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Vaccine2005; 23(50); 5760-5767; doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.07.050

Virulence-associated protein-specific serum immunoglobulin G-isotype expression in young foals protected against Rhodococcus equi pneumonia by oral immunization with virulent R. equi.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether foals immunized orally from 2 days of age with virulent Rhodococcus equi developed a protective pulmonary immune response and to characterise the antibody response of the immunized foals to the virulence-associated proteins (Vaps) of the bacterium. Two groups of foals were used. One (n=4) was given live R. equi ATCC 33701 orally at 2, 7, and 14 days of age. The second group comprised three non-immunized foals age-matched to the vaccinates. At 3 weeks of age, 1 week after the final immunization, both groups were challenged intrabronchially with virulent R. equi ATCC 33701 and observed for 2 weeks post-challenge. Unvaccinated foals became clinically pneumonic and had high fever with increased heart and respiratory rates and severe pneumonia evident at necropsy. Foals of the immunized group remained healthy and lung lesions were not found post-mortem. Thus, it is possible to immunize young foals orally to protect them by 3 weeks of age against lung challenge with R. equi, even in the presence of maternal antibodies. The antibody response of the immunized foals confirmed that VapA and VapC are highly immunogenic. The immunoglobulin G isotype-related serum antibody response of immunized compared to non-immunized foals had an IgGT bias and a relatively low IgGa:IgGb ratio, both features different from what has been previously observed in immune adults and immune foals. This suggests that the serum IgG isotype profile of antibody cannot be used as a measure of evidence of protection against R. equi pneumonia.
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Publication Date: 2005-08-09 PubMed ID: 16112256DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.07.050Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 research is about investigating if young foals can develop a protective immune response against Rhodococcus equi pneumonia through oral immunization. The study also aimed to characterize how the immunized foals respond to the virulence-associated proteins (Vaps) of the bacterium.

Methodology

  • Two groups of foals participated in the study – one group (n=4) received live R. equi orally at 2, 7, and 14 days of age, and the other consisted of three non-immunized foals matched in age to the vaccinated group.
  • At 3 weeks old, a week after the final immunization, the foals were exposed to virulent R. equi through intrabronchial challenge and monitored for 2 weeks post-challenge.

Results

  • The unvaccinated foals became clinically pneumonic, with symptoms including high fever, increased heart and breathing rates, and severe pneumonia evident at necropsy.
  • In contrast, the foals from the immunized group remained healthy, and post-mortem examinations revealed no lung lesions.

Conclusions

  • The results appear to show that it’s possible to immunize young foals orally to protect them against lung challenge with R. equi by three weeks of age, even if maternal antibodies are present.
  • The antibody response of the immunized foals against VapA and VapC, two of the bacterium’s virulence-associated proteins, was strong, confirming their high immunogenicity.
  • However, the immunoglobulin G isotype-related serum antibody response of immunized foals was found to have a bias towards IgGT and a relatively low IgGa:IgGb ratio, contradicting previous observations in immune adults and immune foals. Therefore, the research concludes that the serum IgG isotype profile of the antibody cannot be used as a measure of protection against R. equi pneumonia.

Cite This Article

APA
Hooper-McGrevy KE, Wilkie BN, Prescott JF. (2005). 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, 23(50), 5760-5767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.07.050

Publication

Vaccine
ISSN: 0264-410X
NlmUniqueID: 8406899
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 23
Issue: 50
Pages: 5760-5767

Researcher Affiliations

Hooper-McGrevy, K E
  • Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont., Canada.
Wilkie, B N
    Prescott, J F

      MeSH Terms

      • Administration, Oral
      • Animals
      • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
      • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
      • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
      • Horses
      • Immunization
      • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
      • Immunoglobulin Isotypes / immunology
      • Pneumonia, Bacterial / immunology
      • Pneumonia, Bacterial / prevention & control
      • Pneumonia, Bacterial / veterinary
      • Rhodococcus equi / immunology
      • Rhodococcus equi / pathogenicity
      • Virulence
      • Virulence Factors / immunology

      Citations

      This article has been cited 18 times.
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