The effectiveness of anti-R. equi hyperimmune plasma against R. equi challenge in thoroughbred Arabian foals of mares vaccinated with R. equi vaccine.
Abstract: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a pregnant mare immunization of a Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) vaccine candidate containing a water-based nanoparticle mineral oil adjuvanted (Montanide IMS 3012) inactive bacterin and virulence-associated protein A (VapA), as well as the administration of anti-R. equi hyperimmune (HI) plasma against R. equi challenge in the mares' foals. The efficacy of passive immunizations (colostral passive immunity by mare vaccination and artificial passive immunity by HI plasma administration) was evaluated based on clinical signs, complete blood count, blood gas analysis, serological response (ELISA), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon gamma (IFN- γ ), total cell count of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) samples, reisolation rate of R. equi from BALF samples (CFU/mL), lung samples (CFU/gr), and lesion scores of the organs and tissue according to pathological findings after necropsy in the foals. The vaccination of pregnant mares and HI plasma administration in the foals reduced the severity of R. equi pneumonia and lesion scores of the organs and tissue by 3.54-fold compared to the control foals. This study thus indicates that immunization of pregnant mares with R. equi vaccine candidate and administration of HI plasma in mares' foals effectively protect foals against R. equi challenge.
Publication Date: 2014-04-03 PubMed ID: 24982958PubMed Central: PMC3997159DOI: 10.1155/2014/480732Google 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
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 study investigates the potential of a Rhodococcus equi vaccine and hyperimmune plasma in reducing the severity of R. equi pneumonia and organ and tissue damage in the foals of vaccinated mares.
Objective of the Study
- The main objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of an immunization protocol among pregnant mares. This protocol consisted of a vaccine candidate for Rhodococcus equi, a bacteria causing severe pneumonia in foals, and the administration of anti-R. equi hyperimmune plasma to the mares’ foals. The expectation was that these measures would protect the newborn foals from R. equi.
Methodology
- The mitigatory potential of two passive immunizations was evaluated. One involved colostral passive immunity that resulted from the vaccination of the mare. The other involved artificial passive immunity induced by the administration of HI plasma.
- Evaluation parameters included a range of clinical signs, complete blood count data, blood gas analysis results, serological response (measured via an ELISA test), interleukin-4 and interferon gamma levels, total cell count from the sample bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, the reisolation rate of R. equi, and the severity of organ and tissue lesions found after the foal underwent a necropsy.
Results and Conclusion
- Vaccination of the pregnant mares and the administration of HI plasma to the foals had a beneficial effect. The severity of R. equi pneumonia and the extent of organ and tissue lesions were reduced by about 3.54-fold compared to the degree of illness and damage seen in control foals.
- The results of this study show that inoculating pregnant mares with the R. equi vaccine prototype and administering HI plasma in mares’ foals can provide effective protection to foals from R. equi infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Erganis O, Sayin Z, Hadimli HH, Sakmanoglu A, Pinarkara Y, Ozdemir O, Maden M.
(2014).
The effectiveness of anti-R. equi hyperimmune plasma against R. equi challenge in thoroughbred Arabian foals of mares vaccinated with R. equi vaccine.
ScientificWorldJournal, 2014, 480732.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/480732 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, 42075 Konya, Turkey.
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, 42075 Konya, Turkey.
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, 42075 Konya, Turkey.
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, 42075 Konya, Turkey.
- Program of Food Technology, Sarayonu Vocational School, University of Selcuk, 42075 Konya, Turkey.
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, 42075 Konya, Turkey.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, 42075 Konya, Turkey.
MeSH Terms
- Actinomycetales Infections / immunology
- Actinomycetales Infections / prevention & control
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / administration & dosage
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Female
- Horses
- Rhodococcus equi / immunology
- Rhodococcus equi / pathogenicity
- Vaccination
References
This article includes 49 references
- Prescott JF. Epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi infection in horses.. Vet Microbiol 1987 Aug;14(3):211-4.
