 14;10(10).
      doi: 10.3390/vaccines10101718pubmed: 36298583google scholar: lookup
    3. Anna M, Łukasz M, Adam O, Chełmońska-Soyta A. Effectiveness of immunization with multi-component bacterial immunomodulator in foals at 35th day of life. Sci Rep 2022 Sep 22;12(1):15795.
      doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-17532-1pubmed: 36138050google scholar: lookup
    4. Rampacci E, Mazzola K, Beccati F, Passamonti F. Diagnostic characteristics of refractometry cut-off points for the estimation of immunoglobulin G concentration in mare colostrum. Equine Vet J 2023 Jan;55(1):102-110.
      doi: 10.1111/evj.13568pubmed: 35213056google scholar: lookup
    5. Colmer SF, Luethy D, Abraham M, Stefanovski D, Hurcombe SD. Utility of cell-free DNA concentrations and illness severity scores to predict survival in critically ill neonatal foals. PLoS One 2021;16(4):e0242635.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242635pubmed: 33901192google scholar: lookup
    6. Ellis J. Passive transfer of colostral leukocytes: A benefit/risk analysis. Can Vet J 2021 Mar;62(3):233-239.
      pubmed: 33692577
    7. Zarski LM, Giessler KS, Jacob SI, Weber PSD, McCauley AG, Lee Y, Soboll Hussey G. Identification of Host Factors Associated with the Development of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy by Transcriptomic Analysis of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Horses. Viruses 2021 Feb 24;13(3).
      doi: 10.3390/v13030356pubmed: 33668216google scholar: lookup
    8. Migdał A, Migdał Ł, Oczkowicz M, Okólski A, Chełmońska-Soyta A. Influence of Age and Immunostimulation on the Level of Toll-Like Receptor Gene (TLR3, 4, and 7) Expression in Foals. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 26;10(11).
      doi: 10.3390/ani10111966pubmed: 33114637google scholar: lookup
    9. Rakowska A, Cywinska A, Witkowski L. Current Trends in Understanding and Managing Equine Rhodococcosis. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 18;10(10).
      doi: 10.3390/ani10101910pubmed: 33081047google scholar: lookup
    10. Entrican G, Lunney JK, Wattegedera SR, Mwangi W, Hope JC, Hammond JA. The Veterinary Immunological Toolbox: Past, Present, and Future. Front Immunol 2020;11:1651.
      doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01651pubmed: 32849568google scholar: lookup
    11. Raza F, Ivanek R, Freer H, Reiche D, Rose H, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S, Wagner B. Cul o 2 specific IgG3/5 antibodies predicted Culicoides hypersensitivity in a group imported Icelandic horses. BMC Vet Res 2020 Aug 10;16(1):283.
      doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02499-wpubmed: 32778104google scholar: lookup
    12. Thorsteinsdóttir L, Jónsdóttir S, Stefánsdóttir SB, Andrésdóttir V, Wagner B, Marti E, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V. The effect of maternal immunity on the equine gammaherpesvirus type 2 and 5 viral load and antibody response. PLoS One 2019;14(6):e0218576.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218576pubmed: 31226153google scholar: lookup
    13. McClellan A, Evans R, Sze C, Kan S, Paterson Y, Guest D. A novel mechanism for the protection of embryonic stem cell derived tenocytes from inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta. Sci Rep 2019 Feb 26;9(1):2755.
      doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39370-4pubmed: 30808942google scholar: lookup
    14. Wimer CL, Schnabel CL, Perkins G, Babasyan S, Freer H, Stout AE, Rollins A, Osterrieder N, Goodman LB, Glaser A, Wagner B. The deletion of the ORF1 and ORF71 genes reduces virulence of the neuropathogenic EHV-1 strain Ab4 without compromising host immunity in horses. PLoS One 2018;13(11):e0206679.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206679pubmed: 30440016google scholar: lookup
    15. Krakowski L, Bartoszek P, Krakowska I, Stachurska A, Piech T, Brodzki P, Wrona Z. Changes in Blood Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Expression of MHC-II Molecules in Wild Mares Before and After Parturition. J Vet Res 2017 Jun;61(2):217-221.
      doi: 10.1515/jvetres-2017-0028pubmed: 29978076google scholar: lookup
    16. Wagner B, Perkins G, Babasyan S, Freer H, Keggan A, Goodman LB, Glaser A, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S. Neonatal Immunization with a Single IL-4/Antigen Dose Induces Increased Antibody Responses after Challenge Infection with Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) at Weanling Age. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0169072.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169072pubmed: 28045974google scholar: lookup
    17. Gather T, Walter S, Pfaender S, Todt D, Feige K, Steinmann E, Cavalleri JM. Acute and chronic infections with nonprimate hepacivirus in young horses. Vet Res 2016 Sep 22;47(1):97.
