Journal Article

Immunological Responses to Tetanus and Influenza Vaccination in Donkeys

Grzędzicka, Jowita, Milczek‐Haduch, Dominika, Trela, Michał, Pawliński, Bartosz, Perzyna, Maciej, Dąbrowska, Izabela, Witkowska‐Piłaszewicz, Olga

2025

Overview

Background Donkeys are routinely vaccinated with protocols developed for horses, yet species‐specific data on their immune responses are limited. Hypothesis/Objectives We hypothesized that donkeys exhibit robust T‐cell‐mediated immunity and regulatory adaptation after vaccination, comparable to horses. Animals Thirty‐six healthy, seronegative donkeys (34 mares, 2 stallions), aged 0.5–23 years (median 8 years), from two farms with similar housing and management conditions. Methods Prospective study. Animals were selected based on clinical health assessment and confirmed seronegativity for tetanus and equine influenza. All received a multivalent vaccine containing tetanus toxoid and equine influenza antigens. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months after vaccination. Flow cytometry assessed CD4+, CD8+, and CD4 + FoxP3+ T cells (primary outcomes), and monocyte subsets and B lymphocytes (PanB/CD21+) with intracellular IL‐10, IL‐17, and Ki67 (secondary outcomes). ANOVA with Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05) was used for statistical analysis. Results CD4+ T cells increased from 25.1% ± 1.4% to 37.3% ± 0.7% at month 1, CD8+ from 20.6% ± 1.5% to 32.2% ± 0.9% at month 2 (p < 0.001). CD4 + FoxP3+ peaked at 11.7% ± 0.6% at month 1 (baseline 6.8% ± 0.8%), then returned to baseline. CD14 + MHCII+ and CD14 + MHCII− monocytes declined; CD14 − MHCII+ increased (p < 0.01). PanB/CD21+ cells decreased from 41.5% ± 1.8% to 29.0% ± 1.0%, with significant reductions in IL‐10+, IL‐17+, and Ki67+ subsets (p < 0.001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Donkeys exhibit strong T‐cell and regulatory immune responses after vaccination, supporting the clinical relevance of applying equine vaccination protocols to donkeys.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,Oxford University Press,Wiley
• Subject: Anemia / Animals / Antibodies / B cells / Cloning / Disease / Equidae - immunology / equine influenza / Female / flow cytometry / health effects assessments / Heat / Hematology / Horses / Immune response / immunity / Immunity (Disease) / Immunology / Influenza / influenza vaccination / Influenza Vaccines - immunology / interleukin-10 / interleukin-17 / Male / monocytes / Prospective Studies / Reactive oxygen species / ROS / seroprevalence / Software / STANDARD ARTICLE / Statistical analysis / T cells / T-lymphocytes / Tetanus / Tetanus - prevention & control / Tetanus - veterinary / Tetanus Toxoid - administration & dosage / Tetanus Toxoid - immunology / Vaccination - veterinary / Vaccines / veterinary medicine