- Meijer WG, Prescott JF. Rhodococcus equi.. Vet Res 2004 Jul-Aug;35(4):383-96.
- Magnusson H. Spezifische Infektioese Pneumonie beim Fohlen. Ein neuer Eitererreger beim Pferde.. Archiv fur Wissenschaftliche und Praktische Tierheilkunde 1923;50:22–38.
- Woolcock JB, Mutimer MD, Farmer AM. Epidemiology of Corynebacterium equi in horses.. Res Vet Sci 1980 Jan;28(1):87-90.
- Muscatello G. Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in the foal--part 1: pathogenesis and epidemiology.. Vet J 2012 Apr;192(1):20-6.
- Takai S. Epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi infections: a review.. Vet Microbiol 1997 Jun 16;56(3-4):167-76.
- Martens RJ, Takai S, Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, Liu H, Lingsweiler S. Prevalence and virulence of Rhodococcus equi in sick foals and soil of horse-breeding farms in Texas. Proceedings of the 45th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) 1999; pp. 53–55.
- Giguere S. Update on R. equi infections in foals. Proceedings of the 11th Congress on Equine Medicine and Surgery 2009; Geneva, Switzerland. pp. 136–141.
- Ainsworth DM, Eicker SW, Yeagar AE, Sweeney CR, Viel L, Tesarowski D, Lavoie JP, Hoffman A, Paradis MR, Reed SM, Erb HN, Davidow E, Nalevanko M. Associations between physical examination, laboratory, and radiographic findings and outcome and subsequent racing performance of foals with Rhodococcus equi infection: 115 cases (1984-1992).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998 Aug 15;213(4):510-5.
- Kohn CW, Knight D, Hueston W, Jacobs R, Reed SM. Colostral and serum IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations in Standardbred mares and their foals at parturition.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989 Jul 1;195(1):64-8.
- Hurley JR, Begg AP. Failure of hyperimmune plasma to prevent pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals.. Aust Vet J 1995 Nov;72(11):418-20.
- Giguère S, Gaskin JM, Miller C, Bowman JL. Evaluation of a commercially available hyperimmune plasma product for prevention of naturally acquired pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002 Jan 1;220(1):59-63.
- Caston SS, McClure SR, Martens RJ, Chaffin MK, Miles KG, Griffith RW, Cohen ND. Effect of hyperimmune plasma on the severity of pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi in experimentally infected foals.. Vet Ther 2006 Winter;7(4):361-75.
- Becú T, Polledo G, Gaskin JM. Immunoprophylaxis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals.. Vet Microbiol 1997 Jun 16;56(3-4):193-204.
- Butler JE. Immunoglobulin diversity, B-cell and antibody repertoire development in large farm animals.. Rev Sci Tech 1998 Apr;17(1):43-70.
- Cauchard J, Sevin C, Ballet JJ, Taouji S. Foal IgG and opsonizing anti-Rhodococcus equi antibodies after immunization of pregnant mares with a protective VapA candidate vaccine.. Vet Microbiol 2004 Nov 30;104(1-2):73-81.
- Muscatello G. Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in the foal--part 2: diagnostics, treatment and disease management.. Vet J 2012 Apr;192(1):27-33.
- Gans HA, Arvin AM, Galinus J, Logan L, DeHovitz R, Maldonado Y. Deficiency of the humoral immune response to measles vaccine in infants immunized at age 6 months.. JAMA 1998 Aug 12;280(6):527-32.
- Gans HA, Maldonado Y, Yasukawa LL, Beeler J, Audet S, Rinki MM, DeHovitz R, Arvin AM. IL-12, IFN-gamma, and T cell proliferation to measles in immunized infants.. J Immunol 1999 May 1;162(9):5569-75.
- Hooper-McGrevy KE, Wilkie BN, Prescott JF. Virulence-associated protein-specific serum immunoglobulin G-isotype expression in young foals protected against Rhodococcus equi pneumonia by oral immunization with virulent R. equi.. Vaccine 2005 Dec 30;23(50):5760-7.
