Journal article
Comparison of Passively Transferred Antibodies in Bighorn and Domestic Lambs Reveals One Factor in Differential Susceptibility of These Species to Mannheimia haemolytica-Induced Pneumonia
Clinical and vaccine immunology, Vol.18(7), pp.1133-1138
07/2011
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102105
PMCID: PMC3147318
PMID: 21613459
Abstract
Mannheimia haemolytica
consistently causes fatal bronchopneumonia in bighorn sheep (BHS;
Ovis canadensis
) under natural and experimental conditions. Leukotoxin is the primary virulence factor of this organism. BHS are more susceptible to developing fatal pneumonia than the related species
Ovis aries
(domestic sheep [DS]). In BHS herds affected by pneumonia, lamb recruitment is severely impaired for years subsequent to an outbreak. We hypothesized that a lack of maternally derived antibodies (Abs) against
M. haemolytica
provides an immunologic basis for enhanced susceptibility of BH lambs to population-limiting pneumonia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the titers of Abs directed against
M. haemolytica
in the sera of BH and domestic lambs at birth through 12 weeks of age. Results revealed that BH lambs had approximately 18-fold lower titers of Ab against surface antigens of
M. haemolytica
and approximately 20-fold lower titers of leukotoxin-neutralizing Abs than domestic lambs. The titers of leukotoxin-neutralizing Abs in the serum and colostrum samples of BH ewes were approximately 157- and 50-fold lower than those for domestic ewes, respectively. Comparatively, the higher titers of parainfluenza 3 virus-neutralizing Abs in the BH lambs ruled out the possibility that these BHS had an impaired ability to passively transfer Abs to their lambs. These results suggest that lower levels of leukotoxin-neutralizing Abs in the sera of BH ewes, and resultant low Ab titers in their lambs, may be a critical factor in the poor lamb recruitment in herds affected by pneumonia.
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Details
- Title
- Comparison of Passively Transferred Antibodies in Bighorn and Domestic Lambs Reveals One Factor in Differential Susceptibility of These Species to Mannheimia haemolytica-Induced Pneumonia
- Creators
- Caroline N Herndon - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040Sudarvili Shanthalingam - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040Donald P Knowles - Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, Washington 99164-6630Douglas R Call - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040Subramaniam Srikumaran - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040
- Publication Details
- Clinical and vaccine immunology, Vol.18(7), pp.1133-1138
- Academic Unit
- Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Department of; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology; 1752 N St., N.W., Washington, DC
- Identifiers
- 99900546617301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article