Horses affected by EPM have increased sCD14 compared to healthy horses

Alayna N. Hay, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Bettina Wagner, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Caroline M. Leeth, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Tanya LeRoith, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia- Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Thomas E. Cecere, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia- Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Kevin K. Lahmers, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia- Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Frank M. Andrews, Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Stephen R. Werre, Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia- Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Amy L. Johnson, Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Carol K. Clark, Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital, Ocala, FL, USA.
Nicola Pusterla, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Stephen M. Reed, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, KY, USA.
David S. Lindsay, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia- Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Sandra Taylor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Krista E. Estell, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Leesburg, VA, USA.
Martin Furr, Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
Robert J. MacKay, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Fabio Del Piero, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Sharon G. Witonsky, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia- Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA. Electronic address: switonsk@vt.edu.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2021

Abstract

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a debilitating neurologic disease affecting horses across the Americas. Gaps in understanding the inflammatory immune response in EPM-affected horses create difficulties with diagnosis and treatment, subsequently negatively impacting the prognosis of affected horses. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate circulating levels of the inflammatory immune marker soluble CD14 (sCD14), in horses with EPM (n = 7) and determine if they differed from healthy neurologically normal horses (n = 6). Paired sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were analyzed for sCD14. Inclusion criteria for EPM horses consisted of the presence of neurologic signs consistent with EPM, Sarcocystis neurona surface antigens 2, 4/3 (SnSAG 2, 4/3) ELISA serum: CSF antibody ratio ≤ 100, and a postmortem diagnosis of EPM. Control horses were neurologically normal, healthy horses with SnSAG 2, 4/3 ELISA serum: CSF antibody ratios of > 100. Serum anti-Sarcocystis neurona antibodies indicate that healthy control horses were exposed to S. neurona but resistant to developing clinical EPM. EPM cases had significantly greater concentrations of sCD14 in CSF samples compared to control horses and increased serum sCD14 concentrations. A positive correlation between sCD14 serum and CSF concentrations was observed in EPM-affected horses but not healthy horses. Soluble CD14 is an inflammatory marker, and the study results suggest it is elevated in EPM patients. When performed in conjunction with clinical evaluation and standard antibody testing, there may be potential for sCD14 to be utilized as a correlate for EPM.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Veterinary immunology and immunopathology

First Page

110338

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