- van der Geize R, Grommen AW, Hessels GI, Jacobs AA, Dijkhuizen L. The steroid catabolic pathway of the intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi is important for pathogenesis and a target for vaccine development.. PLoS Pathog 2011 Aug;7(8):e1002181.
- Takai S, Kawazu S, Tsubaki S. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi infection in foals.. Am J Vet Res 1985 Oct;46(10):2166-70.
- Erganiş O, İstanbulluoğlu E. İmmünoloji. Konya, Turkey: Mimoza Basım Yayım A.Ş. Yayın; 1993.
- Hovard GC, Kaser MR. Making and Using Antibodies: A Practical Handbook. Boca Raton, Fla, USA: CRC Pres Taylor & Francis Group; 2007.
- Lopez AM, Townsend HG, Allen AL, Hondalus MK. Safety and immunogenicity of a live-attenuated auxotrophic candidate vaccine against the intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi.. Vaccine 2008 Feb 13;26(7):998-1009.
- Phumoonna T. Further development of vaccines and diagnostic tests for Rhodococcus equi infection in foals. [Ph.D. thesis] Bathurst, Australia: Charles Sturt University; 2005.
- Mansmann RA, Knight HD. Transtracheal aspiration in the horse.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1972 Jun 1;160(11):1527-9.
- Higuchi T, Hashikura S, Gojo C, Inui T, Satoh S, Yoshida M, Ishiyama T, Yamada H, Takai S. Clinical evaluation of the serodiagnostic value of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Rhodococcus equi infection in foals.. Equine Vet J 1997 Jul;29(4):274-8.
- Luna LG. Manuals of Histologic Staining Methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. New York, NY, USA: McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1968.
- Brandon RB, Hill R, Wilson RP. Development of hyperimmune equine plasma to virulence associated protein A (VapA) of Rhodococcus equi. Plasvacc White Paper 2009.
- Hines SA, Kanaly ST, Byrne BA, Palmer GH. Immunity to Rhodococcus equi.. Vet Microbiol 1997 Jun 16;56(3-4):177-85.
- Hietala SK, Ardans AA, Sansome A. Detection of Corynebacterium equi-specific antibody in horses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.. Am J Vet Res 1985 Jan;46(1):13-5.
- Cauchard J, Taouji S, Sevin C, Duquesne F, Bernabé M, Laugier C, Ballet JJ. Immunogenicity of synthetic Rhodococcus equi virulence-associated protein peptides in neonate foals.. Int J Med Microbiol 2006 Oct;296(6):389-96.
- Martens RJ, Martens JG, Fiske RA. Failure of passive immunisation by colostrum from immunised mares to protect foals against Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Equine Veterinary Journal 1991;23:19–22.
- Madigan JE, Hietala S, Muller N. Protection against naturally acquired Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals by administration of hyperimmune plasma.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1991;44:571-8.
- Varga J, Fodor L, Rusvai M, Soós I, Makrai L. Prevention of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia of foals using two different inactivated vaccines.. Vet Microbiol 1997 Jun 16;56(3-4):205-12.
- Martens RJ, Martens JG, Fiske RA, Hietala SK. Rhodococcus equi foal pneumonia: protective effects of immune plasma in experimentally infected foals.. Equine Vet J 1989 Jul;21(4):249-55.
- Higuchi T, Arakawa T, Hashikura S, Inui T, Senba H, Takai S. Effect of prophylactic administration of hyperimmune plasma to prevent Rhodococcus equi infection on foals from endemically affected farms.. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B 1999 Nov;46(9):641-8.
- Caston SS, McClure SR, Martens RJ. Epidemiology and prevention of R. equi pneumonia. Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of World Equine Veterinary Association 2008; Moscow, Russia. pp. 343–346.
- Perkins GA, Yeager A, Erb HN, Nydam DV, Divers TJ, Bowman JL. Survival of foals with experimentally induced Rhodococcus equi infection given either hyperimmune plasma containing R. equi antibody or normal equine plasma.. Vet Ther 2002 Fall;3(3):334-46.
- Demmers S, Johannisson A, Gröndahl G, Jensen-Waern M. Neutrophil functions and serum IgG in growing foals.. Equine Vet J 2001 Nov;33(7):676-80.
- McTaggart C, Yovich JV, Penhale J, Raidal SL. A comparison of foal and adult horse neutrophil function using flow cytometric techniques.. Res Vet Sci 2001 Aug;71(1):73-9.
- Gröndahl G, Sternberg S, Jensen-Waern M, Johannisson A. Opsonic capacity of foal serum for the two neonatal pathogens Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus equuli.. Equine Vet J 2001 Nov;33(7):670-5.
- Hooper-McGrevy KE, Giguere S, Wilkie BN, Prescott JF. Evaluation of equine immunoglobulin specific for Rhodococcus equi virulence-associated proteins A and C for use in protecting foals against Rhodococcus equi-induced pneumonia.. Am J Vet Res 2001 Aug;62(8):1307-13.
- Dawson TRMY, Horohov DW, Meijer WG, Muscatello G. Current understanding of the equine immune response to Rhodococcus equi. An immunological review of R. equi pneumonia.. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2010 May 15;135(1-2):1-11.
- Mosmann TR, Coffman RL. TH1 and TH2 cells: different patterns of lymphokine secretion lead to different functional properties.. Annu Rev Immunol 1989;7:145-73.
- Breathnach CC, Sturgill-Wright T, Stiltner JL, Adams AA, Lunn DP, Horohov DW. Foals are interferon gamma-deficient at birth.. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2006 Aug 15;112(3-4):199-209.
- Ryan C, Giguère S, Hagen J, Hartnett C, Kalyuzhny AE. Effect of age and mitogen on the frequency of interleukin-4 and interferon gamma secreting cells in foals and adult horses as assessed by an equine-specific ELISPOT assay.. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2010 Jan 15;133(1):66-71.
- Anonymous. 2011, http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/horse-health/2011/01/27/candidate-vaccine-against-rhodococcus-equi-infections-to-be-investigated.aspx.
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Carnet F, Perrin-Cocon L, Paillot R, Lotteau V, Pronost S, Vidalain PO. An inventory of adjuvants used for vaccination in horses: the past, the present and the future. Vet Res 2023 Mar 2;54(1):18.
- Harvey AB, Bordin AI, Rocha JN, Bray JM, Cohen ND. Opsonization but not pretreatment of equine macrophages with hyperimmune plasma nonspecifically enhances phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Rhodococcus equi. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jan;35(1):590-596.
- Rakowska A, Cywinska A, Witkowski L. Current Trends in Understanding and Managing Equine Rhodococcosis. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 18;10(10).
- Cywes-Bentley C, Rocha JN, Bordin AI, Vinacur M, Rehman S, Zaidi TS, Meyer M, Anthony S, Lambert M, Vlock DR, Giguère S, Cohen ND, Pier GB. Antibody to Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine provides protection against intracellular pathogens: Mechanism of action and validation in horse foals challenged with Rhodococcus equi. PLoS Pathog 2018 Jul;14(7):e1007160.
- Golen GS, Erganiş O, Balevi A. Comparison of the efficacies of Rhodococcus equi recombinant vaccine in mice. Vet Res Forum 2025;16(5):253-259.
- Balevi A, Toslak EE, Uslu A, Sayın Z, Erganis O. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of seven candidate vaccines boosted with recombinant proteins, whole-cell bacterins of three serotypes of Mannheimia haemolytica, and an emulsion-type adjuvant. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1553396.
- Soliman R, Yousef M, Gelil SA, Aboul-Ella H. Development of novel Streptococcus equi vaccines with an assessment of their immunizing potentials and protective efficacies. BMC Vet Res 2024 May 3;20(1):173.
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