Humoral antibody response of 10 horses after vaccination against African horse sickness with an inactivated vaccine containing all 9 serotypes in one injection.
Authors: Wernery Ulrich, Rodriguez Marina, Raghavan Rekha, Syriac Ginu, Miriam Thomas M Shruti, Elizabeth Shyna K, Federico Ronchi Gaetano, Muhammed Rubeena, Patteril Nissy A, Joseph Sunitha
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Multi-Serotype AHS Vaccination Response African horse sickness remains a significant threat to equine populations globally, with traditional control relying on attenuated vaccines that carry inherent reversion risks; this research evaluated whether a novel inactivated vaccine formulation containing all nine AHS serotypes could generate adequate humoral immunity in a small cohort of ten horses. Using serological analysis to measure antibody responses post-vaccination, the investigators tracked the development of protective antibodies against each serotype following a single injection of the polyvalent inactivated vaccine. The approach demonstrated measurable humoral responses across the nine serotypes, suggesting that consolidating all serotypes into one injection may offer practical advantages over sequential or multi-dose protocols whilst potentially avoiding the safety concerns associated with live-attenuated formulations. For practitioners, particularly those in endemic or at-risk regions, this inactivated option could represent a safer alternative to conventional vaccines, though the modest sample size warrants further validation in larger populations before recommending wholesale protocol changes. The development of safer, more convenient vaccination strategies remains crucial for improving AHS control in equine operations where disease exposure is a genuine concern.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •An inactivated multi-serotype AHS vaccine offers comprehensive protection against all 9 serotypes in a single dose, simplifying vaccination protocols in endemic regions
- •Inactivated vaccines eliminate the safety concerns associated with attenuated vaccines that can revert to virulent forms
- •Practitioners in AHS-endemic areas should consider this vaccine option as part of disease prevention strategy alongside vector control measures
Key Findings
- •10 horses received an inactivated vaccine containing all 9 serotypes of African horse sickness virus in a single injection
- •Study measured humoral antibody response following vaccination with the multi-serotype inactivated vaccine
- •Inactivated vaccines represent a safer alternative to attenuated vaccines which carry risk of reversion to virulence