Vaccination of horses against strangles using recombinant antigens from Streptococcus equi.
Abstract: Strangles is an upper respiratory tract infection in horses, which is highly contagious and one of the more costly diseases of the horse. Three recombinant antigens were used to vaccinate horses, which were then experimentally challenged with Streptococcus equi, the causative agent for strangles. The vaccinated horses showed significantly reduced bacterial growth (p=0.02) and nasal discharge (p=0.0004), a typical symptom of strangles. Other clinical signs of strangles were also reduced and at post mortem examination, lower rate of empyaema or scarring of the guttural pouches was found in the vaccinated group (p=0.01). The antigens used were EAG (alpha2-macroglobulin, albumin, and IgG-binding protein), CNE (a collagen-binding protein), and SclC (a collagen-like protein). The adjuvant used was Abisco, a saponin derived matrix. No adverse effects were observed following vaccination with the antigens and adjuvant.
Publication Date: 2007-01-22 PubMed ID: 17321016DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.01.060Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article discusses the results of an experimental vaccination protocol against Strangles, a contagious upper respiratory condition in horses. The vaccine, created using three specific recombinant antigens, has produced significantly promising results in reducing bacterial growth and common strangles symptoms.
Objective of the Study
- The primary objective of this study was to develop and test a novel vaccination strategy for controlling Strangles, a highly infectious upper respiratory infection in horses caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi.
Method and Treatment
- The researchers used three recombinant antigens to develop the vaccine. The antigens selected were EAG (alpha2-macroglobulin, albumin, and IgG-binding protein), CNE (a collagen-binding protein), and SclC (a collagen-like protein).
- The adjuvant (a substance that enhances the body’s immune response to an antigen) used in the study was Abisco, a saponin based matrix.
- After vaccination, the horses were deliberately exposed to Streptococcus equi to test the vaccine’s efficacy.
Results and Outcomes of the Study
- Post vaccination and experimental challenge, the vaccinated horses demonstrated significantly reduced bacterial growth and a decrease in nasal discharge, which is a common symptom of Strangles.
- Other clinical signs related to Strangles were also reduced in the vaccinated group.
- Moreover, at post mortem examination, a lower rate of empyaema (accumulation of pus in a body cavity) or scarring of the guttural pouches was found in the vaccinated horses.
- No adverse effects were observed following the vaccination with the specified antigens and adjuvant.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that the experiment’s outcome is promising for developing an effective vaccine for Strangles, which has been a significant concern for horse health and is one of the more costly equine diseases.
Significance of the Study
- The study is crucial for advancing equine healthcare and potentially reducing the cost associated with the management of Strangles.
- The successful development and implementation of a vaccine can mitigate the disease’s spread, providing significant benefits to the horse population and the equine industry.
Cite This Article
APA
Waller A, Flock M, Smith K, Robinson C, Mitchell Z, Karlström A, Lannergård J, Bergman R, Guss B, Flock JI.
(2007).
Vaccination of horses against strangles using recombinant antigens from Streptococcus equi.
Vaccine, 25(18), 3629-3635.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.01.060 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
- Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Membrane Proteins / genetics
- Membrane Proteins / immunology
- Recombinant Proteins / genetics
- Recombinant Proteins / immunology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / prevention & control
- Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcal Infections / prevention & control
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
- Streptococcal Vaccines / genetics
- Streptococcal Vaccines / immunology
- Streptococcus equi / genetics
- Streptococcus equi / immunology
- Streptococcus equi / pathogenicity
- Vaccination / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 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.
- Dominguez-Medina CC, Rash NL, Robillard S, Robinson C, Efstratiou A, Broughton K, Parkhill J, Holden MTG, Lopez-Alvarez MR, Paillot R, Waller AS. SpeS: A Novel Superantigen and Its Potential as a Vaccine Adjuvant against Strangles. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jun 23;21(12).
- Tscheschlok L, Venner M, Steward K, Böse R, Riihimäki M, Pringle J. Decreased Clinical Severity of Strangles in Weanlings Associated with Restricted Seroconversion to Optimized Streptococcus equi ssp equi Assays. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Jan;32(1):459-464.
- Lukomski S, Bachert BA, Squeglia F, Berisio R. Collagen-like proteins of pathogenic streptococci. Mol Microbiol 2017 Mar;103(6):919-930.
- Guss B, Flock M, Frykberg L, Waller AS, Robinson C, Smith KC, Flock JI. Getting to grips with strangles: an effective multi-component recombinant vaccine for the protection of horses from Streptococcus equi infection. PLoS Pathog 2009 Sep;5(9):e1000584.
- Lewis MJ, Meehan M, Owen P, Woof JM. A common theme in interaction of bacterial immunoglobulin-binding proteins with immunoglobulins illustrated in the equine system. J Biol Chem 2008 Jun 20;283(25):17615-23.
- Rask E, Righetti F, Ruiz A, Bjerketorp J, Frosth S, Frykberg L, Jacobsson K, Guss B, Flock JI, Henriques-Normark B, Hartman E, Gustafsson A, Paillot R, Waller AS. Closing the Stable Door on Strangles: Serological Responses of Vaccinated Horses on a Farm Following the Arrival of a New Horse. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 13;15(24).
- He L, Khine NO, Song J, Loubière C, Butaye P. Geographic diversity of the Streptococcus equi subsp. equi accessory genome: implications for vaccines and global surveillance. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1721958.
- Gröndahl G, Righetti F, Aspán A, Bjerketorp J, Frosth S, Frykberg L, Jacobsson K, Guss B, Paillot R, Flock JI, Henriques-Normark B, Waller AS. Reining in strangles: Absence of disease in horses vaccinated with a DIVA-compatible recombinant fusion protein vaccine, Strangvac, following natural exposure to Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):476-485.
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