Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2016
Duration of tetanus immunoglobulin G titres following basic immunisation of horses
Kendall, A.; Anagrius, K.; Ganheim, A.; Rosanowski, S. M.; Bergstrom, K.Abstract
Reasons for performing studyRecommendations for prophylactic vaccination against tetanus in horses vary greatly between countries and have scarce scientific support in the peer-reviewed literature. In human medicine, recommended booster vaccination intervals are also very variable, but are considerably longer than for horses. More information is needed about the duration of immunity induced by modern vaccines.ObjectivesTo investigate if the duration of antibody titres previously determined to be protective against tetanus differ from what is indicated by recommended vaccination intervals for horses.Study designProspective seroconversion study.MethodsThirty-four horses were enrolled for basic immunisation with an ISCOM Matrix-combination vaccine (Equilis Prequenza Te). Horses received the first vaccination at age 5-11 months, and the second dose 4 weeks later. A third vaccine dose was given 15-17 months after the second dose. Serum tetanus antibody titres were analysed by toxin-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 2 weeks as well as 14-16 months after the second dose. After the third vaccine dose, titres were checked once yearly for 3 years. Results were described by age and level of antibody titre at first sampling.ResultsTwo weeks after the second dose, all horses (34/34) had antibody levels that exceeded the limit of detection, 0.04 iu/ml. After 16 months the levels were above 0.04 iu/ml in 28/33 horses, the remaining 5 horses potentially had suboptimal protection against tetanus. After the third vaccine dose antibody levels remained above 0.04 iu/ml in 25/26 horses for 1 year, 16/16 horses for 2 years, and 8/8 horses for 3 years.ConclusionsHorses that undergo basic immunisation with 3 doses of vaccine after age 5 months are likely to have serum antibody titres consistent with protection against tetanus for more than 3 years. Current guidelines for tetanus prophylaxis should be revised.Keywords
horse; tetanus; immunity; antibody; vaccinationPublished in
Equine Veterinary Journal2016, volume: 48, number: 6, pages: 710-713
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL
Authors' information
Mälaren Equine Clinic
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University Animal Hospital
Gånheim, A.
Hästkliniken Bollerup
Rosanowski, S. M.
University of London
Bergström, Karin
National Veterinary Institute (SVA)
UKÄ Subject classification
Clinical Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12502
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/83270