Immunological Responses to Tetanus and Influenza Vaccination in Donkeys.
Authors: Perzyna Maciej, Grzędzicka Jowita, Milczek-Haduch Dominika, Dąbrowska Izabela, Trela Michał, Pawliński Bartosz, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz Olga
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Immunological Responses to Tetanus and Influenza Vaccination in Donkeys Donkeys are conventionally vaccinated using equine protocols despite limited immunological data specific to the species, raising questions about whether their immune responses mirror those of horses or differ significantly. Perzyna and colleagues conducted a prospective 2-month study on 36 seronegative donkeys (median age 8 years), collecting blood samples at baseline and at 1 and 2 months post-vaccination with a multivalent tetanus toxoid and equine influenza vaccine, then analysed T-cell populations, monocyte subsets, and B-lymphocyte activation markers using flow cytometry. The donkeys mounted robust adaptive immune responses, with CD4+ T cells rising from 25.1% to 37.3% at month 1 and CD8+ T cells increasing to 32.2% by month 2 (p<0.001), accompanied by a transient spike in regulatory CD4+FoxP3+ cells peaking at 11.7% at month 1 before normalising—a pattern suggesting controlled, appropriate immune regulation rather than dysregulated activation. Notably, circulating B-lymphocyte frequencies declined from 41.5% to 29.0% with concurrent reduction in IL-10 and IL-17 producing subsets, implying B-cell redistribution to peripheral lymphoid tissues for antibody production rather than systemic expansion. These findings support the immunological basis for applying equine vaccination protocols to donkeys, though practitioners should recognise that donkeys exhibit somewhat different kinetics in cellular immunity, particularly the pronounced and sustained CD8+ response, which may inform optimal revaccination intervals and clinical assessment of vaccine effectiveness in this species.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Donkeys mount robust T-cell mediated immune responses to tetanus and influenza vaccines similar to horses, validating the use of equine vaccination protocols in donkey populations
- •Regulatory T-cell responses are appropriately modulated post-vaccination in donkeys, suggesting balanced immune activation without excessive inflammatory responses
- •Current equine vaccination practices appear immunologically sound for donkeys, though species-specific antibody titre data would strengthen confidence in protective immunity
Key Findings
- •CD4+ T cells increased from 25.1% to 37.3% at month 1 post-vaccination (p<0.001)
- •CD8+ T cells increased from 20.6% to 32.2% at month 2 post-vaccination (p<0.001)
- •CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells peaked at 11.7% at month 1 then returned to baseline
- •B lymphocytes (PanB/CD21+) decreased significantly with reductions in IL-10+, IL-17+, and Ki67+ subsets (p<0.001)