Modulation of Serum Protein Electrophoretic Pattern and Leukocyte Population in Horses Vaccinated against West Nile Virus.
Authors: Arfuso Francesca, Giudice Elisabetta, Di Pietro Simona, Piccione Giuseppe, Giannetto Claudia
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# West Nile Virus Vaccination: Expected Immune Markers in Equine Blood Profiles Researchers tracked haematological and serum protein changes in ten horses across multiple timepoints following inactivated West Nile virus vaccination, collecting samples before the primary dose, at six intervals over three weeks post-vaccination, before a booster, and again at six intervals post-booster. Both vaccination stages triggered significant lymphocytosis with reciprocal neutropenia (p < 0.01), whilst monocyte elevation appeared more prominently after the booster injection, particularly between 72 hours and two weeks. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed sustained elevation of total protein across both vaccination phases, with α₁-globulins, α₂-globulins and β-globulins all rising post-vaccination; γ-globulin concentrations peaked before the booster and at specific timepoints thereafter (24 hours, 72 hours and three weeks post-booster). These findings demonstrate that whilst inactivated WNV vaccine does not produce clinically alarming haematological changes, veterinary surgeons and practice teams should anticipate measurable shifts in white cell populations and acute-phase proteins when interpreting bloodwork from recently vaccinated horses. Understanding this normal post-vaccine immunological response helps distinguish expected physiological adaptation from pathological disease states, particularly important when investigating illness in vaccinated animals.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •WNV vaccination in horses produces expected immune response markers (lymphocytosis, elevated globulins) without causing clinical hemogram abnormalities, indicating safe vaccine profile
- •Monitor leukocyte shifts (increased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils) for 3 weeks post-vaccination as normal response; persistently abnormal values warrant investigation
- •The vaccine-induced protein changes are consistent with appropriate adaptive immune activation and do not indicate adverse systemic effects
Key Findings
- •Lymphocytes increased significantly after both first vaccine dose and booster (p < 0.01), while neutrophils decreased correspondingly
- •Total serum protein increased after both vaccine doses (p < 0.05), with α₁-globulins increasing after booster (highest at 1 week post-booster)
- •γ-globulin (antibody) levels elevated before booster and at 24h, 72h, and 3 weeks post-booster (p < 0.05), indicating immune response
- •Overall hemogram picture remained unaltered despite significant modulation of leukocyte populations and protein fractions