Immunity to equine herpesvirus type 1 (rhinopneumonitis): in vitro lymphocyte response

Twenty-two ponies were examined for serum-neutralizing (SN) antibody to equine herpesvirus type 1 and for in vitro lymphocyte transformation in the presence of viral antigen. Six ponies had undetectable levels of neutralizing antibody (titer less than 1:2) and had lymphocytes which did not respond in culture with viral antigen (stimulation index less than 2.0). Four ponies which had SN antibody to equine herpesvirus type 1 did not manifest lymphocyte transformation in vitro. The 12 remaining seropositive ponies had lymphocyte transformation with viral antigen in vitro (stimulation indexes from 2.0 to 23.5). Lymphocyte transformation was specifically suppressed when cells were grown in medium containing autologous serum. The temporal development of in vitro lymphocyte responsiveness and SN antibody in 3 specific-pathogenfree ponies after experimentally induced infection with equine herpesvirus type 1 is described.