Temporary suppression of cell-mediated immunity in standardbred horses with decreased athletic capacity.
Eighty Standardbred horses, originating from 5 training campuses, with decreased athletic performance in association with symptoms such as intermittent fever and mild pharyngitis were examined. As control animals, 10 horses from a stable with normally performing horses were used. Virus isolation and clinico-chemical and serological tests were performed. Lymphocyte proliferation tests were carried out to evaluate the capacity of the cell-mediated immunity. In addition, a bioassay for equine type I interferon, as a marker for early viral infections, was established. No specific microbe could be linked to these symptoms, but there was a temporary suppression of the cell-mediated immunity, which might be explained by the serological evidence of an EHV-2 and/or rhinovirus infection.
Jensen-Waern
M
M
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Marianne.Jensen-Waern@kirmed.slu.se
Persson
S G
SG
Nordengrahn
A
A
Mérza
M
M
Fossum
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005334:Fever / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases; D006736:Horses / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D010849:Picornaviridae; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012420:Running
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha