Microencapsulation of Streptococcus equi antigens in biodegradable microspheres and preliminary immunisation studies

Streptococcus equi subspecies equi is the causative agent of strangles, a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract of equidae. Current strategies to prevent strangles rely on antimicrobial therapy or immunisation with inactivated bacteria, S. equi bacterin, or M-like protein (SeM) extract. The aim of this work was to investigate whether immunisation with whole killed S. equi or a bacterial lysate entrapped in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres might induce protective immunity to mice. Animals were treated with a dose of antigen equivalent to 25 μg of SeM. For intranasal route animals were primed on days 1, 2 and 3 and were boosted on day 29. For intramuscular route, primary immunisation was carried out with a single injection on day 1 and animals were boosted on day 29. On day 43 animals were submitted to a challenge with a virulent strain of S. equi. Vaccination with antigen-containing microspheres induced higher serum antibody levels in mice treated by the intranasal route, whereas intramuscular immunisation did not reveal any difference between control and treatment groups. Microencapsulated antigens achieved to fully protect mice against experimental infection irrespective of the route of administration used. Following intranasal or intramuscular administration soluble antigen failed to protect mice against challenge. These studies indicate that PLGA microspheres are a potential carrier system for the delivery of S. equi antigens.