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Serological profiles in nursery piglets colonized with Staphylococcus aureus.

Crombé, Florence
Vanderhaeghen, Wannes
de Vogel, Corné P.
Van Wamel, Willem J.
Barbé, Kurt
Hermans, Katleen
Haesebrouck, Freddy
Butaye, Patrick
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Abstract

At present, the immune response of pigs in relation to Staphylococcus aureus carriage is poorly understood. This study was aimed at investigating the dynamics of the anti-staphylococcal humoral immune response in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA)-positive piglets and at assessing the effect of the experimental introduction of a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) Sequence Type (ST) 398 strain. Therefore, serum samples were collected at different times from 31 weaned piglets originating from four different sows. Twenty-four out of the 31 piglets were challenged with MRSA ST398. The serum samples were analyzed for IgG antibodies to 39 S. aureus antigens, using a multiplex bead-based assay (xMAP technology, Luminex Corporation). Though antibody responses showed broad inter-individual variability, serological results appeared to be clustered by litter of origin. For most antigens, an age-related response was observed with an apparent increase in antibody titers directed against staphylococcal microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMM), which have been shown to play a role in S. aureus colonization. In most animals, antibody titers directed against staphylococcal toxins or immune-modulating proteins decreased with age, possibly reflecting the absence of bacterial invasion. The introduction of MRSA ST398 did not elicit a significant humoral immune reaction.This study describes, for the first time, the humoral immune response in weaned pigs colonized with S. aureus.

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2013-01-22
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Peer reviewed scientific article
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Animals, Antibodies, Bacterial, Female, Immunity, Humoral, Immunoglobulin G, Male, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcal Infections, Staphylococcus aureus, Swine, Swine Diseases, Virulence Factors
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