Efficacy of a live equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) strain C147 vaccine in foals with maternally-derived antibody: protection against EHV-1 infection.
Equine Vet J 2004;
36:447-51. [PMID:
15253088 DOI:
10.2746/0425164044868332]
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Abstract
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY
Currently, there is no recommended immunoprophylaxis against febrile respiratory diseases due to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and -4 (EHV-4) in horses below age 5-6 months. This is because of interference by maternally-derived antibody (MDA) of vaccines.
OBJECTIVE
Unweaned equine foals are an important reservoir of EHV-1 transmission; therefore, we experimentally assessed the efficacy of a live EHV-1 vaccine in foals age 1.4-3.5 months with MDA.
METHODS
Following vaccination and challenge, parameters assessed were virus shedding in nasal mucus, leucocyte-associated viraemia, circulating virus neutralising antibody activity and clinical reactions.
RESULTS
Controlled challenge showed that a single intranasal dose of the vaccine afforded partial but significant protection against febrile respiratory disease, virus shedding and viraemia due to EHV-1 infection, despite virus-neutralising MDA.
CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE
The prospective vaccine would be a significant step forward in reducing the incidence of the disease caused by EHV-1 infection.
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