Equine humoral immune response to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to test equine serum for the presence of antibodies to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi. Experimental ponies had no detectable antibody to R equi before exposure to the bacterium. After experimental inoculation, animals in groups that received live R equi subcutaneously or intranasally/intratracheally developed high titers to R equi. Noninoculated controls remained seronegative. Serum was also collected from horses of various ages that were naturally exposed to R equi. There was a wide range of anti-R equi titers in these horses. Because experimentally infected horses seroconverted when some naturally infected foals did not seroconvert, the function of antibody in resistance to R equi infection remains unknown.
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006736:Horses / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial