title: Effect of long-term fluticasone treatment on immune function in horses with heaves.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Corticosteroids currently are the most effective pharmacological treatment available to control heaves in horses. Systemically administered corticosteroids have been shown to alter immune response in horses, humans, and other species. Aerosolized administration theoretically minimizes systemic adverse effects, but the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on immune function has not been evaluated in horses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of prolonged administration of inhaled fluticasone on the immune system of heaves-affected horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heaves-affected horses were treated with inhaled fluticasone (n = 5) for 11 months or received environmental modifications only (n = 5).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective analysis. Clinical parameters and CBC, lymphocyte subpopulations and function, and circulating neutrophil gene expression were sequentially measured. Primary and anamnestic immune responses also were evaluated by measuring antigen-specific antibodies in response to vaccination with bovine viral antigen and tetanus toxoid, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No clinical adverse effects were observed and no differences in immune function were detected between treated and untreated horses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of heaves-affected horses with inhaled fluticasone at therapeutic dosages for 11 months has no significant detectable effect on innate and adaptive (both humoral and cell-mediated) immune parameters studied. These results suggest that prolonged administration of fluticasone would not compromise the systemic immune response to pathogens nor vaccination in adult horses.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dauvillier
authors.forename: M J B
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Felippe
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Lunn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavoie-Lamoureux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leclère
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lavoie
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006736:Horses; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D000068298:Fluticasone