LOCAL AND SYSTEMIC ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION IN HORSES AFFECTED WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify isot ype-specific antibody to Micropolyspora faeni and to Aspergillus fumig atus in the sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of normal hor ses, horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hors es with other chronic respiratory diseases. Elevated antibody levels w ere not detected in the sera of affected horses. However, both IgE and IgA antibody to both allergens was significantly elevated in BALF in COPD affected horses sampled both when symptomatic and asymptomatic. E levated levels were also found in animals that developed a chronic cou gh after an acute onset with symptoms compatible with a respiratory vi rus infection. In one animal a ten fold increase in IgE antibody to th e two allergens developed after an interval of 7 weeks. These findings are supportive of a central role of local IgE antibody to mould aller gens in the immunopathogenesis of COPD, and also suggest that respirat ory viral infection may predispose to the development of COPD in some horses.