      doi: 10.1186/s13567-016-0381-6pubmed: 27659317google scholar: lookup
    18. Rocha JN, Cohen ND, Bordin AI, Brake CN, Giguère S, Coleman MC, Alaniz RC, Lawhon SD, Mwangi W, Pillai SD. Oral Administration of Electron-Beam Inactivated Rhodococcus equi Failed to Protect Foals against Intrabronchial Infection with Live, Virulent R. equi. PLoS One 2016;11(2):e0148111.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148111pubmed: 26828865google scholar: lookup
    19. Whitfield-Cargile CM, Cohen ND, Suchodolski J, Chaffin MK, McQueen CM, Arnold CE, Dowd SE, Blodgett GP. Composition and Diversity of the Fecal Microbiome and Inferred Fecal Metagenome Does Not Predict Subsequent Pneumonia Caused by Rhodococcus equi in Foals. PLoS One 2015;10(8):e0136586.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136586pubmed: 26305682google scholar: lookup
    20. Chen LT, Wesdorp E, Jager M, Siegers EW, Theelen MJP, Besselink N, Vermeulen C, Zomer AL, Broens EM, Wagenaar JA, de Ridder J. Bacterial cell-free DNA profiling reveals the co-elevation of multiple bacteria in newborn foals with suspected sepsis. iScience 2025 Dec 19;28(12):114005.
      doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.114005pubmed: 41476946google scholar: lookup
    21. Partusch L, Rutland CS, Martens A, Du Cheyne C, De Spiegelaere W, Michler JK. Collagen composition in equine exuberant granulation tissue reflects tissue immaturity. PLoS One 2025;20(11):e0335179.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0335179pubmed: 41196884google scholar: lookup
    22. Simonin EM, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S, Freer H, Tarsillo J, Wagner B. Early allergen introduction overrides allergy predisposition in offspring of horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity. Front Immunol 2025;16:1654693.
      doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1654693pubmed: 41194920google scholar: lookup
    23. Merle R, Feuer L, Frenzer K, Plenio JL, Bethe A, Sarnino N, Lübke-Becker A, Bäumer W. Antibiotic Use in Horses: Analysis of 57 German Veterinary Practices (2018-2023). Antibiotics (Basel) 2025 Sep 19;14(9).
      doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14090953pubmed: 41009931google scholar: lookup
    24. Tolnai C, O'Sullivan C, Lőrincz M, Karvouni M, Tenk M, Marosi A, Forgách P, Paszerbovics B, Wagenhoffer Z, Kutasi O. Cellular Immune Response in Horses After West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 11;15(16).
      doi: 10.3390/ani15162352pubmed: 40867680google scholar: lookup
    25. Roncaglia-Pereira VA, Dumard CH, Monteiro-Machado M, Melo PA, Fonseca J, Meirelles L, Cunha-Ribeiro L, Souza P, da Silva JL, Castilho L, de Oliveira AC, Gomes AMO, Strauch MA. Long-Term Maintenance of High Neutralizing Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Titres in Mares' Milk and Offspring Serum After Pregnant Mares Immunization With SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Vet Med Sci 2025 Sep;11(5):e70488.
      doi: 10.1002/vms3.70488pubmed: 40699548google scholar: lookup
    26. Gamage C, Holl W, Parreño V, Thieulent CJ, Balasuriya UBR, Vissani MA, Barrandeguy ME, Carossino M. Comparative clinical, virological and pathological characterization of equine rotavirus A G3P[12] and G14P[12] infection in neonatal mice. J Gen Virol 2025 Jun;106(6).
      doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.002110pubmed: 40471657google scholar: lookup
    27. Terpeluk ER, Schäfer J, Finkler-Schade C, Rauch E, Rohn K, Schuberth HJ. Feeding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product to Mares in Late Gestation Alters the Biological Activity of Colostrum. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 24;14(17).
      doi: 10.3390/ani14172459pubmed: 39272244google scholar: lookup
    28. da Silveira BP, Cohen ND, Lawhon SD, Watson RO, Bordin AI. Protective immune response against Rhodococcus equi: An innate immunity-focused review. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):563-586.
      doi: 10.1111/evj.14214pubmed: 39258739google scholar: lookup
    29. Hobbs KJ, Cooper BL, Dembek K, Sheats MK. Investigation of Extracted Plasma Cell-Free DNA as a Biomarker in Foals with Sepsis. Vet Sci 2024 Aug 1;11(8).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci11080346pubmed: 39195800google scholar: lookup
    30. Leng J, Moller-Levet C, Mansergh RI, O'Flaherty R, Cooke R, Sells P, Pinkham C, Pynn O, Smith C, Wise Z, Ellis R, Couto Alves A, La Ragione R, Proudman C. Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racing. Sci Rep 2024 Aug 7;14(1):17124.
      doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-64657-6pubmed: 39112552google scholar: lookup
    31. Jentsch MC, Lübke S, Schrödl W, Volke D, Krizsan A, Hoffmann R, Kaiser-Thom S, Gerber V, Marti E, Wagner B, Schnabel CL. Immunoproteomics enable broad identification of new Aspergillus fumigatus antigens in severe equine asthma. Front Immunol 2024;15:1347164.
      doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1347164pubmed: 38487534google scholar: lookup
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.