CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY IN EQUINE HERPESVIRUS TYPE-1 INFECTION .1. INVITRO LYMPHOCYTE BLASTOGENESIS AND SERUM NEUTRALIZATION ANTIBODY IN NORMAL PARTURIENT AND ABORTING MARES

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (4) , 404-408
Abstract
Blastic transformation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum neutralization antibody levels for equine herpesvirus type 1 were measured in 19 mares from 3 farms at the time of termination of their pregnancy by normal foaling or viral abortion. The stimulation indexes of lymphocytes obtained from the mares from 2 farms (Farm 1 and 2) which had virus abortions, ranged 2.1-10.8. But there was no significant difference in stimulation index levels between the aborting and normal foaling mares on these 2 farms. Equine herpesvirus type 1 was isolated from the mononuclear cells of 1 mare (no. 5) about 2 mo. after she aborted. The stimulation index of lymphocytes from that mare was not significantly different from that of other mares on these farms. Stimulation index of lymphocytes from the mares on 1 farm (Farm 3) where there was no virus abortion or previous history of virus abortion but were exposed to virus antigen from vaccination, ranged 1.6-2.9. The serum neutralization antibody levels were low in most mares ranging 1/4-1/20 and in 3 mares these were higher. There was no direct correlation between the levels of serum neutralization antibody and stimulation index of lymphocytes from the mares on these farms.