Date Available
6-20-2017
Year of Publication
2017
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Veterinary Science
Advisor
Dr. Daniel K. Howe
Abstract
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), caused by the protozoan parasite Sarcocystis neurona, is one of the most important neurological diseases of horses in the Americas. While seroprevalence of S. neurona in horses is high, clinical manifestation of EPM occurs in less than 1% of infected horses. Factors governing the occurrence and severity of EPM are largely unknown, although horse immunity might play an important role in clinical outcome. We hypothesize that EPM occurs due to an aberrant immune response, which will be discernable in the equine IgG subisotypes a, b, and (T) that recognize S. neurona in infected diseased horses versus infected but clinically healthy horses. Based on previously-established serum antibody concentrations for IgG subisotypes in healthy horses, standard curves were generated and served to establish the concentration of antigen-specific IgG subisotypes in equine serum and CSF in infected diseased and infected normal horses. The subisotype concentrations and ratios between subisotypes were analyzed to assess whether neurological disease is associated with detectable differences in the antibody response elicited by infection. Results indicate a type I biased immune response in infected diseased horses, implicating the role of immunity in the development of EPM.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2017.239
Recommended Citation
Angwin, Catherine-Jane, "ANALYSIS OF HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSES IN HORSES WITH EQUINE PROTOZOAL MYELOENCEPHALITIS" (2017). Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science. 30.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gluck_etds/30
Included in
Animal Diseases Commons, Immune System Diseases Commons, Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Parasitic Diseases Commons, Veterinary Infectious Diseases Commons, Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology Commons