SEARCH FOR ANTI-MICROPOLYSPORA-FAENI, ANT I-THERMACTINOMYCES-VULGARISAND ANTI-ASPERGILLUS-FUMIGATUS PRECIPITINS IN THE SERUM OF CHRONICALLY COUGHING HORSES IN THE SOUTH-WEST OF FRANCE IN 1988

In 1988, the authors looked for serum anti-M.faeni anti-Th. vulgaris a nd anti-A. fumigatus precipitins in 22 chronically coughing horses and in 35 control horses in the south-west of France. The horses which co ughed had on average more precipitins than the control horses, but the re was en effect of season : the horses which were ill and sampled in the Spring had more anti-Aspergillus fumigatus precipitins than health y horses but this difference was no longer significant in the Autumn s amples. The precipitin levels were higher in the Autumn than in the Sp ring, in both groups of horses. In agreement with previous results fro m France and other countries, a large number of control horses have pr ecipitins (17 out of 35) while some horses which are ill have no preci pitins (5 out of 22). Nevertheless, the search for precipitins is usef ul, particulary in the follow-up of animals which are ill and the heal th control of stables.