Retrospective anti-tetanus antibody responses of zoo-based Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae).
Dev Comp Immunol
; 114: 103841, 2021 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32861731
ABSTRACT
Tetanus toxoids (TT) commercially available for use in horses and livestock are commonly used to vaccinate elephants and rhinoceros that are in human care. Although recommendations for booster intervals have changed in human and horse protocols to reduce the risks associated with hyper-immunity (i.e. B-cell anergy and hypersensitivity reactions) these have generally not been adopted in zoo protocols. Additionally, there is no evidence to demonstrate commercial TT immunogenicity in rhinoceros. In this study, a preliminary analysis of rhinoceros antibody responses to TT was conducted, in addition to an exploration of the impact of various booster frequencies on antibody responses in elephant. Retrospective analysis of archived serum samples was conducted for 9 Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), 7 southern black (Diceros bicornis minor), one southern white (Ceratotherium simum simum), and two greater one-horned (Rhinoceros unicornis) rhinoceros. Pre-vaccination (baseline) samples and those following priming vaccination (rhinoceros only), annual and non-annual boosters were targeted. A commercially available competitive ELISA kit was used to quantify serum anti-TT antibodies. Average baseline and post-vaccination anti-tetanus antibody concentrations were greater in elephant (92 mg/L ± 42, n = 3, N = 3; 125 ± 76, n = 82, N = 9) than in rhinoceros (47 mg/L ± 39, n = 8, N = 8; 44 mg/L ± 37, n = 16, N = 7). Rhinoceros antibody concentrations did not differ markedly following vaccinations from their naturally acquired high pre-vaccination concentrations. Eight elephants demonstrated antibody maintenance for 3-5 years without a tetanus booster. Additionally, although five out of nine elephants developed local reactions consistent with delayed type IV hypersensitivity following some boosters, there was no association between high antibody concentrations and increased incidence of adverse reactions. In addition, no decrease in antibody concentrations was detected as a result of annual vaccination in elephants, though this does not entirely rule out potential for B-cell anergy.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Perissodactyla
/
Tetanus
/
Tetanus Toxoid
/
Clostridium tetani
/
Elephants
/
Antibodies, Bacterial
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Dev Comp Immunol
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia