Modulation of the serological response of specific pathogen-free (EHV-free) foals to EHV-1 by previous infection with EHV-4 or a TK-deletion mutant of EHV-1.

EHV-1 was inoculated into specific pathogen-free (SPF) foals in order to study uncomplicated primary responses. Infection resulted in a strong serological response recognizing EHV-1-specific antigens; this contrasts with a previous publication where a weak response was recorded in SPF animals. Antibodies to EHV-1 were readily detected by four techniques (virus neutralization, complement fixation, Western blots and immune precipitation), yet there was comparatively little cross-reaction to EHV-4 target antigen. Re-inoculation with the same virus strain stimulated antibodies to EHV-1 but no additional antigens were recognized and antibodies cross-reacting with EHV-4 antigens were not enhanced. Having characterized the uncomplicated primary response to EHV-1 in SPF foals, further animals were exposed to either EHV-4 or a thymidine kinase-deficient mutant of EHV-1 prior to challenge with w/t EHV-1 to investigate how these infections might modulate the immune responses to EHV-1 or 4. Primary inoculation with EHV-4 or with a thymidine kinase-deficient mutant of EHV-1 produced productive infections as evidenced by virus shedding and pyrexia. In both these cases, however, in contrast to that with w/t EHV-1, the serological response was very weak. Re-infection of foals primed with either EHV-4 or TK-deficient EHV-1 with w/t EHV-1 resulted in a strong response to EHV-1 antigens detected by all four methods. In addition, in the foals given a primary inoculation with EHV-4, superinfection with EHV-1 resulted in a strong cross-reactive response to EHV-4 target antigens. The relevance of these observations to the interpretation of previously reported serological responses to EHVs in SPF and naturally reared animals is discussed.