Equine hyperimmune serum protects mice against Clostridium difficile spore challenge.
10.4142/jvs.2014.15.2.249
- Author:
Weiwei YAN
1
;
Kang Soon SHIN
;
Shih Jon WANG
;
Hua XIANG
;
Thomas DIVERS
;
Sean MCDONOUGH
;
James BOWMAN
;
Anne ROWLANDS
;
Bruce AKEY
;
Hussni MOHAMED
;
Yung Fu CHANG
Author Information
1. Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Departments of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. yc42@cornell.edu
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Clostridium difficile;
colitis;
equine;
immunotherapy
- MeSH:
Animals;
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood/*immunology/therapeutic use;
Bacterial Proteins/immunology/therapeutic use;
Bacterial Toxins/immunology/therapeutic use;
Clostridium Infections/microbiology/prevention & control/*veterinary;
Clostridium difficile/*immunology;
Enterotoxins/immunology/therapeutic use;
Female;
Horse Diseases/microbiology/*prevention & control;
Horses;
Immune Sera/*immunology;
Immunization, Passive/*veterinary;
Mice;
Mice, Inbred C57BL;
Spores, Bacterial/immunology
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science
2014;15(2):249-258
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Clostridium (C.) difficile is a common cause of nosocomial diarrhea in horses. Vancomycin and metronidazole have been used as standard treatments but are only moderately effective, which highlights the need for a novel alternative therapy. In the current study, we prepared antiserum of equine origin against both C. difficile toxins A and B as well as whole-cell bacteria. The toxin-neutralizing activities of the antibodies were evaluated in vitro and the prophylactic effects of in vivo passive immunotherapy were demonstrated using a conventional mouse model. The data demonstrated that immunized horses generated antibodies against both toxins A and B that possessed toxin-neutralizing activity. Additionally, mice treated with the antiserum lost less weight without any sign of illness and regained weight back to a normal range more rapidly compared to the control group when challenged orally with 10(7) C. difficile spores 1 day after serum injection. These results indicate that intravenous delivery of hyperimmune serum can protect animals from C. difficile challenge in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, immunotherapy may be a promising prophylactic strategy for preventing C. difficile infection in horses.
