EFFECT OF AGE AND PREGNANCY ON ANTIBODY AND CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE-RESPONSES OF HORSES TO EQUINE HERPESVIRUS-1

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (4) , 471-478
Abstract
The cell-mediated immune response and antibody response of horses of varying ages and of pregnant horses to equine herpesvirus 1 antigen were examined. Six to 8 mo. old horses showed no increase or slight increases in anti-equine herpesvirus 1 serum neutralizing antibody following vaccination and re-vaccination with a modified live equine herpesvirus 1 vaccine. These same horses showed a marked increase in the cell-mediated immume response to equine herpesvirus 1 as measured by the lymphocyte transformation test. Eighteen to 21 mo. old horses showed 4- to 64-fold increases in anti-equine herpesvirus 1 serum neutralizing antibody titer following vaccination, but the cell-mediated immune response to equine herpesvirus 1 was low or absent. Only after re-vaccination did they show an increased cell-mediated immune response to equine herpesvirus 1. The cell-mediated immune response of mares in the latter stages of pregnancy to equine herpesvirus 1 was suppressed although antibody titers increased as much as 16-fold following exposure to virulent equine herpesvirus 1.