Toxin-neutralizing antibodies protect against Clostridium perfringens-induced necrosis in an intestinal loop model for bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis.
BACKGROUND
Bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis is caused by Clostridium perfringens type A. Due to the rapid progress and fatal outcome of the disease, vaccination would be of high value. In this study, C. perfringens toxins, either as native toxins or after formaldehyde inactivation, were evaluated as possible vaccine antigens. We determined whether antisera raised in calves against these toxins were able to protect against C. perfringens challenge in an intestinal loop model for bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis.


RESULTS
Alpha toxin and perfringolysin O were identified as the most immunogenic proteins in the vaccine preparations. All vaccines evoked a high antibody response against the causative toxins, alpha toxin and perfringolysin O, as detected by ELISA. All antibodies were able to inhibit the activity of alpha toxin and perfringolysin O in vitro. However, the antibodies raised against the native toxins were more inhibitory to the C. perfringens-induced cytotoxicity (as tested on bovine endothelial cells) and only these antibodies protected against C. perfringens challenge in the intestinal loop model.


CONCLUSIONS
Although immunization of calves with both native and formaldehyde inactivated toxins resulted in high antibody titers against alpha toxin and perfringolysin O, only antibodies raised against native toxins protect against C. perfringens challenge in an intestinal loop model for bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis.
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Evy
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6476-5932
E
Goossens
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Stefanie
S
Verherstraeten
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Bonnie R
BR
Valgaeren
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Bart
B
Pardon
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Leen
L
Timbermont
Department of Surgery and Anesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Stijn
S
Schauvliege
Department of Surgery and Anesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Diego
D
Rodrigo-Mocholí
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Freddy
F
Haesebrouck
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Richard
R
Ducatelle
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Piet R
PR
Deprez
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Filip.VanImmerseel@UGent.be.
Filip
F
Van Immerseel
D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004751:Enteritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C020452:Clostridium perfringens theta-toxin; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; C040649:alpha toxin, Clostridium perfringens
Alpha toxin; Bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis; Clostridium perfringens; Neutralizing antibodies; Perfringolysin O