The mucosal humoral immune response of the horse to infective challenge and vaccination with equine herpesvirus-1 antigens.
Abstract: Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) remains a frequent cause of upper respiratory tract infection and abortion in horses worldwide. However, little is known about the local antibody response elicited in the upper airways of horses following exposure to EHV-1. This study analysed the mucosal humoral immune response of weanling foals following experimental infection with virulent EHV-1, or vaccination with either of 2 commercial vaccines. Twenty weanlings were assigned to 5 groups and were inoculated with, or vaccinated against, EHV-1 following different regimens. Finally, all weanlings were simultaneously challenged intranasally with virulent EHV-1 Army 183 (A183). Nasal wash and serum samples were collected at regular intervals until 13 weeks after final challenge. Nasal washes were assayed for EHV-1-specific equine IgGa, IgGb, IgG(T), IgA, IgM and total virus-specific antibody using an indirect, quantitative ELISA. Total serum antibody responses were also monitored, and clinical signs of EHV-disease were recorded for each individual. Virus-specific IgA dominated the mucosal antibody response elicited in weanlings inoculated with A183, being detectable at up to 3.1 microg/mg total IgA 13 weeks after challenge. Neither inactivated EHV-1 administered i.m., nor attenuated EHV-1 administered intranasally induced detectable mucosal antibodies. EHV-1-specific mucosal antibodies impeded EHV-1 plaque formation in vitro. Such virus-neutralising antibody probably contributes to a reduction of shedding of EHV-1 from the respiratory tract of virus-infected horses.
Publication Date: 2002-01-05 PubMed ID: 11770985DOI: 10.2746/042516401776249318Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the immune response in horses following infection or vaccination against equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). Results from the study show that antibodies developed following natural viral infection are most effective in fighting the virus, and can potentially decrease EHV-1 spreading.
Objective and Methodology
- This study was designed to understand the immune response in horses—specifically foals—after being exposed to the equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) either through natural infection or vaccination.
- Twenty weanling (young, recently weaned) horses were divided into five distinct groups, each subjected to different protocols of virus exposure or vaccinations.
- Then, all the horses were exposed to a specific strain of EHV-1 known as Army 183 (A183).
Data Collection
- Nasal wash and blood serum samples were collected from the horses at different time intervals until 13 weeks after exposure to the virus.
- An indirect, quantitative ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was used to screen the nasal samples for specific types of antibodies (IgGa, IgGb, IgG(T), IgA, IgM).
- Overall antibody responses in the bloodstream were monitored and any clinical signs of disease were recorded for each horse.
Results and Findings
- The primary type of antibody detected in the mucosal (relating to the mucus membranes) response in horses infected with A183 was IgA.
- Neither vaccine administered—whether introduced through injection or administered intranasally—resulted in detectable antibody development in the mucus membranes.
- The presence of virus-specific antibodies inhibited the formation of EHV-1 plaques in laboratory tests indicating in vitro neutralization capability, suggesting that these antibodies could decrease the virus’ ability to spread from the respiratory tracts of infected horses.
Conclusions
- These findings highlight the importance and effectiveness of IgA antibodies in combating EHV-1 in infected horses.
- However, it appears that the currently available vaccines may not be effective in encouraging the production of these beneficial antibodies in the horses’ mucosal immune system.
- Further research is necessary to design more effective vaccination strategies and to increase our understanding of equine immune responses.
Cite This Article
APA
Breathnach CC, Yeargan MR, Sheoran AS, Allen GP.
(2002).
The mucosal humoral immune response of the horse to infective challenge and vaccination with equine herpesvirus-1 antigens.
Equine Vet J, 33(7), 651-657.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516401776249318 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0099, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Intranasal
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / immunology
- Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Antigens, Viral / administration & dosage
- Antigens, Viral / immunology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
- Herpesviridae Infections / prevention & control
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / pathogenicity
- Herpesvirus Vaccines / administration & dosage
- Herpesvirus Vaccines / immunology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Immunity, Mucosal
- Immunoglobulin A / blood
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Immunoglobulin M / blood
- Nasal Mucosa / immunology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Time Factors
- Vaccination / methods
- Vaccination / veterinary
- Virulence
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Schnabel CL, Babasyan S, Rollins A, Freer H, Wimer CL, Perkins GA, Raza F, Osterrieder N, Wagner B. An Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) Ab4 Open Reading Frame 2 Deletion Mutant Provides Immunity and Protection from EHV-1 Infection and Disease.. J Virol 2019 Nov 15;93(22).
- Schnabel CL, Wimer CL, Perkins G, Babasyan S, Freer H, Watts C, Rollins A, Osterrieder N, Wagner B. Deletion of the ORF2 gene of the neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus type 1 strain Ab4 reduces virulence while maintaining strong immunogenicity.. BMC Vet Res 2018 Aug 22;14(1):245.
- Said A, Azab W, Damiani A, Osterrieder N. Equine herpesvirus type 4 UL56 and UL49.5 proteins downregulate cell surface major histocompatibility complex class I expression independently of each other.. J Virol 2012 Aug;86(15):8059-71.
- Goodman LB, Wimer C, Dubovi EJ, Gold C, Wagner B. Immunological correlates of vaccination and infection for equine herpesvirus 1.. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2012 Feb;19(2):235-41.
- Hofmann-Sieber H, Wild J, Fiedler N, Tischer K, von Einem J, Osterrieder N, Hofmann H, Köstler J, Wagner R. Impact of ETIF deletion on safety and immunogenicity of equine herpesvirus type 1-vectored vaccines.. J Virol 2010 Nov;84(22):11602-13.
- Lewis MJ, Wagner B, Irvine RM, Woof JM. IgA in the horse: cloning of equine polymeric Ig receptor and J chain and characterization of recombinant forms of equine IgA.. Mucosal Immunol 2010 Nov;3(6):610-21.
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